7th MTK medical camp, Kenya

On invitation and coordi-nation from Mr. Hasmukh Devani, an active member of Tibet Support Group residing in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, the Men-Tsee-Khang organized its seventh medical camp in Nairobi from 4-14 March 2005. Dr Tenzin Namdul was the visiting physician.

The sole purpose of organizing medical camps in Kenya is to create awareness on the rich Tibetan cultural heritage to the people of Kenya and the populace of African continent at large in a quest to gain goodwill support to the plight of Tibet. Mr. Hasmukh Devani emphasized that it is difficult for any political activities, supporting the cause of Tibet, concerning sensitivity of the issue in the African continent. Therefore, he felt important first of all to tie strong social relationships between the people of Africa and Tibet. And the only means to pursue this mammoth task is to offer traditional Tibetan medical healthcare facility that will surely bridge the gap between the two distinct communities and in a way help impart them on the rich culture of Tibet, consequently awakening them from the ignorance on the facts and situation of Tibet. Mr. Devani embraces the vision of earning goodwill for Tibet’s cause through cultural interaction of this kind. He has visited Dharamsala in December 2004 & in 2005 once again with his family specifically to seek audience with His Holiness and to meet distinguished officials of Central Tibetan Administration. He met with Kalon Professor Samdhong Rinpoche, His Holiness’s Private Secretary Mr. Tenzin Geyche Tethong, the then Director Mr. Samdup Lhatse and the present Director Dr. Dawa la of Men-Tsee-Khang. He had very encouraging discussions with them on further endeavour on Tibet’s just cause.

During his last tour to Kenya Dr Tenzin Namdul gave medical consultation to 49 patients. Majority of the patients are reported to have been suffering from diseases such as chronic indigestion, cardiovascular, arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma arising from allergic. He also gave two different lectures on Tibetan medicine and screened an hour-long documentary film produced by the Men-Tsee-Khang. “The response has been highly encouraging with the organizer and number of people requesting for a course on Tibetan medicine in the near future” wrote Dr Namdul in his report. Since the first medical camp in August 2002, the general interest in Tibetan medicine and Tibet issue has increased very positively, reports Dr Namdul. Mr. Devani has been quoted stressing the importance and a need to be more practical in terms of making Tibetan medicine more accessible right from the grass-root level. Dr Namdul previously visited Nairobi on a medical tour in November 2004.
Mr. Hasmukh Devani and his family and his team worked hard to make this camp possible. The administration thanks the organizing team for their continuous alliances and invaluable support.