Late Mr. Wongchhu Sherpa was born in 2024 BS in Tapting-1, Chyangba Solukhumbu district. He was the youngest child among ten of Mr. Yokpu Sherpa and Mrs. Chhenji Sherpa. He moved to Kathmandu when he was 16 with dream of bright future. His life in Kathmandu was very difficult earlier. He struggled very hard in the field of tourism more over decade as cook, trekking guide and climber. He scaled Mt. Everest twice and dozens of other mountains. He was actively involved to promote tourism in the Himalaya. He traveled many countries. He was established as successful tourism entrepreneur. Wongchhu Sherpa was chairman of Wongchhu Peak Promotion Pvt. Ltd.
Beside this, he was equally involved in social work and politics as well for the betterment of home village and entire the nation. He was the founder president of Everest Summiteers Association Nepal and spent two tenures successfully. He has established Wongchu Biswa Darshan School, Wongchu Hydro-power project, Water project and many more. In his leadership Everest Summiteers Association Nepal collected 15 tons garbage from Mt. Everest handed over to the government of Nepal and provided logistic support and arranged cabinet meeting in world’s highest elevation Kalapathar .
He was honored with many awards like Gorkha Dakshin Bahu Suprabal and other dozens of wards by the government of Nepal for his effort and dedication to the promotion of tourism in Nepal. He suffered from colonel cancer and struggle for the last two years. Social worker Wongchhu Sherpa was honored with the award of “Sagarmatha Conservationist” while he was in hospital by the government of Nepal. He passed away on 30 December 2015.
Wongchhu has proposed his vision of establishing a well-equipped hospital in his home village to his friends from Wilderness Medical Society (WMS). Himalayan Yokpu Foundation is dedicated to making his dream a reality. Hence, this project proposal was prepared. The WMS and Solududhkunda Municipality has been a major donor to the hospital and is operating with the support and collaboration of Himalayan Yokpu Foundation and other supportive donors : Dr. Eric Johnson (Past President of WMS), Dr. Luanne Freer (Past President of WMS/Founder of Everest ER), Late Dr. Paul Auerbach (Past President of WMS/ Chief Department of Medicine at Stanford University), Musa Masala, Late Dr. Megan Rand, 7 Summit Foundation, David Carter (Nepal Relief Fund), Philip Toohey (Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island),
Project Overview
Nepal is going through a period of social, political, and economic changes as it moves closer to development. Despite the fact that healthcare facilities have improved in both quality and quantity across the country, they are mostly centered in big cities. Due to a scarcity of medical services and staff, people may trek for hours or even days to reach neighboring health centers. Medical personnel are compelled to refer patients to other well-equipped health centers for treatment. In Nepal’s rural areas, underdeveloped road networks are already an issue. As a result, more than half of patients in rural areas die on their way to the hospital. Wongchhu Sherpa Memorial Primary Hospital works to save the lives of people in the lower Khumbu region’s rural areas. The foundation’s goal is to prevent individuals from dying prematurely owing to a lack of adequate health care. The Himalayan Yokpu Foundation established the Wongchhu Sherpa Memorial Primary Hospital in an area of the lower Khumbu region to address this problem. The Wongchhu Sherpa Memorial Primary Hospital project began in 2017. Wongchhu Sherpa Memorial Primary Hospital has recently begun to provide services to the people of that region after receiving cabinet approval on February 7, 2022. Tapting health post offered service with the use of equipment provided by the Himalayan Yokpu Foundation prior to receiving cabinet approval. Wongchhu Sherpa Memorial Primary Hospital thereafter began providing health services with collaboration of local government of respective ward after receiving government approval. It is now operated by public-private partnership and is a 15-beded hospital with 13 employees, including 11 medical personnel and two office assistants. General check-ups, OPD services, Lab services, USG, and other services are some of the services provided by WSMH.
Project Goals
- To provide quality medical care in the community
- To decrease travel time for patients and their family
- To minimize the untimely death of patients and pregnant women
- To improve the lifestyle of villagers
- To create a healthy society for the overall development of the nation
Available Healthcare Services
The hospital now serves as a vital healthcare facility for the residents of Solukhumbu District and surrounding district, providing a range of medical services that were previously inaccessible to many. We are glad that the hospital has been able to provide:
- OPD,
- X-ray,
- USG,
- pharmacy,
- general checkup,
- Maternal and new born care service,
- LAB,
- Emergency service24/7,
- Impatient service,
- Ambulance service and other services till date.
Beneficiary
Since the establishment of Wongchhu Sherpa Memorial Hospital, approximately 30,000 community members have directly benefited from its healthcare services. The hospital has played a vital role in improving access to quality medical care in the region, especially for those living in remote and underserved areas. Through outpatient consultations, emergency services, inpatient care, maternal and child health support, and various outreach programs, the hospital continues to make a meaningful impact on the overall well-being of the local population.
Nominal Patient Fee
The institution collects specific fees from the patient for OPD admission or as a service fee as per the local current health law for the hospital’s continuous operation and long-term operation. These fees are used to support the hospital’s activities. We are now giving a free service.
Property
The hospital building is well equipped and there is hostel for the doctors as well. The hospital have following amenities:
- Nine modern buildings, having all the basic facilities such like; restrooms, drinking water and so on.
- The major service are maternity, general operation, X-Ray and Video X-Ray
- In hospital area there is a nice garden.
- Statue of Late Mr. Wongchhu Sherpa in central part of hospital.
- There is a library and museum about Late Mr. Wongchhu Sherpa.