Nurses to embark on caring trip

Carly Morrissey | 4th November 2009

STUDENT nurse Amber Groth will head to Nepal on November 23 for three weeks and work in the Pokhara region in the foothills of the Annapurna mountain range.

Gympie nursing student Amber Groth can’t wait to help out the disadvantaged in Nepal, she is travelling there with 25 other students to provide healthcare to locals in various clinics and organisations.

Craig Warhurst

STUDENT Nurse Amber Groth can’t wait to head overseas to volunteer in harsh rugged country.

She will head to Nepal on November 23 for three weeks and work in the Pokhara region in the foothills of the Annapurna mountain range, with Central Queensland University.

Ms Groth has lived in Gympie since she was 13 and is now in her second year with CQU, studying part-time while working at Winston House.

“I think it’s a good experience, it takes time off my placement,” she said. “It’s a good opportunity.

“Just little things there can make a difference.”

There are 25 people from CQU going on the trip, including another Gympie girl and first year nurse, Clare Kipping.

According to CQU many of the residents of Nepal do not have access or the means to be able to visit clinics and obtain the care they need and so the university regularly gets on board to send volunteers to assist disadvantaged rural villagers, women and children with healthcare.

The group will be working in the Manipal teaching hospital, taking part in health care camps and outreach clinics and on community healthcare projects at a variety of organisations.

Their duties will include basic health care, outreach nursing, rural community clinic support, Nepali traditional medicine, paediatrics, maternity and health promotion.

There are five places from which Ms Groth can choose three to visit.

The first is a leprosy hospital and rehabilitation centre, an old age home, a maternal and child health in urban slums organisation, a drug addicts and HIV/AIDS organisation and a home for orphaned and destitute children.

Ms Groth is taking donations to help the area.

Items needed include medical needs like blankets, scissors, theatre gowns, instrument trays, kidney dishes, syringe extension sets, pillow cases and toothbrushes.

Soap, balloons, stationery, first aid equipment and children’s goods are needed, also. Call Ms Groth on 5482 8258 if you are able to donate.