Awards for our Medical Director, two CIWEC staff on the Himalayan Rescue Association board, the start of dengue season, new colonoscopy and pain management services, and our most successful blood drive yet.
Congratulations
Our Medical Director, Dr. Prativa Pandey, received the New Business Age / Standard Chartered Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 award, at an event celebrating the achievements of women in Nepal's private sector. We're very proud of her.
Dr. Suvash Dawadi and physiotherapist Prayoush Neupane have both been elected to the board of the Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA), which works to make mountain tourism safer. Congratulations and best wishes to both.
Dengue season has started
Cases are expected to rise steadily to a peak in September and October, then decline from late November. Protect yourself from mosquito bites by covering up and using repellent on exposed skin, avoiding the eyes and mouth. DEET 30% and picaridin 20% are good repellents but aren't available in Nepal; Odomos can be used instead. Stop mosquitoes breeding around your home and workplace by not letting water collect in empty containers, flower pots and old tyres. Dengue vaccines such as Dengvaxia and Qdenga aren't yet available in Nepal.
Dengue causes fever, body aches, headache, pain behind the eyes, nausea and fatigue. It's diagnosed with a rapid blood test, and most people can be treated as outpatients. If you think you might have dengue, avoid aspirin and ibuprofen — use paracetamol for fever and pain. See our dengue guide.
New at CIWEC
Colonoscopy. We've installed a brand-new, state-of-the-art Pentax endoscopy system for upper and lower GI endoscopy. Colonoscopy is used to screen for colon cancer (particularly after age 45) and to investigate weight loss, anemia or blood loss, chronic abdominal pain or chronic diarrhea, or to follow up earlier diagnoses. To arrange one, call us or email [email protected].
Pain management. Pain medicine is a growing specialty: a pain physician assesses, classifies and grades pain, then treats it effectively. Treatments now include medication, nerve blocks, spinal and epidural injections, radiofrequency ablation, viscosupplementation for arthritis, intrathecal pumps, spinal cord stimulators and stem cell treatment. A pain management specialist is now available at CIWEC.
Health packages on promotion. Our health screening packages remain at a promotional rate until the end of August.
Out in the community
Blood drive. On 11 July 2023 we held a blood donation camp with the Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management and the Himal Blood Transfusion Center. 103 people took part and we collected 96 pints of blood — the most successful drive CIWEC has ever held. Thank you to everyone who donated.
Himalayan Travel Mart 2023. CIWEC was health partner for the Himalayan Travel Mart, Nepal's premier international travel and tourism trade show, held in Kathmandu on 6–9 June 2023. Dr. Suvash Dawadi, MDGPEM, DIMM, gave a keynote on adapting to climate change, embracing sustainability and building a resilient tourism industry. We also ran a medical desk offering free basic health checks to attendees.
What would you like to see at CIWEC?
Please send us your comments and suggestions — we'd love to hear from you.