Health
Nomadicare has a vision of a great world medicine where indigenous, traditional, and modern medicine are harmonized.
This summer our pilot project in Mongolia, the Sum (County) Health Care Project, gives improved Eastern and Western medicine to nomadic herders of South Gobi Province (Omnogovi Aimag-darker yellow above). By supplying laboratory equipment, supplies and training, as well as traditional Mongolian medicine training, 14 sum hospitals will be able to offer accessible health care to a population of 50,000 nomads. By having healthcare close to home, nomads will have a better chance at cultural survival. Nomadicare chooses to work in the most rural areas of the countryside. This is unique among international organizations in Mongolia.
East and West
In Mongolia, at present, there are approximately 285 sum hospitals. Each has a staff of doctors, nurses and support workers. What they do not have are assessment tools and treatment modalities. Our project will provide laboratories and basic tests, along with training in traditional Mongolian pulse diagnosis and Mongolian medicinal treatments. This will enable herders to have health care close to their homes, which will enable them to retain their lifestyle. Without assessment and treatment at the sum level, herders need to travel up to 745 miles to get a lab test. This distance takes the herders away from their livestock and creates financial hardships.
The Plan: Curriculum for training
To supplement the Western medicine the sum hospitals supply, we will provide laboratory equipment, supplies and training.
Diagnosis
Laboratory tests: urine test, hematocrit or hemoglobin, glucose test, hemoccult stool test, white blood count, streptococcus A, gram stain, differential test, hepatitis and tuberculosis.
Procedures
- Sterile techniques to protect the doctor and patient
- Quality control tests
- Microscope use
- Preparation of patients
- Correct techniques for particular tests
- Testing procedures—drawing blood, collecting urine
To supplement with traditional Mongolian Medicine, doctors will study:
Diagnosis
- Pulses (12 pulses give condition of the 12 organs)
- Urine
- Tongue
- Observation
- Questions
Treatment/public health/prevention
- Lifestyle changes
- Diet
- Natural medicines
- Therapies, such as acupressure, cupping, moxibustion, massage, and energy healing
A Gobi Desert Project Story
We believe nomadic herders know what they need for cultural survival and we listen to their wisdom and guidance for our projects. In 2001, when we were interviewing for the movie Gobi Women's Song, the head doctor Rentsen Norov in Manlai Sum Hospital (seventh from left) requested a laboratory. A year later, Nomadicare provided Manlai Sum Hospital with a laboratory consisting of a microscope, two centrifuges, and supplies for the same tests mentioned above, along with thorough training. It was then named as one of the 10 best laboratories in all sum hospitals. In 2008, Manlai Sum Hospital and Rentsen Norov were recognized and given an award as the best sum hospital and doctor in the country.
The Taiga* Project
In 2003, Nomadicare began assessing the health of Dukha reindeer herders. Since that time, Nomadicare has been creating a Dukha health database, which is updated annually. From this database, we follow the health care needs of the herders and respond accordingly. When we found scurvy, we began to provide Vitamin C. When we found many with high blood pressure, we provided low dose aspirin. When we found dental caries, we began public health teaching through demonstrations, videos, and posters. We delivered hygiene kits.
We are researching various methods to prevent abuse of alcohol and tobacco.
Nomadicare harmonizes the use of traditional and modern medicine in the taiga. Results of the database are given to the herders, the sum hospital, and the Ministry of Health of Mongolia.
*The taiga is a boggy forest in northern Mongolia bordering Siberia where reindeer herders live.