KATHMANDU, MAR 13 -

When Nicole Nikki heard of the first Nepali woman conquering the highest mountain on Earth in 1993, she was more than happy as Pasang Lhamu Sherpa was the woman that the Swiss woman had planned to meet and scale Mount Everest as early as 1984.

But The first woman mountaineering guide of Switzerland saw change of scene. Pasang died while descending the world's tallest peak. She later knew that the first Nepali Everester had dreamt of establishing a hospital. Nikki could not meet her dream woman, but she turned Pasang's dream into reality by setting up a health insitution at Lukla, Solukhumbhu.

"My wish to meet her never came true. That is why I built this hospital in memory of Pasang and all Nepali women," the wheelchair-bound Swiss national says. Nikki, who has visited Nepal more than 15 times, immortalised the hospital with the name -- Pasang Lhamu Nicole Nikki Hospital.

Nikki's life was in the fast lane. But in 1990, something unexpected happened. She suffered a head injury falling off a cliff in her country. The accident left her semi-paralyzed. However, that didn't deter her. She used the money ($100,000) she got from a insurance company to set up the hospital in April 2005.

The hospital caters to people of 10 northern VDCs of Solu. So far the infirmary has served tens of thousands of people and 100 undergo check up daily, says hospital officials.

The health facility built at a cost of Rs 150 million provided medicines and food free of cost, informs administrator Pasang Kaji Sherpa.

Besides free treatment, the hospital made a name for itself by winning hearts and minds of many people.

An owner of a lodge in Lukla, Pasang Yangdi Sherpa, says the health facility is providing quality service at affordable rate. A trekking guide also has similar opinion. Phuri Sherpa says the hospital has been a great boon to locals.

Nikki's effort has pleased locals, but they are unsatisfied with the government. They say the state needs to do more -- merely declaration of Pasang Lhamu a national luminary is not enough to recognise her contributions.

 

Posted on: 2010-03-13 08:32

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