Gorkha : A two-day free dental health camp organized at the Barpak Health Post in Barpak Sulikot Rural Municipality has provided specialized dental services to 377 local residents, significantly improving access to oral healthcare in one of the remote hill communities of Nepal. The camp was organized by Barpak Sulikot Rural Municipality with financial support from MUTU Foundation Nepal and technical assistance from Om Samaj Dental Hospital.
The aim of this initiative was to directly provide quality dental services to people living in remote areas where access to specialized oral healthcare is limited. A total of 177 people received treatment on the first day, while the second day also saw significant participation from local residents. The services included free dental check-ups, consultations, professional teeth cleaning (scaling), fillings, tooth extractions, and distribution of essential medicines.
According to the organizers, the camp provided 171 scaling procedures, 232 tooth extractions and 171 dental fillings. Many patients received more than one type of treatment depending on their clinical needs. The medical team was led by dentists Dr. Harishankar Yadav and Dr. Sudesha Adhikari, supported by Junu Pandit and Sreejana Sunuwar. Om Samaj Dental Hospital board member, social worker and journalist Rajan Thapa also played an active role in coordinating and supporting the outreach program.
A highlight of the camp was the participation of a group of medical students from France. Eva Donsez-Carode, Gaya Doni, Leonard Gorias, Robin Maury, Joe Pigault and Jean Boqueraj worked with Nepali healthcare professionals on patient care, treatment management and oral health awareness activities. Their willingness to travel thousands of kilometers to serve people in remote Himalayan communities deeply touched the local residents and reflected the spirit of international humanitarian cooperation.
Thiam Bahadur Ghale, a local resident in his seventies, said he had been suffering from dental problems for many years and had not found lasting relief despite seeking treatment elsewhere. He said he had seen significant improvement after undergoing treatment at Om Samaj Dental Hospital about a year ago and expressed gratitude for bringing specialist dental services to his community. Barpak Sulikot Rural Municipality Chairman Bishnu Prasad Bhatta said such outreach programmes would play a vital role in providing specialised health services to remote communities and reaffirmed the local government’s commitment to supporting such public health initiatives in the future.
Health Branch Head Mod Raj Bhatta stressed the growing need for dental health awareness and treatment in rural areas, noting that community-based dental camps help in early identification of oral diseases and improve access to timely care. Barpak Health Post Head Keshav Giri described the camp as highly effective, saying that local residents were able to receive specialist dental treatment without leaving their villages. Health Assistant Bandana Purbe attributed the success of the program to the combined efforts of health workers, elected representatives, women community health volunteers and local residents.
She said that the volunteers played a vital role in patient registration, coordination and community awareness. Expressing her feelings, MUTU Foundation Nepal President Dhan Bahadur Gurung said, “It is heartbreaking to see people from remote communities going through pain and financial hardship even for basic dental treatment. We believe that quality healthcare should be accessible to all. Putting smiles on people’s faces is our greatest achievement, and MUTU Foundation Nepal will continue to support humanitarian health initiatives in the future.”
Dhan Bahadur Ghale, Ward President of Sulikot Rural Municipality-1, Barpak, praised the initiative, describing it as a significant effort to bring specialized health services to remote settlements and pledged to continue local support for such programs. French medical student Eva Doncès-Carode said, “We have been deeply touched by the warmth and kindness of the people of Barpak. It has been a great honor and an invaluable learning experience to serve this community.”
The outreach camp not only provided free, high-quality dental care to hundreds of people but also strengthened oral health awareness among local residents. Community members expressed hope that similar camps would continue in the future. The program also stood as a remarkable example of humanitarian cooperation between Nepal and France, demonstrating that compassion, healthcare, and service know no bounds.
