Medical School graduate is first doctor in his village in Nepal
11 Jul 2013
Teacher who inspired Kanchha sees his star pupil collect his degree in Whitworth Hall
A University medical student who graduated this week is to become the first ever doctor in his rural village in Nepal.
Currently Kanchha Sherpa’s home of Melamchighyang is served only by a midwife and patients have to trek for several hours to the capital city of Kathmandu to see a doctor.
Kanchha, the seventh generation of his family to have lived in the Sherpa village, will return after his graduation to work on a medical bus treating the local population of around 1,500 people.
His primary school teacher Purna Gautam, who inspired Kanchha to continue his education, was at the University’s Whitworth Hall to watch his star pupil collect his degree in medicine on Tuesday (9 July).
The son of a yak farmer, Kanchha was born and educated in Melamchighyang before moving to Kathmandu to study science. Spotting Kanchha’s potential and love of science, headteacher Mr Gautam contacted the Nepalese Children’s Trust which has sponsored him throughout his A-levels and degree.
Kanchha is also grateful for the support he received from the University alumni and friends, including Tim and Judith Sear, Professor Bernard and Mrs Philippa Catchpole, the Don Hanson Charitable Trust and the Shawcross Endowment Fund.
The 27-year-old will be treating medical problems such as typhoid, leprosy, cancer, dehydration and gastric problems as well as pregnancy-related healthcare on his return home. He will also have to face challenges including the fact many villagers do not having access to proper toilet facilities and water, while clean and fresh from a stream, is provided to the village by a pipe.
But Kanchha said he was ready for the task: “I have a dream to save people in my village who are dying from diseases like leprosy and diarrhoea.
“I want to return to Melamchighyang to make a big impact on people’s health there in the neighbouring villages.
“Many people still go to see witchdoctors rather than seek medical advice. Some villagers see leprosy as a curse and try to hide away. I want to try and educate people about modern healthcare and I think this will be better coming from an insider, who was born there and speaks their language known as Hyolmo.”
The football fan admits he’s had a few challenges during his six years studying in Manchester: “Although I spoke English when I arrived I found it really hard understanding the different accents of my housemates when I first got here. I lived with people from London, Newcastle, Birmingham and Liverpool and I spent the first few months having to get them to speak really slowly!”
He added: “I’m really thankful to the University and the Medical School staff for all the support they have given me. I’ve been away for six years and it’s been a fantastic experience, but it always feels like home when I go back to Nepal.”
Professor Tony Freemont, Head of Undergraduate Medical Education at Manchester Medical School, said: “It’s just fantastic to see one of our students succeed in this way. Kanchha is a truly driven individual who really wants to give something back to his country, and his village. He is an inspiration to young people across the world, whatever their background, that they too can become doctors, improve healthcare in their country, and make a difference to people’s lives.
“We’re delighted that Manchester Medical School, along with the Nepalese Children’s Trust, were able to provide the funding to make Kanchha’s training here in the UK possible.
“On behalf of Manchester Medical School, I would like to send our warm congratulations to Kanchha and wish him luck for the future. What a feat to become the first doctor in the village! I’m immensely proud of him, and of all our graduates.”