Spire’s Mission Trip to Nepal

At Spire Orthopaedic Centre, we would like to provide community service to the needy, when we are able. That’s why our surgeon Dr. Chee Kin Ghee participated in his first mission trip this year. The mission trip was in Nepal and organised by one of Dr. Chee’s associates. The aim was to deliver essential medical assistance to underserved communities and there were about 20 to 30 participants.

Here are some reflections on the trip by Dr Chee. 

Overcoming Challenges

The team of medical professionals set up a three-day free medical camp comprising five clinics, a pharmacy, a triage, and an acupuncture station for the locals. Each doctor provided services that related to their area of expertise.

Dr. Chee, as a specialist in hand injuries and other bone and joint issues, focused primarily on treating patients with lumps and bumps, performing excisions and minor surgical procedures. He saw roughly three to seven patients each day. Because his team did not have a ready supply of medical equipment like at home, Dr Chee and his aides sometimes faced supply shortages. 

“We were operating with minimal equipment and local anaesthesia, blades, and scissors and that’s it,” he says. “We will just do the operation for them. And if it was a solo operation, we didn’t have other people to help. The nurses were being shared and they were busy running around, cleaning, sterilising equipment.”  

So Dr Chee and his colleagues learned to ration their resources ensuring the continuation of essential services throughout the mission. This included controlling the number of medications, drips and cleaning solutions administered for each procedure.

Besides the logistics of operating in a small medical centre, the team had to bear with long journeys, like the seven-hour journey from Kathmandu to Gorkha. The team also had to spend two hours commuting daily from their hotel to the medical camp. It was all worth it, though, when Dr Chee witnessed how pleased the patients were to receive treatment.

Patient Stories and Impact

Dr. Chee vividly recalls the poignant encounters with patients, such as a man with multiple lumps and bumps who needed surgical intervention. Dr Chee’s team performed the excision procedure. To ensure the amount of local anaesthesia administered to the patient did not exceed safe levels, he was advised to return the next day for continuation of treatment. He could later carry out his daily routines with peace of mind.

Personal Reflections

Operating in a different healthcare environment, Dr Chee witnessed the disparities in medical resources in Nepal and Singapore. The experience prompted him to reevaluate his approach to surgery, and he is thinking of ways to optimise resources and streamline procedures back home.

Future Endeavours

Encouraged by his experience in Nepal, Dr Chee eagerly anticipates future mission trips, viewing them as opportunities to effect tangible change in the lives of others. “I think it’s fulfilling to do mission work,” he says. “You feel satisfied helping people, and talking to them about their experience inspires you to want to contribute more.” To those considering embarking on similar missions, Dr. Chee urges them to seize the opportunity. “Just do it. It is always a good time to do something like this. Enjoy doing it, learn new things and make new friends.”