When the earth trembled and quaked

When she heard about the earthquake that struck Nepal at the end of April, Dr. Adi Klein, Director of the Pediatrics Department at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, felt compelled to take part in treating the victims she heard about in the constant media reports. Although she does not serve as a physician when performing her military reserve duty or serve in the Home Front Command when necessary, and despite the fact that she was not asked to do so, Dr. Klein decide to go to Nepal independently and join the Israeli delegation that set up a field hospital.

Dr. Klein contacted Dr. Tarif Bader, Deputy Surgeon General and Commander of the Israeli Delegation and Field Hospital, who is also a pediatrician by training. For a short time, Dr. Bader served as Deputy Director of Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, which is how they knew each other.

"Based on the relationship we established when we worked together at Hillel Yaffe, I took the liberty of being a little 'cheeky' and asking to join the field hospital and help treat the children," said Dr. Klein. "It took a few days to be approved. After all, it's not exactly an area you should be in right now, but thanks to Dr. Bader, who was happy to see me, the approval came through and I was able to get on a flight to Kathmandu and from there to the assistance tents as a volunteer."

Dr. Klein flew to Nepal last week, and this week came back with the delegation, which completed its work. "My stay in Nepal included sleeping in tents and morning roll calls as well as a large number of military elements, that I'd already forgotten about," she said, "But most of what we did all day was to treat children in the Department of Emergency Medicine - less those who were hurt in the earthquake, and more those who suffered from a comorbidity that could not be resolved by the local medical services such as diarrheal diseases and dehydration due to the very poor hygienic conditions, who required IV fluids, and had febrile diseases."

Dr. Klein treating a child in Nepal

On the last day, before returning, Dr. Klein left the city of Kathmandu along with other pediatricians to treat a large number of wounded people, including children, who could not get to the capital city for treatment. The very small delegation set up a mobile clinic in the local market, in the pouring rain, and treated children who were in pain due to fractures and injuries, infections that developed in existing wounds and more.

Dr. Klein described the local population as being very welcoming and friendly. What they truly lack are accommodations, as they cannot return to their homes, which are either unstable or have become piles of rubble. Therefore, the locals were very happy to receive our sleeping tents after the delegation returned to Israel.

"I was delighted that I could help, even if only for one week," said Dr. Klein, describing the experience. "As a pediatrician, it's always hard to see children in distress, and all the more so when you know that they don't have the kind of conditions you would like for them to heal. I'm happy that I insisted on going and happy that I was able to take part in providing assistance to others after the terrible tragedy that befell the people of Nepal."

Dr. Klein in front of the Israeli delegation's treatment tent