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On a Mission to AsiaDr. Bob Hott (’84) was in mixed practice in Indiana and
Michigan for 10 years. Then he sold his practice and moved his family to Nepal, where from 1995 to 1998 he served with the Christian Veterinary Mission, a division of World Concern, a Christian relief and development organization based in Seattle, Wash. (www.vetmission.org).
He says Nepal is “a country of incredible poverty, dirt, and plenty of human and animal suffering; it is, also, though, a country of beautiful mountain views, an ancient culture, and warm, hospitable people. I am grateful to God and to CVM for giving me the opportunity to use my veterinary skills to serve these wonderful people.”
Following are excerpts from his diary in September/October 1996 while he made a 17-day trip to a remote area to assist in conducting a training course for farmers chosen to be the official animal health care provider in their villages.
On the first leg of the journey our ancient Toyota Land Cruiser lost a couple of important bolts and the drive shaft fell out. We managed to find a man with a 34-year-old Russian jeep who would take our teaching materials and us to the next town. I was given the “seat of honor”: the front passenger seat. The honor was a dubious one, though, since I also had the responsibility of keeping the “gas tank” upright between my legs. This was a plastic Jerry can with a hose stuck in through the top. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any more dangerous, the driver lit up a cigarette! At least he flicked the ashes out the window and not in my direction! We survived, however, and arrived at the village of Bhimaad about 5 hours late, just in time to have some daal bhat (a spicy mixture of lentil soup, rice and vegetables) and tumble into bed. My supervisor complained of bedbugs, but I was too tired to notice.
The next part of the trip was on foot. We were up at 5:30 to make sure we had the cool of the day for walking. The 6-hour walk from the end of the road to the Nawalparasi area, where the training center is located, took 12 hours (not as spry as I used to be)! The first hour is across rice paddies and streams. The trails in Nepal are all difficult, but it seemed on this trek that even the downhill parts were hard. … We finally struggled into our training center as the sun set. I collapsed onto a straw mat, and I can’t remember when it felt so good to
lie down! …The first full day of training went well. Our “training hall” is located in the attic. There is a little light coming through the tiny windows and it is raining today, so drops come in on us through the holes in the slate roof. The trade off is that it is cool with the sun behind the clouds.
The problem of getting enough food hit home today, as we could not get any more milk. We must drink “kaalo chiya” (black tea). This is just a nuisance for us, but I wonder about the village children who are doing without the protein and calcium.
Another first: I was awakened by a mouse that ran across my head! Yesterday the rooster woke me up at 5:30—right on schedule, but I think we ate him last night since Dilli Ram (our Nepali vet) found a testicle in his “chicken parts” at dinner. I found the heart in my bowl, just like Mom used to make when I was a kid (almost). …Today we are going to try our 1st surgery in the field. Dr. Dilli Ram is a new graduate and he is eager to try. We’ll see if we can help a buffalo with upward fixation of the patella. …
Yesterday afternoon the trainees put on a “street drama” about the importance of avoiding “jhankris” (local medicine men) and consulting the Village Animal Health Worker when animals are sick. The whole village turned out—must have been about 200 people. …Today is wash up day, but I’m going to wait until this afternoon because (a) it will be warmer and (b) I will be dirtier then since Dilli Ram and I need to hike up into the hills to check the buffalo that we did surgery on. (She looked good.) …
Today is the last day of class. The exam was yesterday (all day) and all the trainees did well. I was pleased. We killed a goat for dinner, then dissected it to show the trainees a little anatomy. Everything from the goat went into the kitchen and didn’t come out again. We’re having goat’s head soup for lunch today (want any?). The sun is out today for which I am grateful. It looks like we will have good weather on Tuesday for the walk home.
Editor’s Note: According to Dr. Kit Flowers, executive director the Christian Veterinary Mission, 23 full-time veterinarians currently serve in Mongolia, Thailand, Nepal, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Haiti, Peru, and Bolivia. Each year approximately 100 short-term volunteers—veterinarians, technicians, and students—serve for 2 to 3 weeks. Illinois grad Dr. Gina LaRocca (’92) returned in June after volunteering in Africa for three months.
