Dear friends and future members,
With my new role as chairman of the Himalayan Rescue Association it is my plan and vision to bring the HRA in to the modern time of the 21st century, by further upgrading our current aid and health posts, increasing awareness not only locally but also to those who haven’t yet came to the Himalayas digitally using the web. This will spread more awareness and prevention methods regarding Acute Mountain Sickness and other high altitude mountain ailments. Not only do I wish for the HRA to upgrade its current posts, but also to establish more strategic located health and aid posts to increase our reach. Of course we will continue on with the much appreciated support of Nepal Air, the Nepalese Mountaineering Association, the Nepal Tourism Board, the Trekking Agencies Association Nepal and the Nepalese government’s ministry departments of Health, Defense, Finance and Cultural, Tourism & Civil Aviation.
Since being elected on 18th December 2020 as chairman of the Himalayan Rescue Association, we had to reorganize our department to fill in the shoes of our beloved and late departed CEO Mr. Prakash Adhikari. Mr. Gobindra Bashyal has been appointed as Active CEO doing already outstanding work for the HRA and its aid-posts. Focusing on internal teambuilding and making sure that every executive member has a clear policy and targets to achieve for the Himalayan Rescue Association
During my term (2020-2023) it is my target to make sure that all our sub committees start working on our new set policies, and with a clear and focused executive board we are sure to achieve these. For example our Development committee is already hard at work in upgrading our aid-posts in Manang and Pheriche. With the construction started of a new lecture room using a sunroof to gain access to more natural sunlight is already a big accomplishment. Our Disaster committee is following strict quick emergency rescue response in cooperation with the fire brigade of the Nepal airlines, and are updated on advanced and modern rescue coordination techniques.
It is my vision and promise to make the Himalayan Rescue Association in to a beacon of hope, help and safety for all who wish to enjoy the Nepalese Himalayas!

Hari Dharel
Chairman
(2020-2023)




I am honored to be elected as a Chairman of the Himalayan Rescue Association Nepal (HRA) and would like to express my sincere thanks to all the members and well wishers of HRA who have trusted me to lead the this Association to achieve its objectives further.
HRA has  not only its long standing history of providing medical service and rescue assistance to the people who suffer mainly by high altitude sickness in the mountains, but is also known for playing a vital role to promote mountain tourism by making mountains of Nepal safer for mountaineers, trekkers and accompanying guides and porters. Besides this, HRA’s presence in the remote areas has facilitated local people with medical service free of cost.
HRA has been running Medical Aid-post at Manang (Annapurna Region) and Pheriche. HRA Everest ER Clinic at Everest Base Camp (Everest Region) and Temporary Medical Camp at Gosainkunda. We are aimed at creating better facilities at the Aid-posts and Clinics. We are also making efforts with our limited source to extend the areas of our service and activities.
I take this opportunity to make my sincere commitment to continue the great work that HRA has been carrying out since last 42 years to save the lives of the people in the mountains. Thousands of people from all over the world have been benefited by our service rendered to them. It has been possible only because of the help and support of Government of Nepal, Non-government Organizations, Tourism related Organizations, Individuals, Foreign Diplomatic Mission in Nepal and Volunteer Doctors who have shown their generosity in whatever they could for the noble cause.
On behalf of HRA and myself, I would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation for your kind support and cooperation in our endeavor to convert “mountain sickness to mountain fitness”.
We certainly look forward to have the incessant support and cooperation of all of you in the days ahead.
Thank you very much.
Narendra Deo Bhatta
Chairman
(2017 – 2020)


Himalayan Rescue Association Nepal is a nonprofit non-governmental organization, which was established in 1973 with an objective to prevent deaths from Acute Mountain Sickness and other accidents and illness that can be encountered in the mountains of Nepal.I am glad to be elected as a chairman of this Association from an election held in 11 June 2014. In this moment, I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone who have entrusted me to be the Chairman of this association. I would also like to express my sincere commitment to volunteer/work for the growth and development of this association primarily by strengthening the capability and facility of Manang and Pheriche aid-post as well as EBC medical clinic and provide better medical service and rescue assistance to the foreign trekkers and Nepali people. I would also look forward to expand the areas and activities of this association. I have a firm belief that the doctors’ members of HRA and well-wishers will help us to go forward.

I am very much hope full that 40 years of my involvement in tourism industry  and 30  years of my association in this organization will help to add few more steps in the development of this association.

D.B. Koirala
Chairman
(2014 – 2017)

Since the present Executive Board of the Himalayan Rescue Association Nepal (HRA) was elected in September 2011, our first task was to seek funds to reinstall battery at our Pheriche Aid Post. The battery was installed along with medical equipments and refurbishing work done about 12 years ago with the help of the Everest Memorial Trust, UK. The head of the trust Dr. Sandy Scott single handedly upgraded the facilities at the aid post. Now, it has become our responsibility to maintain the set-up which requires a huge fund to replace the battery. With the assistance of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) and the support from the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), we have reinstalled the battery and made it ready for our spring volunteer doctors to use.

In the meantime, we also received a grant assistance from the Australian Embassy based in Kathmandu to renovate the aid post at Manang which was repaired about 13 years ago with the assistance of the British Embassy. We completed this project efficiently despite many challenges and difficulties.

In December 2011, I have initiated a plan to introduce a GPS technology as a system that could help us do search and rescue work in the mountain region. This would be beneficial for trekkers and climbers. Introduction of the technology required a broad-based support from the tourism sector, especially the MoTCA, NMA and Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN), Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). In the initial phase, we have asked for support from MoTCA as it is our line ministry. This technology would be equally beneficial to the ministry as well. The Himalayan Rescue Association Nepal (HRA) would be the appropriate implementing agency, which could support the government and the vice versa. At this point, it is in its initial phase. Hopefully, we can have a trail run during this spring expedition season.

I have also initiated the plan to set up a ‘Radio Station’ that would take our ‘High Altitude Lecture’ to the next level. The initial work requires talking to various people involved in running the FM stations, including the chief of the Nepal Radio. Though the FM Station has a limited range, its network can be helpful in transmitting our programme related to education about high altitude sickness and general medical problems that occur while trekking in the mountain region. Since most of the Nepalese trekking staff have mobile phones with a radio, it can be useful medium of communication. It can be useful to send the information and notice for the benefit of tourists when any emergency situation occurs. This medium of communication can be useful to give information on the environment, weather, talk on sustainable tourism, crash course on hospitability training, tourism information etc. While meeting our objectives, it benefits tourism industry at the end. So, I feel that with the technical support from Radio Nepal and private studio for production of the programme, this plan can materialize by end of next year. The key is to garner support from our main stream trade associations to work together as a consortium to finance this project.

Now our immediate task is to get cooperation from respective trekking companies and international expedition operators to help us continue to operate medical services at the base camp of Mt. Everest. Ever since the emergency rescue service was established, Dr. Luanne Freer has been continuously supporting the clinic. Time has come for all to support the EBC Clinic by raising US$ 100 as a Medical consultation Registration fee from each of the climbers passing through the Everest Base Camp. This fee includes unlimited consultancy for the member and Nepalese staffs at the base camp. This is the only medical service being available at 5,300 m. above sea level anywhere in the world that has been operating such a medical clinic at this elevation. Because of this facility, expedition teams do not require bringing their medical doctors, equipment and medicines. In the long-run, this service will be in the interest of mountaineers.

On the occasion of Nepali great festival Dashain & Tihar – 2070 B.S., I would like to extend our hearty greetings to all our members and readers. On behalf of all the members of HRA, I would like to thank the Government of Nepal, foreign diplomatic missions based in Kathmandu, NMA, TAAN, NTB and all other tourism related organizations or their constant support, inspiration and valuable cooperation to the cause of saving the lives of people and our commitment to making the mountains of Nepal safer to enjoy.

Santa Subba
Chairman
(2011 – 2014)

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