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4 September, 2010
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By Elizabeth-Anne Mackay
Published: 06 February, 2008
A FORMER pupil of Wick High School is gearing up for a trip to South Asia next month to take part in a medical programme helping to support some of Nepal's poorest communities.
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Robert Silverwood is part of a group of seven medical students who are travelling to the country's capital, Kathmandu, in March to begin a five-week volunteering project. The 20-year-old, who is currently in his third year at the University of Aberdeen, said that he was looking forward to the adventure which he hopes will give him good experience in basic healthcare. "It's a good opportunity for us to work in hospitals that aren't as privileged as ours are in Britain," he told the Caithness Courier. "I think everyone who is going on the trip is really keen to go as it'll be good to see a completely different culture than what we're used to in Scotland." Each volunteer will be working in a number of hospitals and health centres during the visit, and is required to raise £550 for the trip for medical supplies and accommodation expenses. The initiative has been set up through the university's HELP (humanitarian educational long-term projects) Society – a student-run, non-profit organisation which allows members to travel to developing countries and work on projects ranging from construction to childcare. The medical programme is being run through the Partnership for Sustainable Development (PSD), a social development organisation which invites volunteers from all over the world to contribute in various areas of rural improvements in Nepal. It aims to give everyone equal access to basic human rights and standard living conditions. Robert, of "Cruach", Nybster, will begin his volunteering experience with a language course in Kathmandu before embarking on work in smaller hospitals and health camps. He said: "The project will give me a bigger view on what medicine is like around the world. And it'll be a good opportunity to raise money and help people out there – a lot of the money that we're raising goes towards medication." In Nepal, where the life expectancy of a man is 60.5 years, only 64 of the 75 districts have hospital facilities. The country's population is almost 29 million. To find out more about the project or to offer a donation e-mail Robert at rsilverwood@btinternet.com 
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