Ear Camps
Early Years: 1988-2005
Since its foundation in 1988 BRINOS has held “ear camps”
in March and November of each year. A total of 44 ear camps
have so far been undertaken, with almost 40,000 patients treated
and 4,015 major ear surgery operations performed.
In the early years of BRINOS ear camps were held both in
the eastern and western ends of Nepal. For some time in the
early 1990’s camps were held in Dharan, where the British
Military Hospital had been established. In more recent years
BRINOS has concentrated its work in the town of Nepalgunj
in the south western Terai, working initially with the Fateh-Bal
Eye Hospital, then with the Nepalgunj Medical College (2001-March
2007), and since November 2007, back at the Fateh-Bal Eye
Hospital.
Patients for each ear camp are pre-selected through the Primary
Ear Care programme. A team of 2 or 3 British surgeons, 2 operating
theatre nurses and an anaesthetist join forces with Nepalese
surgeons and local theatre staff. Just over 100 major ear
operations are perfomed over a nine day period, using three
operating tables running simultaneously. Most operations are
performed under local anaesthetic with the patients awake.
Surgery involves repair of ear drum perforations (myringoplasty),
eradication of potentially serious middle ear disease (mastoidectomy)
and restoration of the hearing for those suffering with a
condition known as otosclerosis (stapedectomy). Patients stay
in hospital for two days and aftercare is undertaken by the
primary ear care team.
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