This is a letter from Dr. Leilani Lea who has been training the nuns of Tara Abbey in Nepal to become barefoot doctors. 
They desperately need medical supplies to treat patients.

Dear Thrangu Rinpoche,

Tashi Delek. I would like to fill you in with the development of the
Nuns' Acupuncture Clinics and to tell you how incredibly proud I am of
them for their fine work and ability with acupuncture and their brave
willingness to extend their clinics to the remote regions of Nubri,
Tatopani and Manang.

IMPORTANT! The Anis are desperately short of needles and equipment for
their work, we need to order quickly. Please can we do a big appeal for needles,
please can the Anis receive funding as soon as possible: this is
VITAL.

Report  from the Barefoot Clinics  Acupuncture Program, May 2012

1. Upon arrival in Kathmandu - my colleague, Dr. Fernando, from Spain,
gave the nuns and monks a Master Class in Auricular and Korean Hand
acupuncture, which was enjoyed and very much appreciated by the
students. Facilities kindly provided by SMD school.

2. I spent a month at Tara Abbey working with the Medical Anis giving
Acupuncture in their Clinics in Swayambhu and at the "Ani's Clinic"  in
the Gompa. I learnt that they had treated around 780 patients with
acupuncture since their training with me a year ago. They charge only
100Rs per session, but a patient who cannot afford this will be seen
for less or for free. Of course, there is no charge for looking after
their fellow Anis, who are so grateful and happy to have this service
in the Gompa.

3. We had a Refresher Course, reviewing what had been previously
studied; the flow of the meridians & their pathology, the Vital Point
and the rules governing selection of points for treatment. We
discussed the treatment protocols for Asthma, Joint Pain and a wide
number of common conditions.

4.  We studied the treatment protocol for High Blood Pressure, a
module that I have developed from my own experience, a unique way of
treating HBP which has a 96% success rate.

5. I introduced them to Eye Disease and it's treatment, particularly
because I found  in Kathmandu a high incidence of Pteregium; a
thickening growth of the white of the eye that eventually occludes
vision. This condition can only be resolved by surgery but even then
this not a permanent answer; it returns. Acupuncture, however, has
dramatically quick results and can cure the condition.

6. I found upon examination of both the patients and the Anis, an
alarmingly high rate of chronic conjunctivitis caused by the irritation
of dust and winds, exacerbated by strong sunshine and leading to the
eventual development of pteregium. It is essential to protect the eye
from the onslaught of dust, winds and bright sun, best done by
ensuring sunglasses are worn whenever out.

7. We ran an Eye Camp in SMD school, where we examined around 450
students and staff, noting all relevant details. The incidence of
conjunctivitis and pteregium is very high. Statistical results are
being prepared. Ani Tsultrim and Ani Dolma Tsogyal gave immediate
acupuncture treatment to around 10% of the patients seen: those who
were worst affected. Please see "before" and "after" photos, attached,
for the results of those treatments, and others showing their fine
work in giving multiple treatments. The Anis are willing to continue
to contribute a day a week to SMD school to complete this work. I will
write an article about the SMD eye-camp for a new blog we have been
given in an on-line acupuncture magazine, with a readership of 25,000.

8. REMOTE CLINICS. Ani Tsultrim had worked in Tatopani seeing hundreds
of patients; Ani Tashi has just returned from Nubri, where she had
spent a month and attending to 245 patients. Ani Pempa Yangchen has
left for Manang to start a new clinic there.

9.The training that the monks and nuns received, complies with WHO standards and was
given over an intense 6-month period in order to empower them to be
able to practice. They can do just fine alone and should be proud of
themselves for their wide capabilities. Personally I prefer the idea
of the monks and nuns being recognised and funded for what THEY are
doing, not the volunteers, although I do understand the value and
enthusiasm of volunteers, especially if they can provide supplies.

10. I have been invited by Manchester Metropolitan University, UK, to
lecture on my work and specialised techniques with paralysis in
November 2012. The management and curing of Paralysis is the next
protocol that I will teach in Kathmandu, next year, but we will need
to have paralysis patients to work on, to demonstrate. I will advise
before returning next year.

11. The Anis are so lucky to have Khenpo Chonyi in charge; he is loved
and revered by them with good reason - he understands exactly what is
needed in any situation and also has my admiration for his ability to
embrace the nuns' acupuncture development, supporting them in taking
the clinics to new regions. He is a man of vision and must always be
left in charge of Tara Abbey, where the nuns are too modest to do
things on their own without the encouragement of a revered,
forward-thinking figure such as Khenpo Chonyi.

I bow and thank you, dear Thrangu Rinpoche, for all you have done in
providing these fine nuns and monks with such beautiful monasteries to
live and work in, and commend them most highly for their dedication
and superb work.  It has been a great pleasure to once again work with
the Thrangu Rinpoche Foundation and I look forward to returning,
seeing the Remote Clinics functioning and to offering my services once
again.

As you know, the Barefoot Clinics project is going to have a
documentary film (for BBC) made about it's activities in India and
Nepal, next year, and I plan to feature the way these fine Anis have
taken to the training and are now not only are offering it in their
locale but are taking it out to the remotest regions. I cannot begin
to describe how proud I am of them. I would like to show the world
just how special they are.

Please do continue to follow our progress (barefoot clinics) on
Facebook, where you will see many lovely photos of the Anis.

Tashi Delek and with love and prayers.

Leilani