Nomadicare has a vision of a great world medicine where indigenous, traditional, and modern medicine are harmonized.

Nomadicare’s pilot of the Rural (Sum) Hospital Project gave improved Eastern and Western medicine to nomadic herders of South Gobi Province. Since supplying laboratory equipment and training, as well as traditional Mongolian medicine training, 14 sum hospitals are now able to offer accessible health care to a population of 50,000 nomads. By having health care close to home, nomads have a better chance at cultural survival. Nomadicare works in the most rural areas of the countryside. This is unique among international organizations in Mongolia.

East and West

In Mongolia, at present, there are approximately 250 sum hospitals. Each has a staff of doctors, nurses and support workers. What they do not have are assessment tools and treatment modalities. Our project provides laboratories and basic tests, along with a unique and harmonized model. It includes training in traditional Mongolian pulse diagnosis and Mongolian medicinal treatments. When implemented all over Mongolia, it will enable herders all over Mongolia to have health care close to their homes, which will help them retain their lifestyle. Without assessment and treatment at the sum level, herders need to travel up to 745 miles to get a lab test. This distance takes the herders away from their livestock and creates financial hardships.

The Plan: Curriculum for training

To supplement the Western medicine the sum hospitals supply, we teach Laboratory Safety Techniques and Testing, providing laboratory equipment and supplies for all tests.

Diagnosis

Laboratory tests: biochemistry and immunology, urine test, hemoglobin, glucose test, complete blood count and others.

Procedures

• Sterile techniques to protect the doctor and patient
• Quality control tests
• Microscope use
• Preparation of patients
• Correct techniques for particular tests
• Testing procedures—drawing blood, collecting urine

To supplement with traditional Mongolian Medicine, doctors will be supplied with tools and supplies along with nine basic traditional medicines and study:

Diagnosis

• Pulses (12 pulses give condition of the 12 organs)
• Urine
• Tongue
• Observation
• Questions

Treatment/public health/prevention

• Lifestyle changes
• Diet
• Natural medicines
• Therapies, such as acupressure, cupping, moxibustion, massage, and energy healing

A Gobi Desert Project Story

We believe nomadic herders know what they need for cultural survival and we listen to their wisdom and guidance for our projects. In 2001, when we were interviewing for the movie Gobi Women’s Song, the head doctor Rentsen Norov in Manlai Sum Hospital (seventh from left) requested a laboratory. A year later, Nomadicare provided Manlai Sum Hospital with a laboratory consisting of a microscope, two centrifuges, and supplies for the same tests mentioned above, along with thorough training. It was then named as one of the 10 best laboratories in all sum hospitals. In 2008, Manlai Sum Hospital and Rentsen Norov were recognized and given an award as the best sum hospital and doctor in the country.

The Taiga* Project

In 2003, Nomadicare began assessing the health of Dukha reindeer herders. Since that time, Nomadicare has been creating a Dukha health database, which is updated annually. From this database, we follow the health care needs of the herders and respond accordingly. When we found scurvy, we began to provide Vitamin C. When we found many with high blood pressure, we provided low dose aspirin. When we found dental caries, we provided a dentist and began public health teaching through demonstrations, videos, and posters. We delivered hygiene kits.

We are researching culturally appropriate methods to prevent abuse of alcohol and tobacco.

Nomadicare harmonizes the use of traditional and modern medicine in the taiga. Results of the database are given to the herders, the sum hospital, and the Ministry of Health of Mongolia.

*The taiga is a boggy forest in northern Mongolia bordering Siberia where reindeer herders live.