Main area of focus in Caring for the Destination:  

Social - Spreading awareness for prevention of communicable diseases, distributing water purifiers to the local and uneducated people.

Detailed description of the Caring for the Destination Initiative: 

The Manaslu region is home to many indigenous communities like Magar, Gurung, Tamang, etc. The people in this region are living have little access to education and modern facilities, proper health services lagging even behind. Every year, many of them lose their lives due to communicable diseases, which could be prevented without much complexity.

Over the past several years we have seen that the sources of water which they depend on are getting populated. Since most of them still use the water from such sources for drinking, cooking and other purposes without performing any treatment which can cause waterborne diseases like cholera, dysentery, diarrhoea, etc.

To help improve their health conditions, we have started to use our own manpower and funds. We purchase water purifiers (chlorine-based disinfectants, like Piyush, Water Guard, etc. available in medical and general stores in Kathmandu) and soaps. We also collect posters displaying easily understandable illustrations about health and sanitation from a few health organisations.

Our trekking crew distribute the soaps and disinfectants to the locals and also provide instructions on their proper usage and storage. They also stick the illustrative posters at public places and schools and encourage the people to follow the sanitary guidelines and preventive measures by explaining everything in simple terms so that they can understand.

You can also have a helping hand in this initiative and share your own ideas with us. The role you want to play is up to you. For example, you can bring some relevant posters or buy some sanitary items when you get to Kathmandu, or simply spare some of your baggage space for containing a few of the items we already have. Every small thing we do can mean a lot to these impoverished people.