Mongolian aid mission

MONGOLIA is a long way from his Maleny home, but Chinese medicine practitioner Anthony Brown is up for a challenge.

Next month Mr Brown will take part in a humanitarian medical project, swapping his clinic for a traditional Mongolian yurt, to provide medical care for those who cannot otherwise afford it.

With no idea what lies in store, Mr Brown said he was nervous, but excited, about the overseas mission.

"In Mongolia, only those who can pay are eligible for hospital care, so a huge proportion of disadvantaged people have nowhere to turn for medical assistance," he said.

"Because a lot of the people are nomads, they don't have much money. They have a big herd of goats and make do. People put up with their illnesses."

The volunteer project, organised by the Gaden Relief Foundation, will have Mr Brown living in a traditional hut and working from a Russian-built army truck that had been converted into a mobile medical clinic.

He will work with Canadian colleague, physician and acupuncturist Dr Candace Cole to provide western and Chinese medicine to locals and nomads in the remote northern village of Umnudelger.

The people of Umnudelger are very poor and live in extremely harsh conditions with temperatures dropping to more than 40 degrees below zero as the icy Siberian winds blow.

There are few roads and food is scarce, especially for the nomads.

"There will be very limited resources and we expect to have to make do and improvise a lot," Mr Brown said.

"We have organised some medical supplies in Mongolia and we are also taking as much as we can with us."

The project is 100% voluntary and Mr Brown is calling for donations from the local community to help with his costs.

To donate visit at http://www.heart7.com.au/mongolia-2013 or call Mr Brown on 5435 2555. You can also follow the project on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/sunshinecoasttomongolia

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