26/09/2026
Update on Health Education and Awareness Day, Ashford, Kent.
On Saturday 26 September, 104 members of our community joined us at Saint Simon Stock Church for HEAP 2026. It was jointly delivered by the Nepalese Doctors Association UK, the Gurkha Peace Foundation and the Sagarmatha Gurkha Nepalese Community, Ashford.
🩺 17 specialist advice stations, from orthopaedics, rheumatology and ENT to women's health, paediatrics, dental, resuscitation, and breast cancer and stoma care awareness
❤️ Free health advice and awareness
🧠 Interactive talks on dementia and autism
🗣️ An open discussion on our elders' struggles to access NHS care, and a reminder that NHS interpreters are free for all
📋 A community health survey to build the evidence for real change
With heartfelt thanks to:
💙 East Kent Hospitals nurses, specialist nurses, healthcare assistants and doctors, who gave their Saturday to serve our community ~50 Nepalese staff came to help!
🤝 The Gurkha Peace Foundation and Sagarmatha Gurkha community leaders and volunteers, who made the day run smoothly, helped with logistics and yummy lunch for our volunteers
🌱 Our young radiography and A-level students, who carry community care into the next generation
🏃 13 yr old A Shrestha, whose 5K run in June helped raise funds to pay for the hall
🙏 Our NDA UK members and everyone who gave their time and expertise
✅ Our sponsors: A Star Financial Solutions and Peepal Mortgages
👦Our very young volunteers who helped with distributing water and biscuits to elderly attendees.
We are thankful to everyone who came, asked questions and shared their expertise and support .