John and Helen Niven nominated for Pride of Australia medal for their work giving free dental care to poverty-stricken people in Nepal
FAMILY of John and Helen Niven never imagined the couple, in their 70s, would be off trekking to remote villages in Nepal to provide free dental care to poverty-stricken people.
WHEN John and Helen Niven retired three years ago, their family and friends expected them to take up gardening and golf.
They never imagined the couple, in their 70s, would be off trekking to remote villages in Nepal to provide much-needed free dental care to hundreds of poverty-stricken people.
Dr Niven, a dentist for 47 years, and his wife were on a holiday climb through Tibet three years ago when their Nepalese tour guide mentioned his village did not have a dentist.
The Nivens did not hesitate to offer their services and, a few months later, were on their way to Junbesi, a tiny village on the original route to Mt Everest, with a bag full of dentistry supplies.
“Somehow or other we took up the challenge and now we’ve been there three times,” Dr Niven said.
“To get there you fly into a little airport with a gravel airstrip and then you have to trek four hours up the valley. It’s uphill the whole way.
“On the first trip, there were 93 people waiting for us. There are no appointments — we treat however many people turn up.”
Mrs Niven works alongside her husband, doing everything from recording patient details to sterilising instruments.
“I call her my practice manager,” Dr Niven said. “She organises everyone and keeps it running smoothly.”
Last year, the couple treated about 500 people.
Mr and Mrs Niven pay for their airfares and accommodation and raise funds to pay for the dental supplies. They have expanded their free dental program to include the remote village of Ghandruk.
“We can pretty much provide everything that a normal dental practice has,” Mr Niven said.
“There are a lot of extractions and on the last two trips we’ve done a lot of fillings and restorative dentistry — particularly on the teenage population. We’ve built it up bit by bit.”
The Nivens are now planning to visit Nepal twice a year as there are so many people that need their help.
He said many patients had never visited a dentist before because it was too expensive and too far away.
“A lot of them put up with chronic pain, especially the older people who have never been to a dentist in their life,” Dr Niven said.
Mr Niven said his family and friends have always been supportive of their “working holidays”.
“I would say it’s a combination of admiration and thinking we are nuts,” Dr Niven laughs.
The couple was nominated for a Care and Compassion Medal by their daughter Rebecca.