U.S. EMBASSY IN NEPAL HONORS (E3 99) EVEREST EXTREME EXPEDITION TEAM MEMBERS

The U.S. Ambassador to Nepal, Ralph Frank, will host a congratulatory breakfast reception for the (E3 99) Everest Extreme Expedition team members, to salute their humanitarian and scientific efforts in providing vital medical care to climbing teams in need at Everest Base Camp during this year's tragic avalanche and bad weather. E3 was also recognized for its work with the Himalayan healthcare organizations to provide medical services and treatment to Nepalese residents in remote mountain villages. The (E3 99) Everest Extreme Expedition, a 15-member health-science team ranging in age from 23 to 60, recently concluded a six-week expedition researching the human body's response to extreme environments and testing new medical technologies that will further space exploration and enhance the quality of medical care on Earth. The E3 Telemedicine Base Camp clinic at 17,500 feet was the linchpin, enabling medical data transmission and access to leading medical experts in the United States in near real-time.

E3 99 is organized by Yale University/NASA Commercial Space Center for Medical Informatics and Technology Applications, Millennium Healthcare Solutions, The Explorers Club, with participation by the National Institutes of Health, and is sponsored by OLYMPUS America, Inc, among others.

Veteran cartographer Bradford Washburn is leading a team of scientists, climbers, and Sherpas in an effort to determine the height of Mount Everest. From March 15 to June 1, 1999, a team of scientists, climbers, and Sherpas will try to measure the mountain. Meet the team and follow their adventure at National Geographic's web site "Everest: Measure of a Mountain,"

Of every 1,000 children born in Nepal, seven will die on their first day of life; an additional 16 by the end of the first week;another 30 by the end of the first month; and another 54 by the end of the first year. Around 70,000 deaths ocur each year, 192 a day, predominately of causes that are either preventable or mainly manageable. Another 58 children will die between the ages of 1 and 5 each day, leading to a total of 165 deaths for every 1,000 children in the country." (Source UNICEF Nepal)

Nepal is one of the most rugged countries in the world. Approximately ninety percent of its population of 19 million live in rural villages, many of which are completely inaccessible by road or by air. Given this adverse topography it is not surprising that the health conditions in Nepal rank among the poorest in the world. There is, on average only one doctor for every 32,710 Nepalese, a ratio fifty percent higher than the average least developed country and surpassed by only six other countries in the world.

Himalayan HealthCare, Inc. is a non-profit organization, was established to address the health crisis in rural Nepal. The primary objectives are to provide immediate medical treatment to people living in remote mountain villages and to improve the general health conditions of the rural population of Nepal who do not have access to health care at critical times of need.

The Kingdom of Nepal lies at the foot of the world's highest mountains, located between India and Tibet. From the lush jungles of the Terai through the temperate valleys to the frozen heights of Mt. Everest, the roof of the world. The spectacular Himalayas of Nepal contain 8 of the 10 highest mountains in the world. Nepal was closed to outsiders until 1951 when access was first granted to outsiders to share its incredible scenery and rich culture. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, has literally hundreds of ancient temples, palaces and monasteries, Buddhist Stupas and artistic centers. Pashupatinath is Nepal's most sacred Hindu Temple, where thousandes of devotees of Lord Shiva pay homage on an annual pilgrimage. Nearby is Boudhanath, a 5th century Buddhist Stupa and one of the largest in the world. Swayambunath, the Monkey Temple, is said to be 2,000 years old, located atop a hill overlooking Kathmandu City. Himilayan Holidays (P. ) LTD is pleased to serve again as the exclusive ground handling agent of the 1999 E-3 Expedition, specializing in expedition logistics, trekking arrangements, white water rafting, medical treks, trekkiing peaks, sightseeing tours, and wildlife safaris in Nepal.