After an April 2015 earthquake tore through Nepal, killing more than 9,000 people and flattening entire villages, UW-Madison medical student Eric Moffet felt compelled to help. He bought a plane ticket the same day the quake hit and arrived in Nepal with no plan, but with a deep sense that he needed to do something to help rebuild the country.
“I didn’t have any clue what I was going to do,” Moffet said. “But you can’t tell me there’s nothing I can do to help these people.”
When he arrived, Moffet teamed up with other aid workers to build and furnish maternity wards in the smallest villages tucked in the Himalayas. The teams woke early to drive for hours into the mountains, where they would build a structure and stock it with supplies—all in less than 24 hours.
“There was always a sense of urgency getting out there, getting the job done, getting back because it was monsoon season,” Moffet said. “So we would hustle out and hustle to get the jobs done.”
The structures served as safe, sanitary birthing wards in villages that otherwise required pregnant women to walk for a full day to deliver their babies. The teams also worked to educate local birthing attendants and provide post-natal supplies to new mothers and their babies.
Moffet and his team slept in the villages once their structures were built, giving them the opportunity to experience local culture and make connections with the villagers.
“I’ll always remember this one man,” Moffet said. “Walking around with a big grin on his face, even though his village had been completely flattened ... but just seeing his face and the genuine appreciation of these people.”
Through months of stressful work, Moffet said he learned the value of working to catalyze positive change.
“I think good things happen when we make them happen,” he said. “We were sure we were going to make a difference and we were going to do something good for these people. Things don’t fall into your lap without a little effort.”
See videos of Moffet's work here:
