Dr Ray Hodgson

Heartbreak in the Himalayas

Every day around the world, 1,000 women die as a result of pregnancy complications.
99% of these deaths occur in developing countries.
In Nepal, a woman dies in labour every 4 hours and a baby, every 15 minutes.
The large majority of these deaths are preventable.

Dr Ray Hodgson is a specialist gynaecologist. His medical practice is based in Port Macquarie on the NSW Mid North Coast and he also conducts regular surgical teaching sessions in other hospitals throughout Australia, New Zealand and South East.

Dr Hodgson’s major interests within gynaecology are pelvic organ prolapse, incontinence and infertility.

In 2010 Dr Hodgson founded the International Aid Organisation, Australians for Women's Health. This volunteer organisation provides regular surgical treatment camps in developing countries for the management of severe forms of prolapse and incontinence and complications of pregnancy.

Dr Ray Hodgson has been travelling to Nepal for nearly a decade using his medical expertise to help women with the often socially stigmatising condition of uterine prolapse - affecting an estimated ten per cent of the country’s population.

The organization is currently working to build a 35-bed hospital in Dolakha district in the eastern part of Nepal. The plan is to use the hospital to treat women and also to teach local doctors, nurses and midwives.  Fundraising for the hospital has been very positive but more funds are still required and COVID has caused some challenges.

Dr Ray has written his experiences of working in Nepal into a book titled “Heartbreak in the Himalayas” with funds from the sale of the book going toward the construction of the hospital.