LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Soroptimist International of Clearlake recently presented a $500 check to Dr. Paula Dhanda who later this month will travel on a mission with Worldwide Healing Hands.

Worldwide Healing Hands’ mission is to improve the health care for women and children in the most underserved areas of the world.

The group will go to the town of Ilam in the Himalayas in Eastern Nepal. Severe poverty and harsh conditions prevent most of the people there from receiving medical care, a situation Worldwide Healing Hands hopes to change.

While there Dr. Dhanda will perform approximately 50 surgeries and will provide a two-week training program for midwives.

In addition the group plans to leave behind hundreds of birthing kits that fit into a sandwich bag, work that fits wonderfully with the goal of Soroptimist International which translates to “Best for women.”

Soroptimist International of Clearlake has a goal of helping to promote the health of all women, locally nationally and internationally and to promote the advancement of women through volunteer service to the community and to serve as a global voice on issues of importance to women.

Dr. Dhanda’s daughter will accompany her mother on this mission, having raised half of the money needed to make the trip – quite an accomplishment for an 11 year old girl.

Another program sponsored by Soroptimist International of Clearlake assists women who need help paying for mammograms which are done at St. Helena Clearlake Hospital.

Women in need of this program should contact Kelley Slater, who chairs the mammogram committee, at 707-994-9174.

There are three classes of membership in Soroptimist International of Clearlake: regular, retired/unemployed and embarking. The group meets twice monthly at noon at Howard’s Grotto.    

Women who are interested in learning more about the organization are encouraged to contact President Wanda Harris at 707-987-9027 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .