A Christmas message

2008 has been a great year for those who share Rose Charities and also a landmark one. In February the 10 year anniversary of the birth of the organization( in Cambodia and Canada in 1998) was marked by the first ever Rose Charities International meeting held in Penang, Malaysia.

The many achievement in 2008 will be expanded upon in a forthcoming newsletter (see www.RoseCharities.blogspot.com ) but noteworthy among them include :-

- Linda Roberts\' structuring of the central hub of Rose Charities, the drafting of Charter, unified mission statement, executive board and international secretary positions and many other essential structural components which will allow cohesion of the network without stifling the style of each individual national organization or linkage group / individual.

- The rapid growth, progress and projects of Rose Charities Vietnam and Malaysia groups, the consolidation and expansion of Rose Charities NZ, Australia and USA, and the exciting new (and continuing) Nepal projects of Kunti Aryal (Womens issues), Binod Aryal (alcohol/drug rehabilitation), and (through) Dr Basant Sharma (female eye health screening training.. sponsored by Rose NZ). The high level of dedicated service of Rose Charities\' Eye clinic (Dr Hang Vra) and Rehab Surgery (Dr Nous Sarom). The medical teaching visits from teams from Chinese University of Hong Kong (Dr Charles Gomersall\'s group) , Operation Rainbow (Canada) and from many individual professionals in areas such as physiotherpy .

-The continuing spectrum of multi-sectorial projects by Rose Charities Sri Lanka, chaired by founder Anthony RichardThe working/training visits by Dr Nous Sarom to Vancouver, and Dr Basant Sharma to New Zealand. The academic achievements, such as Mr Bun\'s qualification as a refractionist, and Dr Vra\'s formal admission to the Cambodian eye surgeon diploma course.

-The emergence of Rose Madagascar from the previous UCCAN, with its continuing grassroots school / community projects. The enthusiasm, energy and devotion of the Rose Madagascar group is phenomenal.

- The new community / village projects emerging in Kenya and Uganda through linkages with Volset (Uganda) and \'OneVillageAtATime\' (Kenya) . Rose Charities Canada\'s honour to be accepted to be the minder of the wonderful new \'Hillman Medical Education Fund\' which already has started funding students in Kenya.

- The local ( home-based) projects and assistances in N.America of Ni Mii Puu Nation youth instruction (film making and editing) in Idaho,(by RoseCharities USA), and the \'Under One Umbrella\' homeless street fair (Vancouver)

- The disaster assistance relief efforts for the terrible Sichuan Earthquake and Myanmar Typhoon.

-The fund raising events, carried out in the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Vietnam, in the form of fashion shows, dinners, musical events and sales (eg calendars) . Josephine de Freitas (Rose Canada / USA), Jan Johnston (Rose Vietnam), Noot Seear, Annie Henley (Rose USA), Trish Gribben (Rose NZ), Dr David Sabiston (Rose NZ) , Rosemary Jones, and many others (Madagascar, Uganda, Kenya groups have all been the fantastic organizers of these events. Through them, the working funds have been raised for all the many aspects of assistance - from sight restoration to child education, and a mobile clinic has been purchased for FIRST-ROSE Cambodia. (through a generous Rotary donation from the Secheld-Sunshine Coast, B.C. Canada, branch)

- The lovely wedding of our most experienced international disaster relief coordinator, Kirsten Reems and Christopher Schuld , the arrival of Rose Charities youngest member Madeleine (Rose Charities Vietnam), but the sad passing on of Sir Edmund Hillary, whose wife June Lady Hillary, is patron of Rose Charities New Zealand.

10 years has seen a huge amount happening. Wonderfully it has happened in ways which really follow the Rose principals of ground level, person to person, \'human scale\' initiatives. Everyone - organizer, donor, and recipient all benefit. Rose Charities is coming of age, but not, I am pleased to say, by adding layers of bureaucracy and rigid administration. Rose Charities remains what it always has been, and must always be; simply \'people helping people\'.Seasons Greetings, Peace, Happiness, and Thank You .. to everyone

William Grut. Rose Charities International Secretary 2008

Rose Charities Vietnam Regional Meeting 2009 Invitation

Invitation to Rose Charities Regional Meeting Feb 2009.
CLICK ON IMAGES TO SEE ENLARGED VERSIONS

Rose Charities Madagascar Calendars

If you are short of a Christmas present.. why not buy two in one. !! A Rose Charities Madagascar ($Canadian 15 each), not only gives a calendar but also an (almost) $15 donation to Madagascar Child Education. (the printing costs are donated). Contact Emma (Vancouver/Victoria. BC). Or the see www.RoseMadagascar.com

Momos for Rose New Zealand

Momos for Rose

The cook, the Nepali doctor, a fun fund raiser and friends……
By Trish Gribben

Photo..Alexa Johnston supervises while Dr Basant Sharma helps Trish Gribben make a momo.

There’s nothing I like better than doing two things at once. Give me a chance to make it three and whammo! I’m happy as a bee round a blossom tree. Recently I discovered the perfect recipe for doing just that: three things at once….or was it more?

It goes like this: We had a most remarkable man come to stay with us, Dr Basant Raj Sharma from Nepal, sponsored by Rose Charities NZ. He is an eye surgeon at the Lumbini Eye Institute, a 200-bed hospital built in the birthplace of Buddha, in the flat plains area of south west Nepal near the Indian border. It serves a population of 20 million Indians from over the border and about 2 million Nepali people in its own region. The Indian patients are important because what they pay for their eye surgery subsidises the poor patients of Nepal. The Institute gets no government funding at all.

Basant has also worked at a Cambodian eye clinic in Phnom Penh for Rose Charities, and I am chairperson of Rose Charities NZ, a small charity which works at a people-to-people grass roots community level, particularly in Cambodia and Nepal (as well as random acts of kindness among refugee communities in New Zealand).

I wanted my friends to meet Basant but I didn’t have the energy at the time of his visit to whip up a big dinner party. So, my great idea was this: I love eating Nepali dumplings, called “momos”. By email Basant informed me: No, he was not handy in his family kitchen. He could not make momos. He left all that to his wife.

Aha! I knew that Alexa Johnston, currently of “Ladies A Plate” fame, the cookbook that revives the glories of our mothers’ and grandmothers’ home baking, was also a Nepali officiando and a splendid cook of Nepali food. Alexa, you will remember, curated the big traveling exhibition for Auckland Museum on Sir Edmund Hillary and wrote his illustrated biography.

If I invited Alexa to give Basant a cooking lesson in our kitchen, making momos, I could ask 20 friends to come and watch or take part – and of course eat the results, as well as contribute $40 for Basant’s work. That $40 is enough to pay for a cataract operation in the eye camps Basant conducts in remote regions of Nepal.

That was it: Alexa readily agreed, I set the table simply with a length of hand-blocked Indian cloth. I set up a huge bowl of red, yellow and orange roses from Stems, the rose growers who now courier their bright flowers at unbelievably cheap prices all over Auckland [1], I set out two sets of dipping sauces in my favourite new gift: hand-made black lacquer bowls from Japan.
And I RELAXED!

Alexa is a wonder whizz of organisation: She emailed me the meat filling recipe for me to make and she made the vegetarian recipe with raw cauliflower and cabbage (see both recipes below). No sooner had she whipped on her Nepali apron and set her steamers simmering on the stove than the first guests arrived and we were all into it.

Basant is as nice a guy as he is skilled as an eye surgeon: Soon he was learning to pleat one side of the dumpling wrapper (yes, we cheated and used bought ones from a Chinese shop; oh so easy) wrapped around the little scoop of filling. Only 10 minutes in the steamer and there were the platters of moon-shaped momos ready to be eaten.

All my friends loved meeting Basant, making the momos and eating them with relish, or rather the delicious (and easy) dipping sauces. A few bottles of wine, grapes and cheese and, best of all, great generosity and there we had a really fun, simple, fund-raiser.

Thanks to the koha bowl, Basant set off back to Nepal from our delicious three-in-one evening with $US600 – enough to pay for at least 40 cataract operations in eye camps which will be conducted in remote mountain villages in Nepal, maybe particularly for women who cannot normally leave their families and walk to the Lumbini Eye Institute to get the treatment they so desperately need, not just to live seeing better, but to survive.

The next Rose Charities project in Nepal will be helping to train women volunteer health education workers to screen for eye problems in their villages. It will take more than a few momos but I know with Basant’s visit to New Zealand we have made a great start.

+For further information or to contribute to Rose Charities work in Nepal, please contact Trish Gribben, email trishgribben@xtra.co.nz

Nepali or Tibetan Momos
Recipe from Alexa Johnson

1kg minced topside *
2 large onions, finely chopped
2 tsp ginger/garlic paste (Equal quantities of ginger and garlic reduced to a paste with a little water – I use a mini-food processor for this)
1 tsp ground cumin
½ tsp ground coriander
½ tsp turmeric
6 tbsp oil – heated slightly
1-2 tsp salt

1. Puree the chopped onion in a blender with 1 cup cold water.
2. Pour onto the meat in a large bowl and add all the seasonings and the warmed oil.
3. Knead vigorously until smooth.

I usually fry a small portion of the filling to test that the seasoning is right. But it doesn’t need to be too spicy since the dipping sauce adds salt and heat.Possible additional seasonings are ermung (szechuan pepper) or chilli.
*For our night with Basant, who is Hindu, I used minced lamb.

[1] Stems: email: stems@xtra.co.nz phone: 09 412 7606

Rose Charities Malaysia and Penang Health Expo 08

Rose Charities Malaysia (www.MyRoseCharity.org) is one of the sponors of the Penang State Health Expo this year. It is expected that the Expo will draw some 40,000 visitors. Penang Health Expo and include stalls covering all aspects of health and medicine including free screening for many conditions. Rose Charities Malaysia recentl completed its firs health sceening camp for the Orang Asli (indigenous) peoples of Malayis in Perak State More information in the Facebook group RoseCharities (all one word)

Rose Nepal Eye Consultant visits Rose New Zealand

<Click on image to enlarge>

David Sabiston's (Rose NZ) wonderful work (click on image for enlargement)

The gift that keeps on giving !

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

The Gift that Keeps on Giving-Laundromat Operation by the Blind

Projects that aim at being self sufficient are the long term goals of Rose Vietnam. In the province of Hue, we support four Blind Centers through our Laundromat Income Generation Programme. We donated washers, plastic package sealers and towels to these centers to wash and package wet towelettes for the local restaurants.

Wet towelettes are usually provided on long haul air routes to Asia in a small, sealed plastic bag. Many restaurants and hotels in Viet Nam also have these wet towelettes as an additional service to guests for coping with the humidity. It makes more practical sense than a paper tissue which tend to stick to the skin.

Our pilot location is in Phong Dien Village, many thanks to Mr. Phuoc, our Board member, who works on site to ensure that our first site is in full operation mode and Mrs. Tina Nguyen, an online donor from U.S.A. We provided full line of equipments, training and helped them find customers.



Rose Vietnam hopes to expand the Laundromat Programme to the other three sites. All sites are now equipped with washers but we are looking for financial donors in order to purchase the plastic package sealers and more towels. The total start up cost is no more than $600 for each site, including the washer, but such an amount can go a long way. Rose Vietnam is actively seeking funds for this programme.

Artistic interchange in Idaho: 'Our Voices project'

'Our Voices ' project' RoseCharities USA. Artistic interchange with the Ni Mii Puu Nation. Renowned photographer Hunter Barnes and Jason Rosenstock, share their liberating experiences with young people.

- Click on image below for an enlarged version -

Hope and Dispair

Maintaining Hope in the Face of Despair A workshop delivered by Liese Groot-Alberts (of Rose Charities, and other organizations, NZ) , and Susan Marsden in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 19th July 2008. The report is kindly reproduced with the permission of the author, Dr Evelyn Ho, and also on the following website http://www.radiologymalaysia.org/Content/2008/Public/TopicOfTheMonth/08/index.html Dr Ho is chief Editor of the Journal of Radiology Malaysia


Kuala Lumpur - 19 July 2008
Dr Evelyn Ho relates what she learnt from the above workshop and how it applies in everyday living, improved communication with others, including patients and how to handle despair and to ignite hope which is sometimes deeply but surely within the depths of everyone.

Do take note that the views given are as perceived and interpreted by Dr Evelyn Ho.

Maintaining hope in the face of despair? It seemed paradoxical, yet within a few minutes of the start of the workshop, what seemed impossible in chronic diseases, illness and cancers was indeed HOPE! Yet, hope was not unrealistic clinging to an impossible wish or desire.
The concepts of hope, maintaining hope when goals of care changes, facilitating hope in advanced cancer, exploring the healthcare professionals perceptions on hope, communicating hope and false hope as well as the psychological and spiritual framework on hope was explored.
Liese Groot-Alberts, a Grief Therapist from Cairnhill Medical Centre, Auckland and Dr Susan Marsden, Palliative Care Specialist and Community Consultant, Mercy Auspice, Auckland, New Zealand both conducted the above workshop at Hospis Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur on 19 July 2008. Some 34 healthcare professionals from volunteers, nurses, pharmacist to doctors of various disciplines attended this full day workshop. This was the 2nd workshop in a series for the week - the first being a 2-day workshop on Grief and Suffering. These Palliative Care Workshops were designed to address Attitude, Skills and Knowledge issues in palliative care.

There is great misconception about hospice care, and even the word "hospice" tends to have everyone thinking that hospice is a "taboo word" because they are not dying in the next few days or their loved one or friend is not on the deathbed yet. Although hospice care may have started with looking after the needs of a person who was close to dying, it has now evolved and not a tad too soon - because today, medical advances has resulted in many diseases becoming chronic. Even a person with cancer that has spread to other parts of the body may be able to control the disease and live many more fruitful and rightfully "comfortable" years.ope (& Despair)

As Liese and Susan opened our minds to the concept of HOPE, we learnt it was intertwined with despair, which was simply suffering without meaning. These strong emotions existed because of the other. Despair cannot exist without hope and hope arises from despair. These topics have been the subject of research and many have written on it. Do not take my word for it, just "google" it on the internet and see for yourself.

We learnt that there were many "definitions" of hope, but the key ingredients was that it was from within, words may not be able to describe it adequately, and that we sometimes needed to "listen" to be able to "hear" hope within the patients, those in our care or even within ourselves. Hope provided a bridge from past experiences with the possibility of going into the future and taking the next step - making it an achievable goal. It was multidimensional and dynamic (Dufault & Martocchio, 1985), and hope should not be based on false reality - therefore giving false hope was taboo and would be more harmful in the long run.

This made everyone reflect on how many times, as healthcare professionals, we may have wanted to give 'hope' but by making statements which could not be substantiated or for which we really could not tell. A common error in communication would be, "there, there, everything will be all right" when a patient broke down from receiving bad news after a medical check up or investigation! We were taught to allow a person the right to grief, as long as he/she was not harming him/herself or others. There was a difference between cure and healing.

In chronic diseases (such as kidney failure), including cancers when advanced, despite the despair of not being cured of the disease, one could still heal - and everyone was entitled and also should be nurtured towards that "healing", rather than being given false hopes of cure such as with treatments that may only have a very small chance of response. Hope should be based on reality, was impressed upon everyone at the workshop.Communicating Hope

No matter how deep the despair, everyone had within themselves a glimmer of hope - and as palliative care givers, we could help to ignite that hope or even help someone realise by listening to them and asking certain "open-ended" questions to help that person work through and realise, that despite all the negativity, there was some hope. After all, who in this world would never die...it was just either sooner or later!
Some questions one could ask in the discovery of hope would be:
1. How do you see your future?
2. What do you understand about what is going on? (In reference to the disease or situation)
3. Who are the people who or things that bring meaning to your life?
The lack of time was not the issue in establishing communication channels. Every healthcare professional has given this reason as an excuse or believes in this reason (as they all have too many patients to get through in the clinic or wards) as to why they cannot counsel patients or even attend a communications or counselling workshop to help make themselves better communicators and improve establishing rapport with their patients. There was simply NO TIME....they believed. Yet, we learnt otherwise from Liese and Sue.

Even short time intervals could be adequate but only if we approach it properly - for example - not talking down to the patient, barking orders but a case of making a connection, however brief but if made, could itself be healing. The person would feel cared for and that itself was hopeful for the patient. Someone cared for them!
Interpersonal connectedness (Herth 1995) was a hope-fostering strategy that anyone could use, especially nurses in their day to day interaction with patients.

Even healthcare professionals needed to listen to themselves and recognise the signals that they were beginning to be stressed or was facing burnout. In order to build resilience, and continue to be effective in caring for their aptients, one had to try to heal themselves or get help from others. Healthcare professionals should not have wait to be carried out on a stretcher before realising they had neglected their health and was over-working or had become substance-dependent to overcome the stressors in their job or life.sisted suffering

What did this mean? Did physicians (doctors) not take their Hippocrates' Oath and pledged to do no harm to their patients? Well, that ideal also went out the door - because unintentionally, today, physicians may indeed cause "suffering" in the broad sense of the word. This arises sometimes through futile treatments or excessive or unnecessary investigations!

What were the excuses - "Oh, I don't want to take away their hope" or "but the relatives insist on more treatment" There are underlying issues for these "coping" mechanisms from physicians - and it may reflect the physician's discomfort in telling the truth about BAD NEWS! Although, there may no longer be cure, there was still much that could be done to help make the person feel better or deal with their disease better. There was no need to subject the patient to more intensive and debilitating chemotherapy for their cancer when the chance of response was minimal! There were other ways to bring "healing" and hope.

A story was related to us, taken from Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories that Heal by Rachel Naomi Remen, a physician herself. In this particular story, used as an illustration, the patient could only relate and talk to his oncologist but no one else. He looked forward to that once a week consultation but to enable that connection with his oncologist, he had to continue to take his once a week injection (which was not making him any better). To the patient, this oncologist was everything in the world to him, and that visit alone every week was "healing" in every sense, not the injection he was receiving. He tried to tell his oncologist, he didn't think the treatment was working but the moment he said so, the oncologist then told him, there was nothing else for treatment and there was no point seeing him. There is more to the story, and it is simply impossible to relate in the same way Rachel Remen has. Do try to get a hold of that book and read it.
ecpe for HOPE or instilling HOPE
Hope needs:
1. The presence of meaningful relationships - not necessarily human relationships, even pets (aloneness vs loneliness was discussed)
2. The ability to feel light-hearted (humour must be appropriate when used)
3. Have clear aims (one should try to help the person look into him/herself for specific goals, for example going for a holiday with the family)
4. Courage, Determination and Serenity. (When at peace, one could think more clearly, and one needed courage and determination to take the next step)
5. The ability to recall positive moments (even if someone had nothing come to mind on past positive moments, the opportunity to voice this out to an empathic listener was sometimes itself a healing process)
6. Having one's individuality accepted and respected. (We were not to be judgemental)
7. Spirituality (not necessarily a religion)
8. Healthcare professionals need to look after themselves!
Liese and Susan put everyone through a self searching exercise on what they felt, knew or thought were signs or symptoms of deteriorating physical, emotional, intellectual or spiritual health.

Even healthcare professionals needed to listen to themselves and recognise the signals that they were beginning to be stressed or was facing burnout. In order to build resilience, and continue to be effective in caring for their aptients, one had to try to heal themselves or get help from others. Healthcare professionals should not have wait to be carried out on a stretcher before realising they had neglected their health and was over-working or had become substance-dependent to overcome the stressors in their job or life.

RoseCharities New Zealand newsletter

Rose Charities New Zealand. www.Rose-Charities.org Has produced its latest newsletter (below). If you click on the image you will get an enlarged copy. Topics include projects in Malaysia, Vietnam, Nepal (Lumbini), Cambodia and New Zealand iteslf spanning pallliative care to eye surgery and education. The Rose Charities NZ AGM will be held in Napier in October 08. Contact Chairperson TrishGribben@xtra.co.nz for details.

HMCS Regina helps Vietnam orphange with Rose Charities Vietnam

On June 4th HMCS Regina came to Vietnam to celebrate the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Canada. During their four day visit to Ho Chi Minh city seven members of the ship's crew spent an afternoon visiting the children at Ben Tho orphanage in Dong Nai, which is about 40 minutes outside the city. They brought with them toys and food (including Girl Guide cookies which were a clear favourite among the children) and donated $1500 to Rose Charities Vietnam, to be directed to the orphanage, which is home to approximate 132 children. Sister Vinh, director of Be Tho, said the money will be used to replace the roof.

The money had been raised by the crew of HMCS Regina on its voyage across Pacific Ocean. An additional $2,800 was raised for Rose Vietnam at a corporate dinner held on board.

Rose Vietnam hopes to implement more sponsored programs for children and extend our reach to different regions with increasing support from organizations and individuals in Vietnam and abroad.

--
Posted By RoseVietnam to Rose Vietnam at 6/04/2008 08:01:00 AM

UCCAN Madagascar become Rose Charities Madagascar

RoseCharities is honoured and delighted to welcome UCCAN Madagascar as fully part of the Rose Charities Network. For the past 2 years UCCAN had been working in close partnership with Rose Charities Canada but has now decided to become a full part of Rose Charities Canada. There will thus now be a Rose Charities Canada Madagascar Subcommittee. UCCAN has been supporting several projects in Madagascar, including a school infrastructure, teaching and community assistance project with a Madagascar partner Mahatsara .

Teach a man to fish ? - No.. teach her to be a lawyer, doctor, engineer, or business person

Update: Rose Sri Lanka is has just founded its own Rose Graduate Student Association... The Rose Charities Higher education program was started by Amanda Yogendran and a friend after they found out that many high-school students were getting University places, but could not go for lack of funds for simple living/ancillary ie books etc costs. Only around CAD300 was needed for an entire course. Since then Rose Charities has been linking donors with students and there are now around 45 graduates (or close graduates to be) in all areas (medicine, engineering, law etc). A college degree means an almost sure route out of poverty for the student, their family and perhaps even their community.
Rose Charities Sri Lanka is a fully independent locally registered organization www.Rose-Charities.com It is run by Anthony Richard (of Vancouver and Kalmunai) whose dedication to the programs is almost unbelievable. Anthony was the first recipient of the 'Charity Rose' award in 2005. Namartha Richard (Anthony's daughter) is currently in Kalmunai assisting with teaching on the junior education program. Rose Charities Sri Lanka's other programs include, counseling, sports-for-peace, micro-credit, vocational training, and educational assistance.

Rose Charities in Nepal

RoseCharities in Nepal is run by Binod and Kunti Aryal, under the name RIC-Rose. Since its inception, Rose Charities has has very close links and assistance from Nepal. Rose Chartities sprang from Project Iris (Iris continues doing wonderful work to this day .. see www.IrisAsia.org ). The links of one of the founders with Nepal, initially through AMDA Nepal, enabled Nepalese ophthalmology professionals, notably Drs, KC, Dr Basant, Dr Bhadri and others to come to Cambodia and found many of the eye programs that exist there today, including those of Rose and Iris. This in return initiated both Iris and Rose Charities organizations in Nepal itself.
Binod and Kunti Aryal carry out amazing work in many fields. Recently, Binod was invited to the UK to observe and work with a prisoner assistance program which had discovered that their work and Binods in Nepal had many useful similarities.
For the full article please click here

Hillman Medical / Health Education Fund, Canada

RoseCharities is proud and privileged to run the Hillman Health Education Fund. This fund, set up by Prof. Liz Hillman in honour of her late husband Don Hillman, has been established to assist the education of health professionals in its main focus of Africa, but also other parts of the world. (eg. Pakistan). Professors Liz and Don Hillman are known to great number of people in Canada and we at Rose Charities are simply some of many who salute and laud the lifelong work of the Hillmans Both Liz and Don are just recipients of the Order of Canada.

RoseCharities in Pakistan

RoseCharities is helping in Pakistan through its Liz and Don Hillman Health Education Fund. Assistance is to the Frontier Primary Health Care project (see above). Assistance is to address local Pakistan needs and those of Afghan refugees. The FPHC have written...

"We would like to inform you that Health Department of Government of Pakistan and UNICEF jointly organised a campaign to observe "Child Health and Sanitation" week ( 21 to 26 April 2008) in Mardan district. The purpose of this campaign was to:

(1) Assess the EPI status of children aged 0 - 23 months

(2) De-worming of children aged 2 - 5 years by giving them de-worming tablets

(3) Sharing of information with pregnant ladies on importance of antenatal care and vaccination

(4) Sharing of information with mothers on nutrition and care of baby

(5) Demonstration of ORS preparation and administration to the families where there were cases of Diarrhoea and Dysentery

The campaign was actually planned for local Pakistani population in Mardan district.

You might be aware that FPHC is providing health, education and other community development services to both local Pakistani population and Afghan refugees. For its Pakistani programmes, FPHC is maintaining close relationship with Health Department of Government of Pakistan at union council, district, province and federal levels. Therefore, FPHC was fully involved in the said campaign.

As FPHC is partner of UNHCR in provision of primary health care services to Afghan refugees, the beneficiaries of FPHC's services include Afghan refugees living in Kagan and Jalala refugee camps in Mardan district. FPHC negotiated with the district health authorities of Government of Pakistan and UNICEF to include the two camps in the campaign so that refugees can also benefit the activities carried out in this campaign. The district health authorities and UNICEF were kind enough to include the two camps in the campaign. So FPHC, apart from local Pakistani population, carried out the campaign in the two Afghan refugee camps at Jalala and Kagan areas in Mardan district.

WHO-ETAT (Emergency and Admission care) course in Kenya (click for details)

RoseCharities sponsored this course through the Liz and Don Hillman Fund. This, Rose Charities managed fund is dedicated to training in health care in developing countries mainly in Africa...

"We just wanted to share with you the progress made with a Kenyan adaptation of the WHO ETAT course developed by Prof. Elizabeth Molyneux. By extending the course to 5 days (hence ETAT+) we have attempted to produce an emergency and admission care course that captures the main elements of immediate care as part of ‘Inpatient IMCI’ and as outlined in the WHO’s Pocket Book of Hospital Care for Children.

We would like to thank many of you for your help to date as ETAT+ has developed or grown. We hope that with continued support the ETAT / ETAT+ approach can continue to adapt and evolve as part of attempts to improve care for the seriously ill newborn or child reaching hospital.

Best wishes,
Mike English & Grace Irimu

KEMRI / Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya."

Emergency training n Cambodia...

Teaching/training in emergency medicine and resuscitation is generously provided at the FIRST - RoseCharities Surgery Center courtesy of the Chinese University of Hong Kong

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Pipe Line to Burma. A Musical Fundraiser for the Victims of the Myanmar / Burma Cyclone. Proceeds go to local organizations assisting in the relief work including RoseCharities Organized by Len Walker and 'Tsunami Haven' . Saturday 21st June. Nanaimo. See www.RoseCharities.ca for link to more information. Pipeline to Burma. Donations via www.TsunamiHaven.org or www.CanadaHelps.org (and look under Rose Charities)

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Update Emergency missions 1st June 2008

Sichuan

AMDA has so far dispatched 29 personnel (including 12 doctors, 8 nurses, 1 pharmacist) in collaboration with other AMDA Chapters. According to local report, relief supplies such as　tents, blankets and sleeping bags are in need for evacuees out on the streets. The evacuees were obliged to move out from homes which could easily collapse in the case of after shock.

1. AMDA HQ/Taiwan Emergency Medical Mission in Sichuan

i) Sichuan Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences in Chengdu

AMDA has formed its third relief team on May 23rd for further medical assistance at the Sichuan Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences. The team comprises 3 doctors, 2 nurses and 1 coordinator. Despite after two weeks from the devastating quake, still a number of patients have been waiting for surgical operations as well as traumatic cases commonly seen. Beside surgeries AMDA doctors are providing counseling for the latter cases.

ii) West China Hospital in Chengdu

On May 22nd AMDA’s second team has completed its four-day mission at the West China Hospital which included 2 surgeons

iii) Mobile clinic in Anxien

AMDA’s first team held mobile clinic at the mountainous village in the suburbs of Anxien. The clinic was held at a local school used for evacuation shelter.

2. Evacuation site in Sufang
AMDA’S relief team (1 surgeon, 2 nurses, 1 coordinator) has been continuing its medical relief at a gym

Myanmar

Mobile health team expands work

AMDA’s clinical staff and local township medical personnel have been workign in the remote areas of Mankaleik
RHC (Rural Health Center) of Kungyangon Township
in Yangon Division.


With 17 members, 5 doctors, 2 health assistants,
1 midwife, 3 nurses, 1 coordinator,
4 health assistants, and 1 logistic assistant in total,
the team has decided to split in two teams so as to
effectively reach severely-affected remote communities.

Under the coordination of TMO (Township Medical Officer)
of Kungyangon Township, the mobile teams plan to extend
their coverage areas to Dayae Lu RHC
and Let Khoke Gon SH (Station Hospital) sections
as soon as they complete the work in Taw Kuu.

In addition to clinical services, the teams also provide
sanitary items such as soap and water purifying tablet
along with IEC materials.

The program is based on the following...

1.Provide medical care and support to needy patients
in timely and professional manner.
2.Coordinate field work in line with MoH guidelines,
in particular those of the ER section.
3.Collaborate with existing health infrastructure and
personnel on the ground, in particular ones
in the public sector, who know the area most.
4.Promote participation from community members
who suffered but are willing to give hands
to their neighbors.
5.Maintain communication channels with various stakeholders
that include UN agencies and diplomatic missions.












AMDA-RoseCharities Canada support these missions. Please donate via www.CanadaHelps.org AMDA-Rose Charities Canada is run by volunteers and so there are almost zero administration costs. All your donation goes entirely to one or other mission (as chosen by yourself)

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Images from AMDA Emergency Relief Clinics Myanmar

Friday, May 23, 2008

Update 23rd May. Sichuan Earthquake relief

1. AMDA Taiwan Emergency Medical Mission in Sichuan

On May 17th, after having obtained permission from local authority and

assessment of the area previous days, AMDA Taiwan Mission carried out

medical activities in a village located in a mountainous region of

Anxian. 3 tents were provided to the mission where temporary clinic was

set up. 10 patients received treatment.

AMDA Taiwan Mission, consisting of 17 medical professionals, was joined

by Mr. Nithian Veeravagu, a coordinator from AMDA Headquarters, Okayama,

Japan.

On May 18th, the mission was instructed by local authority to evacuate

the area because of the possibility of dam breaks. AMDA Taiwan donated

medical supplies to village hospital and doctors and headed toward

Chengdu.

On May 19th, Sichuan Provincial Health Department issued permission for

AMDA Taiwan Mission to work at West China Hospital, West China School of

Medicine, Sichuan University(Chengdu) AMDA Taiwan Emergency Medical

Mission is the first overseas organization to receive such permission to

join the staff of West China Hospital in their efforts to treat the

victims of the earthquake disaster. As of 19th, there are 2 orthopedic

doctors, 2nurses and 2 coordinators in the mission.

2. AMDA Sichuan Emergency Medical Mission

AMDA Sichuan Emergency Medical Mission made up of 1 surgeon, 2 nurses,

and 1 coordinator. The team continues to provide medical care to the

victims in a gym, designated evacuation spot in Sufang.

Rose Charities Canada supports AMDA Canada and AMDA International. Please donate via www.CanadaHelps.org All donaations to the China Earthquake fund go to these efforts.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Myanmar / Burma update relief Update 20-May-08

AMDA mobile clinics (commenced 11-May-08) continue to operate at full capacity. Hundreds of victims treated though needs are overwhelming.

Please Donate via Canada Helps. www.CanadaHelps.org - Rose Charities is listed there in the emergency donor section. All donations go directly to the AMDA clinics which began their work within a few days after the cyclone had struck.

Friday, May 16, 2008

China earthqake and Myanmar cyclone disaster update 16th May 2008

For todays update please cut and paste into your server the YouTube clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4ws4-rT1LU

Or go to www.YouTube.com and search under AMDA Canada (or) RoseCharities

AMDA International field assessor Veeravagu Nithiananthan is now on site working with combined AMDA team. Expected to report back to AMDA HQ in next 24 hours re further team deployment.

Myanmar and China: Donations continue to be needed. Please see www.CanadaHelps.org where Rose Charities is listed

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Updates 15th May 2008

China earthquake: An AMDA-RoseCharities Canada / Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) response team is now preparing to leave for Szechuan. Dr Collin Yong (AMDA-Rose Canada) is planning to join the CUHK team members in Hong Kong and proceed from there to Szechuan. Yesterday the AMDA Japan / AMDA Taiwan team departed to join their local medical response counterparts in the area.
Dr Collin Yong is a pediatrician at B.C. Childrens Hospital and has extensive international experience including tsunami in Sri Lanka (see picture) on the AMDA-RoseCharities team.

Myanmar. Clinic work continues as per report yesterday. The death toll is now officially over 40.000 and it is likely that there are many more dying daily as many of the areas affected are reported to be still isolated.

Donors. A huge thankyou to all those donors who have helped so far. RoseCharities funds go directly to the Myanmar clinic and the China earthquake medical team support. We are all volunteers so there are no administration fees. Easiest donation method is via www.CanadaHelps.org (look under Rose Charities). There, you can choose either cause. Donations are tax deductable. Please help if you can even small amounts add up.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Myanmar cyclone relief update. 14th May 2008

1. AMDA has started Mobile clinic activities from the 11th of May for

the victims of recent cyclone.

2. The clinic is conducted by local medical professionals under the guidance

of the local Ministry of Health.

3. AMDA-RoseCharities Canada have dispatched funds to help with this effort. Further funds are needed.

DONORS. Please see www.CanadaHelps.org (and look under Rose Charities)

Szechuan China Earthquake update 14th May 2008

AMDA-RoseCharities Canada is involved now in the following initatives

1) Supporting and AMDA Taiwan / AMDA HQ medical support team initiative scheduled to start work today with local counterparts

2) Sending of an experienced AMDA-RoseCharities paediatrician to join University of Shanghai paediatric relief team within next few days

3) Liaising with contacts at Chinese University of Hong Kong to recruit professional personnel to assist activities

4) Fund raising for above initiatives and or general relief for this disaster

DONORS. Please go to www.CanadaHelps.org and look under Rose Charities. There is a special donation field for the Chinese Earthquake Relief fund. UK, USA, Australia, NZ donors can also go through their own RoseCharities group sites (see www.RoseCharities.net ). Thank you. Everything you donate goes to relief with zero admin. costs as Rose Charities is run by volunteers.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Szechuan (China) earthquake, and Myanmar relief updates 13th May 2008

A powerful earthquake with a 7.9 magnitude hit the central region of China. The earthquake brought down buildings schools and chemical plants, killing about 10,000 people in the towns set in the hilly areas north of Sichuan’s provincial capital Chengdu. The earthquake happened at about 14:30 and could be felt as far as Vietnam. Rescuers are still searching frantically for more survivors among the rubble. Continuing rain in the region is hampering the effort of rescue. According to the latest news, in the town of Juyuan, south of the epicenter, a three story high school collapsed, burying about 900 students and killing at least 50.

Rose Charities is supporting its senior partner in international disaster relief, AMDA. AMDA Taiwan has a request pending to the Chinese Government to send a relief team and AMDA HQ is in negotiation to send a team from Japan. AMDA-RoseCharities Canada has experienced disaster personnel standing by (Dr Collin Yong - B.C. Childrens's Hospital, and R.N. Kirsten Reems - VHG) and is collecting donations and resources to assist.

In Myanmar, AMDA Myanmar health team is currently assisting in the disaster area manned mainly by local AMDA employees and volunteers. Funding has been sent form AMDA-Rose Canada but more is needed.

Friday, May 09, 2008

News from AMDA Myanmar Relief. Also see www.AMDA.or.jp

May 08, 2008

Myanmar Cyclone Disaster I

Early morning of the 2nd of May a powerful cyclone, Nargis hit the central and southern part of Myanmar. According to the state owned TV station there are 22,000 people confirmed dead and more than 41,000 are missing. The assessment of damaged has been faced with delays and the number of victims is more likely to increase. According to some latest unconfirmed reports the death toll might rise up to 100,000.

According to the Government of Myanmar 5 regions, Yangon, Ayeyarwady, Bago divisions and Mon and Kayin States have been affected by the Cyclone and as a result are decreased as disaster areas. It is also reported that there are more than 100,000 people are facing lack of evacuation centers and drinking water. Many of them are seeking shelters at their relatives or friend’s house and temples.

Because of the scale of disaster and AMDA’s presence in the country for more than ten years, there have been a lot of inquiries and interest from the media, general public as well as from our partners and donors. The safety of AMDA-MINDS staffs (2 Japanese and 9 local staffs) is confirmed and there are no injuries. However it was reported that some of the local staff’s home were damaged by the cyclone and water.

Because of the damage to the infrastructure communication was quite difficult to establish and fallen trees and roofless houses can be seen everywhere. Cost of living has soared since the disaster. Cost of food has doubled and the bus fare has gone up by 20 times. Markets and banks have partially opened in Yangon. Public hospitals have suffered considerable damages from the cyclone and some of them are not in operation. Infrastructure has broken down and most of them are still not in operation. Especially water is causing a lot of concern. Many of the victims are drinking lake water which may result in greater health problem. Myanmar Government’s national disaster center is asking the world community for the following items: funding, medicine, tent, blue sheets, instant food, construction material, blankets, and summer clothing.
Considering the scale of damage AMDA is planning to mobilize local doctors and medical staff from the current office location in central dry area to the affected areas.

Head quarter plans to organize mobile clinic with AMDA Myanmar office and its local staff and has already given instruction to get the approval from the government.
UN, its agencies and other big organizations are sending in relief goods to Myanmar. AMDA could act as a coordinator in distributing these goods to the people in need. The instruction has been also given to look into the possibilities.
Latest news:
Early this morning (8th May) one of the head quarter staff has left Japan for Bangkok to purchase relief items for the victims.

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

MYANMAR CYCLONE RELIEF UPDATE

Current estimates.. 22,000 dead, over 100,000 (probably more) homeless. Many areas still cut off. AMDA-RoseCharities Canada is supporting AMDA HQ and AMDA Myanmar relief efforts. Below is latest update of progress....

AMDA Headquarters staff are in close contact with AMDA Myanmar office

since May 3rd. Because of the damage to the infrastructure
communication was quite difficult to establish but thanks to the hard
work of our staff we are keeping good communication line with the
Myanmar office. AMDA's office has also been hit by cyclone and some of
our local staff have suffered damages to their houses but fortunately
they all are fine and eager to offer assistance to other victims.
According to their information, cost of living has soared since the
disaster. Markets and banks have partially opened in Yangon. There are
no official evacuation sites for the victims, many of them are seeking
shelters at their relatives or friends house. Public hospitals have
suffered considerable damages from the cyclone and some of them are not
in operation. Rich people go to private clinics for the treatment of
injuries. Infrastructure has broken down and most of them are still not
in operation. Especially water is causing a lot of concern. Many of
the victims are drinking lake water which may result in greater health
problem. Myanmar Government's national disaster center is asking the
world community for the following items: funding, medicine, tent, blue
sheets, instant food, construction material, blankets, and summer
clothing.
AMDA's position at this moment....
1 Centers are being set up to take care of the health problem.
As many of the big organizations, such as UN and
related organizations, have been faced with difficulties getting into
the country, AMDA's achievement in the past and our present activities
in Myanmar are great advantage in implementing ER activities this time.
Our Yangon office is useful as a strategic basis
for ER activities.
2. Our Myanmar activities in Myanmar means that . There we have local doctors and other staff members
working for our project who can be very good possible human resources
for our ER activities.
3. Our International Chapter members are also our great assets as
usual. ASEAN countries have easier access to Myanmar. Many of them do
not need visa to enter Myanmar. As we have chapters in these countries,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, we may be able to
form AMMM depending on the permission from Myanmar government. Nepal as
well as India Chapters may also be able to take part in this. AMDA Canada
is offering assistance as well. Whether we are able to
dispatch AMMM to Myanmar or not, depends on the permission from Myanmar
Government.

The plan:
1. Medical... Mobile clinics with AMDA Myanmar- Govt approval pending

2. General relief... Distribution of relief materials from AMDA as well as other donating agencies

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Rose Charities 10 Year Conference Penang 2008

Rose Charities International, comprising a group of non-political, non-profit, secular, independent organisations based in several countries, organised its inaugural international conference and planning meeting at Cititel Penang, Malaysia, recently.

The conference, held from February 22 to 24, 2008, entitled “New Perspectives in International Response” was attended by over 30 delegates from participating countries such as Australia, Canada, Madagascar, Vietnam, Nepal, Belgium, United Kingdom, Indonesia, USA, Cambodia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Zimbabwe and Guyana.

Dr B. Anthony, president of AMDA(Association of Medical Doctors of Asia) Malaysia and host-organizers of this event, shared that the conference enabled all members and supporters of Rose Charities groups and projects worldwide to meet, exchange viewpoints and create friendships, strengthen international co-operation between Rose Charities branches, define medium and long term direction and priorities for Rose Charities, provide a forum to present and discuss all aspects of field projects, new programmes and initiatives, to extend thanks and appreciation to all who have made and continue to make Rose Charities what it is today as well as to celebrate ten years of Rose Charities International project work.

The keynote lecture was presented by Dr Collin Yong from the British Columbia Children’s Hospital, Canada and amongst the other projects papers shared by the delegates were ‘Infectious Diseases and Palliative Care in the Philippines’ by Ms Lise Groot, ‘Eye Camps in Nepal’ by Dr Basant Raj Sharma, ‘Micro-credit and Community Programmes’ in Sri Lanka by Mr Anthony Richard, ‘Child Care Projects in Madagascar’ by Ms Cheryl Anne Pine, ‘Emergency Disaster Response’ by Ms Kirsten Reems, ‘Rehab Surgery in Cambodia’ by Dr Nous Sarom, and ‘Corneal Transplants & Braille Teaching in Vietnam’ by Mrs Jan Johnston.

The conference ended on a high note with the Rose Charities International 10^th Anniversary banquet dinner including the presentation of “Charity Rose’ Awards 2006/2007 at Cititel Penang.

Rose Charities International is made up of a group of independent organisations based in several countries which are non-political, non-profit and secular; all linked by a common aim, which is to rehabilitate people to a better, more productive life.

It started in Cambodia in 1998 by aid workers with the aim of delivering effective, sustainable programmes directly to those in need, with minimal bureaucracy and with transparency at every stage. Their projects include developing peace among communities through programmes such as ‘Peace through Education’, ‘Vocational Training for Youths’, ‘Peace through Sports’, ‘Counselling’, ‘Leadership Training for Children, Youth and Women’, ‘Relief and rehabilitation, ‘CRO Enterprise Development’ and other educational and health related projects.

Monday, August 06, 2007

Saturday, August 04, 2007

Emergency flood relief, South Nepal...

We went early in the morning to search the affected flood area. We had also Co-Ordination by Phone with AMDA staff especially with team leader Mr. Niraula. We observed two areas where people were staying in the school leaving house because of flood.

We went each House and met with each people from the morning but AMDA group was not visited yet. So we went to search more 15 KM far area almost near border but most people were unmanageable. They had House, Animal, Food, medicine and Animal crops problems. I went each House to get data. When we came back from the border the Health camp was running in the School. I met with Mr. Niraula and introduce my team and local political leader to support him in any problem. It was very big crowd in the Health camp. It was difficult to handle staff alone. So we made plan tomorrow to appoint local volunteer to control and deal with people. We went for lunch around 3 PM but before lunch went to meet with local police officer to get actual victim and needy people's data although we were also collecting data individually. We found 160 House are almost victimized in our first observation area and near health camp area 150 House were affected.

Tomorrow we and AMDA is going to distribute ration and some cloth from our side and only cloth from AMDA side together. I have chosen spot for distribution in the police office in front of 8 political parties and social worker. We observed that we can not distribute out side because people can create trouble to us. We should put police for our security which is obviously known to Mr. Niraula [AMDA leader] looking people's attitude today in the health camp.

Goodbye. Thank You.

Binod Aryal

Posted by RoseCharities at 11:52 AM 0 comments