Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Rose Charities relief going out to flood victims



A load of provisions have been bought and stored temporarily in RCSL office in Kalmunai for distribution. All the staff members of RCSL put all their own time and effort on packing and distributing these relief goods.

Today is the second day of packing and distribution.

Members from areas such as Natpiddimunai, Pandiruppu, Veeramunai, Veeracholai and Kalmunai were provided with relief provisions so far.

We are expecting more than 1000 members to come in to the RCSL office to receive relief goods.

The package includes various amounts of rice, flour, lentils, tea, sugar, instant noodles, biscuits, dried fish, mosquito coils, box of matches, soaps and soya meat.

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Saturday, January 15, 2011

Kalmunai, S.E. Sri Lanka, flood update: Rose Charities Sri Lanka

Flood in Kalmunai - 14.01.2011




Wellaveli Bridge Broken by Flood


Wednesday, January 12, 2011

S.E. Sri Lanka Floods worsten....

Update from Kalmunai-Ampara 12.01.2011

The heavy rainfall is still on …………………!
The meteorological department forecast that thundershower may continue for some more days in the Eastern province of Srilanka. If this condition goes on like this, the devastation may be worse and serious.

In Ampara district Neelavanai, Pandiruppu, Kalmunai, Karaitivu, malikaikadu, Akkaraipatru, Thirukovil, Nintavur, Sammanthurai and Navithanveli are affected completely by the flood. Some of these areas are completely isolated from the main land.
Due to the flooding in Batticaloa district, six hospitals have been closed temporarily and the patients were transferred to the teaching hospital in Batticaloa town. Emergency medical camps are set up in main cities.


In the Eastern province it is reported that there were 15 deaths with no causes to be found. The recent cold climate due to the raining causes the elders and infants to fall in ill.
The health care people are on the ready to face the after effects of the flood in the areas.
Since the artery of transportation was affected by the heavy rain, flood people are struggling without any immediate essentials such as food, medicine, drinking water, sleeping materials etc.
Efforts are underway to provide relief to the needy people. Disaster Management Unit of the Government is taking necessary actions to settle the compensations for the families who lost their members to this flood and to those whose houses badly damaged. Food and medicines have also been sent to relief camps in the Eastern province from Colombo. But this effort makes delay and or unsuccessful due to the blockage in transportation from Colombo or surrounded area of Batticaloa and Ampara districts.
Most of the reservoirs are merged with water and therefore the people living around these areas are being evacuated to safe places. Opening of the sky-doors of these reservoirs may cause flooding in the adjacent regions in Ampara and Batticaloa districts.
In Kalmunai Education Zone alone, about 10000 students are affected.
As of today there are more than 315000 of 81600 families affected and most of these people are in relief camps and or with their relatives or friends.
Villages near the lagoon, river or tanks were completely flooded and the residents have displaced. Blockage in the transportation causes difficulties in displacing.
People in these flood affected regions are facing severe problems in lavatory facilities and getting drinking water.
Displaced settled in schools where the lavatory and shelter facilities are insufficient and relief is yet to arrive.
Most of the paddy land and cattle and poultry farms are badly affected in Ampara district.
Thuravanthiyamedu, a village in Kalmunai is completely isolated from the main land and 210 of 53 families were brought in boats by the Special Task Forces of the Police.
Some fishermen from Periya Neelavanai of Kalmunai who went fishing had gone missing. Two of them were rescued but one was dead.
As there is a lack of provisions in the local shops, people are suffering to get on with their regular living.
Rose affected by the flood!
The Dominos preschool of RCSL and ELI in Kalmunai are completely flooded and there are damages to the furniture and books and office materials.
All the Rose preschools and properties in Neelavanai, Veeramunai, Annamalai, Karaitivu, Chalambaikerni, Veeracholai and 10th Colony are completely or partially affected by the flood. These preschool functions are on halt until further notice.
The library run by the Rose Children’s Clubs in Annamalai was flooded with furniture and books lost.
The Rose Community Centre in Navithanveli is under flood waters.
Due to the flooding in the Kalmunai office, the regular functions of RCSL have been disabled.
Officials from RCSL have visited some of the relief camps in Kalmunai and Karaitivu to get details of the affected and their immediate needs. Field staffs are working with the government and non-government organizations too.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Flooding in Kalmunai, Ampara and regions, Sri Lanka

Terrible Flooding in Kalmunai, Ampara and other regions of Eastern Province in Sri Lanka.

Flooding in Kalmunai, Ampara
Since the last flood in 1957, since the Tsunami of 2004, the eastern province of Sri Lanka hasn’t seen such a tremendous flood and heavy rain. A heavy rainfall continuing for 22 days, without a break as of today accompanied with strong wind thumbing areas such as Kalmunai, Pandiruppu, Karaitivu, Neelavanai, Kallar, Navithenvely, Natpiddimunai, Akkaraipatru, Paduvankarai, Batticaloa and other regions of mostly all island.
There are more than 880,000 affected with 13 deaths in Eastern province of Sri Lanka with 116,000 in Ampara and 480,000 in Batticaloa. In Kalmunai alone there were 2 deaths and 132,000 hectares of paddy lands have been destroyed because of this recent flooding.
The highways and main roads have been blocked for any types of transportation. People are using canoes in the flooded areas to find shelter to save their lives.
This caused the blockage of relief goods and foods or medicines to the affected areas. Because of the continuous rain and wind air transportation of such relief has also been impossible.
There are 146 welfare stations set up in Batticaloa District to serve the affected.
With 7200 families displaced in Ampara District, there are 196 welfare stations servicing in which 57 schools are turned out to be welfare stations or relief camps. 52 houses were completely damaged with 157 houses partly damaged.
Most of the preschools managed by Rose Charities Sri Lanaka are in areas which have been affected by the flood, therefore these pre schools have to be closed until the disaster descents. Some of the Rose Pre schools and its premises have been destroyed. Most of the staff of Rose Charities Sri Lanka are also victims of this disaster. Some of their houses have been completely or partly damaged.
Rose Charities Sri Lanka has set up a temporary shelter and foods for its staff who were displaced.
There is an emergency relief unit has also been set up by Rose Charities Sri Lanka for any immediate emergencies in Kalmunai and other areas in Ampara District.
Rose Charities Sri Lanka kindly requests any assistance to remedy this catastrophe.











Monday, January 10, 2011

Emergency support for Sri Lanka flood victims

Rose Charities Canada has sent emergency support for the recent flooding in S.E. Sri Lanka.  People are sleeping in camps and food supplies are needed fro the children.  The Rose Charities Canada Sri Lanka Steering Committee has also arranged an emergency meeting shortly and will assess whats more is needed. Communications with Rose Charities in Kalmunai are good so regular updates are able to be obtained

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Tot' surgery successful !

Little Tot now has a  mouth !  Surgery was completed successfully in Singapore on Tuesday 4th January 2011.  The surgery was somewhat more complicated than expected. Tots tongue is present though unusually small. His jaw was also locked together with ingrowing teeth from both top and bottom. However after the surgery he was able to utter a word  'Ba' (which means 'yes' in Khmer).  The operation took 5 hours and peformed by Dr Myra Elliot.  Dr Veronica Ventura the main organizer for the whole Tot initiative was also present.

Tot will convalesce in Singapore until the 15th January then return to Cambodia and continue recovery at the Rose Charities Surgical and Physical Rehab Center in Takmau.

Picture shows Tot and his very happy Dad !

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Rose Charities Australia seeks to support Queensland flood victims

Rose Charities Australia is standing by to help where it can with victims of the terrible Queensland flooding. Though a small organization with limited resources, the organizers realize that sometimes people 'fall between the cracks' with large scale relief efforts and even a small assistance can count a lot to someone in need.
Huge sympathy is extended by the Rose Charities Australia Trustees,  to those who are suffering.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Ambassador Hoffman presents project funding cheque to Surgical Center



The Rose Charities / Operation First Cambodian Surgery Center was honoured to personally on Dec 21st 2010, receive a funidng cheque from  H.E. Ron Hoffman, Canadian Ambassador to Thailand.  The cheque was handed to Dr Nous Sarom, founder and Chair of Operation FIRST.

The funds are for the assistance of victim survivors of the terrible November 2010 Water Festival Disaster.   18 victims have already been identified in the Takhmau area and treatments have commenced.

Canadian-Cambodian links in Rose Charities have always been very strong.  Rose Charities Cambodia was established  by one of the three founders of  the ophthalmic assistance organization, Project IRIS - the Canadian Physician  Grut then formed Rose to give rehabilitative surgical assistance to the poor of Cambodia and established a Surgical Center near Phnom Penh (Kien Khleang) , partly with the help of  Canadian Funds. Though suffering a major looting and vandalization in 2002 the project was re-established at a more suitable Ministry of Health Hospital and is a world renowned center for surgical training and treatment.  Canada and/or Canadians  have also funded Rose Charities projects elsewhere in its network, notably,  Vietnam ( HCMC, through the efforts  generosity of Consul General Bill, and Mrs Jan Johnston) , Sri Lanka - through a CIDA grant for Post Tsunami Reconstruction and Peace Building programs, and Haiti (mainly through generous institutions in the Lower Mainland B.C).

Teaching and operative teams and individuals from Canada regularly visit the Cambodian Surgical Center. These include Operation Rainbow Canada, and Consultants, such as Dr Collin Yong from B.C's Children's Hospital (and also of the Rotaplast Organization)   Many medical students from Canada (and elsewhere) spend time at the center.

The Rose Cambodia Sight Center, supported significantly also by Canadian donations has now helped 90,000 poor Cambodians since 2001.

The organizers of  Rose Charities Canada would like to thanks H.E. Ambassador Hoffman for his kind support in personal presentation and interest in the Surgical Centre 






















Sunday, January 2, 2011

Cambodian Tot ready for life-changing surgery

Little 'Tot' - the 5 year old Cambodia boy with the hugely rare condition of fused jaw - picked up and helped by Dr Veronica Ventura of  Community Health Care Development  has 'passed' his screening tests, carried out in Siem Reap and is now in Singapore for surgery in the next few days.   Dr Ventura did a considerable search in Cambodia before partnering with Rose Charities for his rehabilitation and post surgical care.  Dr Venturas tireless pursuit of  a way to help Tot has been, in the opinion of this writer,  utterly amazing. She has worked tirelessly in her efforts for almost a year, making numerous visits to Cambodia in the process to make arrangements.   It is a sad fact that such quiet charitable determination and generosity of spirit are little publicized (not that Dr Ventura would wish it !).  She also found sadly little help in Cambodia: One organization supposedly specializing in 'Childrens Surgery'  simply wanted to operate 'blindly' on Tot without any prior  radiological (x-ray) assessment.

Don Cayo, one of Vancouver's leading freelance journalists writes...

"  “There is so much endemic disease, in Cambodia, not to mention malnutrition/poor diet that it is very important to screen carefully before surgery.  [Several common conditions], not least the awful problem of Malaria (Cambodia has some of the
most drug resistant strains in the world] can put down the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood and make surgery dangerous. So we needed to check that all is okay. And I am delighted to say that it is.
    “Tot's surgery can now go ahead. It is scheduled for the 4th January in Singapore.  All staff are donating their time free, including the surgeon, Dr Myra Elliot, an experienced, Singapore registered maxillo-facial expert. Singapore, like Canada, has tight regulations
on who can practice there so we are very lucky to get Dr Elliot. . . .
    "Tot will convalesce until the 15th January in Singapore then fly back to Cambodia and to our Rose Charities medical facilities there. So things are very much falling into place.  Vancouver donors have generously donated $1500 to date which will help enormously both with the surgical as well as the rehab elements.
    "We all intend to follow Tot long after he has recovered and been rehabilitated.
    “There is the moral argument whether it is appropriate to spend a lot of money on one individual. But by ensuring that Tot gets a proper education and a happy, productive life, that amount spent can be considered to be working over a lifetime. An
individual unable to communicate by speech, malnourished, and with all his debilitation would certainly  be a financial drain on his family or community over the years. But restoring him to a place where he can have a normal life may create, through that life which will include education, a bright future for himself, his family and
his community too.
    “So many more will be helped by the financial outlay than just one poor little Cambodian boy.”

 ' Tot's progress will be reported on this site.

Whanganui Hospital NZ donates Ophthalmic Field Analyser to Rose Camboidia Sight Center

An wonderful donation of a Zeiss Humphrey Optical  Field Analyser has been donated via Mr Mike Webber. NZOM for use in the Rose Cambodia Sight Center.  This advanced instrument will enable a full detailed analyisis of sight problems of the patients coming to the clinic for help.

The Rose Cambodia Sight Center helps around 10,000 poor Cambodians per year, many who need operations to prevent blindness or restore sight.  Founded in 1998, the center was robbed, looted and almost destroyed in 2001.  The stolen equipment, as well as its vehicles were traced to the premises of a nearby expatriate managed clinic, but despite requests were never returned.   Despite these crimes the Sight Center has helped  90,000 poor Cambodians to date and is now one of Cambodia's leading centers.

Rose Charities New Zealand's Mr Mike Webber NZOM,  Dr David Sabistron NZOM, and Mr John Veale have been pivotal in bringing the clinic to its current status, with regular teaching visits, and obtaining donations of equipment and funds.  Dr Hang Vra,  Director of the Clinic is acclaimed by many international observers as being a 'superb eye surgeon'   of the highest order.

Dame Silvia Cartwright PCNZM, DBE, QSO, DStJ,( the 18th Gov General of NZ)  has honoured  Rose Charities NZ as being a Patron of the organization.  Dame Silvia has recently been one of the main expatriate judges in the current Khmer Rouges war trials in Camboida

Image shows the Zeiss Humphrey Field Analyser, prior to shipping to Cambodia

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Amy returns from AMDA Cholera relief mission, Haiti

 AMDA has been conducting cholera relief activities in Fond de Negres Haiti.  The hospital there has, like almost all other centers, been almost overwhelmed with cases.  Amy is 4th year Canadian medical student, but also a fully qualified  nurse.  She traveled in  December to Fond de Negres to join the AMDA team and assist.      While there she wrote back (click for full piece)

"... there is little time for compassion in a cholera outbreak. the "corpses" are highly contagious and need to be quickly cleaned with disinfectant and then put in a body-bag to be buried. i want to give the family time to grieve- they just lost a 19-year-old boy- but the families of the other patients want him gone immediately. someone runs for a body-bag. i pull the sheet over his face as people are gathering around to gawk. his mother is in shock and doesn't seem to believe that he's really gone. she goes over and pulls the sheet down. she touches his face. she pulls the sheet down further and touches his stomach. then she touches his feet, one at a time. i don't know what she's looking for it, but she doesn't find it. she sits down beside him and looks incredulous. I am about to be the only person in the room to cry so i step out onto the balcony and take deep breaths. i manage to pull it together."..

Amy traveled in December to join the AMDA Cholera relief team which had been there since the beginning of December (click for details) .   Originally the teams plan had been to put up an emergency treatment unit, but, having been granted the land to do so, a local 'owner claimant' hastily put up a structure (overnight) to prevent them doing so.   Thus treatment of this potentially lethal and highly contagious disease had to continue within the bounds of the hospital itself.

Amy worked hard to ensure correct protocols were being carried out.  Judging from her observations it could be that many lives could be further saved by more precise adherence to these (WHO) protocols, if only to ensure that proper focus is maintained on those who need minute by minute care by the limited staff numbers.

AMDA Canada works very closely with Rose Charities Canada.  One of AMDA's main foci is emergency humanitarian relief in which it is now one of the worlds most active organizations, often being invited to assist  in relatively difficult-to-access areas (e.g. Myanmar, Central Asia, Sichuan  etc.   AMDA HQ is in Okayama, Japan, and its founder (in 1984) Dr Shigeru Suganami