AMDA tsunami relief: update 1st April 2011

2011-04-01)
AMDA's medical teams, one in Iwate and one in Miyagi prefecture, are making untiring efforts towards caring for the victims and evacuees. On average, about ten to twenty staff work in each team at a time. Individual staff members are staying in the disaster areas for about a week, as they are taking time away from their own jobs and responsibilities. AMDA secured hotel rooms in a city some distance from the evacuation centre so that the staff could relax at night in rotation. However, many doctors and nurses said that they would prefer staying in the evacuation centres with the victims, as they did not want to waste time for traveling.
Iwate Prefecture (Kamaishi City and the town of Ohtsuchicho):
The AMDA team working at Futaba Elementary School in Kamaishi city was invited to the Graduation Ceremony on 29th March, and joined local people in celebrating the children's completion of their 6-year course even in such a difficult time. On the 30th, doctors from Iwate Prefectural Hospital arrived in the evacuation centre of Kamaishi city, and the AMDA team handed over patient records to the Iwate Prefectural Hospital team and gave them a briefing on their activities. On the same day, AMDA started setting up a vehicle with equipment to provide the intravenous drip (IV). This ¡Èmobile IV centre¡É will start operation soon.
Meanwhile, missions from overseas that had arrived on 28th supported AMDA team¡Çs medical activities at evacuation shelters in Ohtsuchi-cho. They held a small international conference to discuss ways of supporting victims, and concluded that they would set up a long-term plan of supporting young people by providing a scholarship to high school students. This proposal was received favourably by the schoolmaster of Ohtsuchi High School.
Miyagi Prefecture (the town of Minamisanriku-cho):
AMDA's other team is based in Sizugawa Elementary School in Sanriku-cho and providing mobile clinic service to those who cannot leave their homes and cannot come to the evacuation centre. The team, cooperating with local health workers, keeps in mind that the elderly people concerned should receive medical service as comfortably as possible. A psychiatrist and a psychotherapist in the team are treating those who have symptoms of stress or mental disorder.
Other Activities:
AMDA also received a request for information from an Israeli mission who arrived in Japan the previous week. AMDA and the Israeli team have been exchanging information on their activities.

AMDA-Japan tsunami relief: update 29th March 2011

(2011-03-29) In response to an increasing number of requests coming in from foreign organizations in joining AMDA's relief work, AMDA has started to collaborate with the overseas relief teams. Iwate Prefecture (Kamaishi City and the town of Ohtsuchicho): Relief supplies and medical services have been relatively fulfilled at the larger evacuation centers in Kamaishi City, however, the stock management of the aid goods has been an issue. On the other hand, communication lines have not yet recovered in the town of Ohtsuchicho where some of the evacuation shelters in the remote area are left deserted. AMDA team uses electric vehicles to deliver mobile clinic services to these shelters and uses other means to enter the sites in a mountainous area where road access is difficult. Most of the patients are the elderly who cannot go to the hospital even after their medicines ran out. For this reason, health conditions of the patients with chronic diseases have been worsened as they were left untreated. Hence, AMDA team is delivering mobile clinic services to these sites on a regular basis. Miyagi Prefecture (the town of Minamisanriku-cho): Minamisanriku-cho AMDA personnel have been working in two teams at Shizugawa Elementary School and Shizugawa Junior High School. The team in Shizugawa Elementary School is working with a local doctor who is spearheading the medical relief. They are also providing mobile clinic services to smaller evacuation shelters. Ailments such as depressive symptoms, panic disorders and suspected influenza cases were found among some of the patients, however, the most pressing issue is the fulfillment of medicines for those with chronic diseases. The patients have no means to obtain their medicines after they ran out. Likewise, AMDA tries to complement this by delivering mobile clinic services. As of now lifelines including electricity, gas and water have not yet recovered in the area. Latest dispatch of AMDA personnel (as of Mar. 29th): 14th team: 4 doctors, 1 psychotherapist, 2 coordinators, 2 nurses (Mar. 27th) 15th team: 2 doctors, 1 pharmacist, 3 nurses, 1 coordinator (Mar. 28th) Teams from the overseas (Mar. 28th-29th): 1) Korean team (Korean Medical Association, Medipeace): 3 doctors, 2 coordinators, 1 interpreter 2) Malaysian team (MERCY Malaysia): 2 coordinators 3) AMDA Indonesia team: 2 doctors (including AMDA chairperson), 2 medical students The number of AMDA's relief personnel thus far: 88 35 doctors, 14 nurses, 2 midwives, 1 assistant nurse, 3 pharmacists, 1 psychotherapist, 30 coordinators, 2 medical students Stay tuned for more updates.

AMDA Tsunami relief update: 27th March 2011

(2011-03-27) Iwate Prefecture (Kamaishi City and the town of Ohtsuchicho):
1) Ohtsuchicho
The medical infrastructure in the town of Ohtsuchicho was totally devastated due to the torrential tsunami. The clinics and hospitals in the coastal area were all washed away and their doctors and nurses were displaced as well. Hence, they are engaged in relief activities while they themselves are evacuated at the evacuation shelters.
The medical activities in Ohtsuchicho were headed by the staff of the local Ohtsuchi Hospital which also helped AMDA in procuring medical supplies. However, as the hospital had to undergo the suspension of their services until Apr. 15th (for the first time since the tsunami hit; allowing its employees to take some time off to take care of their personal matters), the evacuation shelters under its direction have been facing difficulties in their daily operations.
At Ohtsuchicho High School, due to the lack of coordination, things have been rather confounding as many relief organizations come and go in a short period of time. As of Mar. 24th, teams from AMDA as well as Osaka and Aomori's medical associations have been active (all comprising a number of staff.) It is also reported that having a pharmacist in the team is very important in providing coherent services as most of the medicines are generic ones.
Majority of patients at Ohtsuchi High School are those with chronic diseases. Therefore, they all requested the medicines they regularly take.
One of AMDA doctors accompanied a local volunteer to deliver mobile clinic services to a remote community in mountainous area where assistance hadn't reached. In the community where there were about fifty households (most of them elderly) the patients with chronic diseases had been left untreated. Among the patients were diabetes patients with abnormally high blood sugar level or those with excessive high blood pressure. In response to this, the team delivered mobile clinic services on a regular basis.
Contrary to Kamaishi city, the disaster headquarters in Ohtsuchicho has been very much isolated as lines of communication have not yet recovered. The road access to the headquarters is not easy either where the roads are covered by debris.
AMDA team members assume that it is going to take a lot of time to have the medical infrastructure recovered, thus the assistance from external relief organizations is a must. It is also foreseeable that services such as nursing for the elderly would be resumed in the course of recovery.
2) Kamaishi City
Medical volunteers are regularly allocated at the disaster headquarters in Kamaishi City. People are counting on AMDA as its doctors themselves are always present at the daily meeting. Large amount of medicine donated from all around the country has exceeded the capacity of the initial storage so that the stock management has been handful.
Miyagi Pref. (the town of Minamisanriku-cho):
1) Minamisanriku-cho
AMDA has been visiting several evacuation shelters in Minamisanriku-cho on a regular basis, conducting mobile clinic services and on-site needs assessments.
At one iron factory where about thirty people have been evacuated, AMDA prescribed Tamiflu to the evacuees as there were several suspected influenza cases.
According to the surveys conducted in collaboration with other medical teams, following facts were found:
1)There are lots of people who cannot come and collect medicines from the evacuation centers .
2)Depressive symptoms have been increasing among the evacuees.
3)Suspected influenza cases (Tamiflu was prescribed for its prevention.)
4)Along with mobile clinic services delivered by doctors, health care workers are also conducting home-visiting on their own. In order to avoid the overlap, the close communication/referral between the two parties is a must.
A pharmacist from AMDA team sorted out the medicines donated from its donor. The stock management of medicines is considered very important when aid supplies are coming in one after the other.
Shizukawa Elementary School:
Here, it is a local doctor who leads the medical relief, and there are about 50 to 80 patients to the temporary clinic daily. The prescription of medicine is for a maximum of seven days per patient; the doctors decided not to prescribe medicines for a long period if a patient can be cured within a few days. There are also several teams of psychiatrists dropping by in the area.
No gas, water or electricity in the shelter except for the nightly operation of a power generator that helps the evacuees to recharge their mobile phones. LED lights have been provided so the place is not totally darkened out. There are futons but no heating available. On Mar. 24th, the evacuees were able to take a shower for the first time after the disaster struck (40 people at a time every 30mins.)
Shizukawa Junior High School:
Likewise, it is another local doctor that is in charge of the medical relief in the shelter. AMDA helped to deliver mobile clinic services to the vicinity and saw many patients with hey fever and high blood pressure. There were several severe cases such as inguinal hernia and hydrocephalia as well.

AMDA tsunami relief: update 25th March 2011

(2011-03-25)

While aftershocks still continue in Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures, current cold weather (snowing in some areas) poses an extra burden on those who are withstanding the aftermath. However, a good news came from Kamaishi city (Iwate) that despite the lack of merchandise some of the convenience stores have started to resume services. Overall, the distribution of goods has been improving gradually.

On Mar. 24th, AMDA sent one coordinator to Minamisanriku-cho in Miyagi followed by additional dispatch of one coordinator to Iwate.

AMDA President, Dr. Shigeru Suganami, who returned from the disaster site on Mar. 21st will be rejoining the existing teams in Iwate accompanied by one doctor and one nurse.

On Mar. 25th, a truck loaded with medicines, sanitary goods and other aid supplies will leave for Kamaishi city and the town of Ohtsuchicho in Iwate responding to the inquiries from the local teams.

Iwate Prefecture (Kamaishi City and the town of Ohtsuchicho):

AMDA teams have been closely working together in four evacuation shelters, namely, Futaba Elementary School, Kamaishi City Gymnasium, Kamaishi Junior High School and Ohtsuchi High School. Thanks to the support from a pharmacy in Kamaishi city, the prescription and provision of medicines have been going much smoother than before. AMDA teams have been in touch with the local doctors on any matters pertaining to the handover of the activities, sharing the information on patients that are in need of continuous care.



AMDA has been handing out the copy of one's clinical record to each patient for further convenience. It is also reported that medical teams will be sent from adjacent Aomori Pref. (north of Iwate) shortly, thus leading to the improvement of the local medical infrastructure.



Miyagi Prefecture (Minamisanriku-cho):

All of AMDA personnel were relocated to Minamisanriku-cho and have been working at Shizukawa Elementary School since Mar. 23rd. AMDA is mainly supporting a local doctor who had already been active in the area. In order to fulfill the needs at the smaller evacuation shelters where medical aid has been scarce, AMDA team is planning to deliver mobile clinic services.



Now that the road access to Minamisanriku-cho has recovered, the transportation of relief goods has been relatively stable. Food supplies have been somewhat well-off and medicines can be delivered within a few days of ordering.

Latest dispatch of AMDA personnel (as of Mar. 25th):

12th Team: two coordinators (one to Iwate and one to Miyagi) (Mar. 24th)

13th Team: two doctors (including AMDA President), one nurse (Mar. 25th)

The number of AMDA's relief personnel thus far: 62

23 doctors, 10 nurses, 2 midwives, 1 assistant nurse, 2 pharmacists, 24 coordinators

AMDA tsunami relief: update 24th March 2011

(2011-03-24) AMDA teams are ongoingly engaged in medical services both in Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures. This report is on the activities in Kamaishi City and the town of Ohtsuchicho in Iwate Pref. as of Mar. 22nd.
Iwate Pref. (Kamaishi City and the town of Ohtsuchicho):
In the morning of Mar. 22nd, AMDA coordinators visited a local temple in Kamaishi City where remains of the victims have been placed. The coordinators gave thought to the matters pertaining to their funeral.
Later that day, the coordinators visited each of AMDA's working locations in both Kamaishi City and Ohtsuchicho to assess the current developments of the teams' relief activities. They also visited Akahama district to determine the extent of the disaster followed by the visit to the disaster headquarters set at Shiroyama Gymnasium in Ohtsuchicho.
As of now, including the loss of the town mayor and its civil servants, the municipality of Ohtsuchio has not yet recovered its administrative function. Hence, the staff from Iwate Prefectural Government, Kamaishi City Government and the Self-Defense Force have been present to back up the administration. On the same day, three coordinators and one nurse arrived to join the existing teams.
The developments around the evacuation centers are as follows:
Futaba Elementary School:
AMDA staff visited the office of a local medical association to discuss how to hand over AMDA's current activities to a local doctor. Meanwhile, one pharmacy in Kamaishi City offered to deliver medicines per request in case the stock runs out.
Kamaishi City Gymnasium:
As most of the medicines provided here are generic ones, one of AMDA doctors requested pharmaceutical dictionaries for reference. The doctor reported that without having the dictionaries he had to use his mobile phone to check what the drugs are. Later on, the doctor managed to obtain the dictionaries through the doctors working elsewhere. Medical dictionaries of this sort are difficult to find locally and are only obtainable in Morioka City, the capital.
Kamaishi Junior High School:
One doctor and one midwife from AMDA have been making utmost efforts to meet the local needs. While the school is used for an evacuation shelter, many of its students were present on that day as their graduation ceremony was held.
Ohtsuchi High School:
There are several medical teams from universities working at the school; two doctors from Iwate Medical University are scheduled to work until Mar. 25th.; likewise, Gunma University's medical team will be bringing in electrocardiogram and X-ray machines to work for two days from Mar. 23rd. While some of AMDA's medical personnel continue to work at the school, two AMDA doctors will be delivering mobile clinic services (using electric vehicles) to the vicinity.
The report on the activities in Miyagi Prefecture (Sendai City and the town of Minamisanriku-cho) will be posted shortly.

AMDA Japan tsunami relief team update: 23 March 2011

Iwate Prefecture (Kamaishi City and the town of Ohtsuchicho):
Currently based in Kamashi City and the town of Ohtsuchicho, AMDA doctors and nurses have been on rotation to provide medical services in the region. While some of AMDA doctors are stationed at the larger evacuation centers, other medical staff are delivering mobile clinic services to the smaller shelters by electric vehicles and other means.
Contrary to Kamaishi City where power supply is gradually recovering, Ohtsuchicho is still facing power cut, hence the evacuation shelters continue to hold a number of evacuees.
The effort to provide meals to the evacuees was realized which served hot meals to 1,500 people in both Kamaishi City and Ohtsuchicho. The initiative was prompted by AMDA and was organized by one of the municipalities in Okayama Pref., home to AMDA.
Meanwhile, relief goods sent from AMDA Headquarters arrived in Hanamaki City (AMDA's hub for transportation of goods) in the morning of Mar. 21st and were delivered to respective sites. AMDA has also started to hire people on site at the evacuation shelters not only for the sake of fulfilling manpower but also to create job opportunities.It is believed that by hiring locals would allow AMDA to provide detailed assistance.
Miyagi Prefecture (Sendai City and the town of Minamisanriku-cho):
Through Mar. 21st to 22nd AMDA team working at a nursing home in Minamisanriku-cho saw 113 patients; most of whom were older than the age of sixty and were suffering from high blood pressure, backache, oral herpes and hay fever. There were several epilepsia and schizophrenia patients as well.
From Mar. 23rd AMDA will be backing up a local doctor already active in Minamisanriku-cho to provide medical services at the local primary and secondary schools. On the same day, AMDA's 11th team (three doctors, one nurse and one coordinator) will be arriving from Tokyo on helicopter to join the existing team in Minamisanriku-cho.
The total number of AMDA personnel dispatched thus far (as of Mar. 22nd): 56
21 doctors, 9 nurses, 2 midwives, 1 assistant nurse, 2 pharmacists, 21 coordinators

AMDA Emergency Relief continues.. 22nd March 2010

 
(2011-03-22)
Still rattled by the frequent aftershocks, AMDA teams have been working in Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures. Now that more than 10 days have passed since the occurrence of the earthquake, obvious fatigue, both mental and physical, is present on the faces of the evacuees.
On Mar. 20th AMDA's ninth team (two doctors) joined the teams in Iwate and Miyagi Pref. respectively.

As of Mar. 20th, the number of AMDA personnel in the aforementioned areas are as follows:

Iwate Pref.: 23
Miyagi Pref.: 9
Iwate Prefecture (Kamaishi City and the town of Ohtsuchicho):
While AMDA team in Iwate is delivering mobile clinic services to Kamaishi City and Ohtsuchicho, on Mar. 18th relief goods from AMDA donors arrived in Iwate to be delivered to each evacuation centers.
Introduced by one of AMDA doctors working in Ohtsuchicho, a medical team from Nagasaki University School of Medicine joined forces with AMDA team.
On Mar. 19th AMDA's eighth team arrived in Hanamaki Airport (on a chartered plane) joined the earlier team and started providing medical services in Kamaishi City and Ohtsuchicho. As of now the team has been delivering mobile clinic services in five locations, namely, Ohtsuchi High school (Otsuchicho), and Kamaishi Jr. High School, Futaba Elementary School, City Gymansium, and Nakashima Gymnasium (Kamaishi City.)
Upon the arrival of newly-dispatched personnel, AMDA has been replacing its doctors time to time as those sent earlier had been exhausted. The donated-electronic vehicles arrived from Okayama on Mar. 19th and are now used for mobile clinic services; the vehicles are able to complement the gas shortage.
As more and more activity locations are added in Iwate Pref., AMDA sent its 10th team on Mar. 21st by land.
Miyagi Prefecture (Sendai City and the town of Minamisanriku-cho):
On Mar. 19th AMDA team in Sendai moved to Minamisanriku-cho by land. At the local disaster headquarters set in Minamisanriku-cho Bay Side Arena, the team provided orthopedic treatments and provided medicine to 100-some patients. A number of patients with chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes were seen. On Mar. 20th, beside treating patients, AMDA team provided comprehensive support ranging from setting up examination rooms, improving toilets for patient-use, guiding visitors and developing a map of the facility. The team returned to Sendai after providing necessary services in the facility.
Meanwhile, another group of AMDA personnel arrived in Minamisanriku-cho (by helicopter) and reached another emergency center established in the local athletic ground (Minamisanriku-cho Sports Exchange Villa Athletic Ground.) They joined the earlier team to work in the local daycare center (evacuation shelter.) The team is later scheduled to work at a local elementary school where currently 650 people have been evacuated.
As there is a growing demand for AMDA to work long-term in Minamisanriku-cho, a plan is underway to send 11th team on Mar. 23rd from Tokyo by helicopter.
Stay tuned for more updates.

AMDA tsunami relief teams update - 7th team now underway

(2011-03-18) 1) AMDA team in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture:
AMDA team has been delivering mobile clinic services and relief goods to the nursing homes and schools (evacuation shelters) in Aoba and Miyagino Wards. The common cold has become prevalent among the evacuees, however, the prevention is not easy in the crowded evacuation shelters while the dust from the collapsed buildings covering the entire area.
2)Kamaishi City and the Town of Ohzuchicho, Iwate Prefecture:
Likewise, mobile clinic services have been the main activities of the AMDA team in Iwate Prefecure. The cold weather (snowing) is affecting the evacuees' health condition and medicine is lacking in the area.
On Mar. 17th, AMDA's sixth team left for Miyagi/Iwate with medicine and food supplies.
On Mar. 18th, followed by Mar. 19th, AMDA will be sending its seventh team (1 coordinator) and eighth team (1 doctor, 2 nurses, 4 coordinators) respectively to the aforementioned Kamaishi City and the town of Ohzuchicho in Iwate Prefecture.

Supporting the AMDA Japan tsunami relief effort

AMDA Relief efforts for Japan tsunami expand

AMDA team in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture:
On Mar. 15th four members of AMDA team working in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture moved to the adjacent Iwate Prefecture to work in one of the most severely damaged sites.
Upon their arrival in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture later that day, the team assessed the local condition, and has started to deliver mobile clinic services to the local evacuation shelters (Kamaishi Junior High School, Kamaishi Elementary School, Kamaishi City Public Gymnasium and Ohzuchi Kyudo Dojo) from Mar. 16th.
After seeing patients at the above-mentioned junior high school and elementary school, one AMDA doctor is now staying in one of the evacuation shelters around the clock to treat the patients. From Mar. 17th, one doctor will be joining the nurse stationed in the aforementioned public gymnasium.
The AMDA team is planning to further visit other evacuation shelters in the vicinity. As of now the town of Ohzuchicho is especially in a difficult situation as its administrative function has not been recovered at the moment; the town hall was heavily affected by the tsunami and even the town mayor has been missing.
AMDA team in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture:
On Mar.15th, AMDA team in Sendai City (five doctors, two nurses, one driver) delivered mobile clinic services to one nursing home in Aoba Ward and six evacuation shelters (local schools) in Miyagino Ward (each shelter holds 200 to 1,600 evacuees.)
On Mar. 16th, the team visited seven local schools to deliver mobile clinic services (the number of evacuees ranged from 90 to 800 in respective shelters.) Overall, the common cold is the most prevalent malady in the evacuation shelters as many of the locations has no power supply (heating) at the moment; there were patients that needed dialysis as well.
Through Mar. 14th to 15th, AMDA donated aid supplies to two nursing homes in Aoba Ward. The items include meals, water, meat, vegetables, rice, kerosene heaters and charcoals. While the cold weather continues, the health condition of evacuees is seriously concerned as electricity and food supplies are lacking in the area.
On Mar. 17th, AMDA's sixth team comprising two coordinators, two nurses and one pharmacist will be dispatched to the afflicted sites.
AMDA has so far dispatched 25 relief/medical personnel (as of Mar. 17th): 10 doctors, 4 nurses, 1 midwife, 1 lab technician, 1 pharmacist, 8 coordinators

AMDA Canada is partners with Rose Charities Canada. Donations go to AMDA Japan with no admin or advertising costs.   DONATE.

AMDA 4th and 5th Teams arrive in Tsunami area: Global Medic Canada joins support

AMDA 4th and 5th medical and support teams arrived in Senadai 13th and 14th March.  The teams immediately went into action providing both direct medical support as well as bringing in materials and supplies in the suburbs of Sendai and surrounding areas.  Food, water, blankets, clothing is in great need.   Temperatures have dropped in the last 36 hours and survivors are now facing freezing temperatures with snow, and sleet. Hypothermia is a great danger in.


Global Medic Canada has contacted AMDA / Rose Charities Canada and has generously offered to lend support to the AMDA Japan relief efforts.  This offer is very greatly appreciated as so much more logistical support is needed as well as funds.  Global Medic has a strong history of excellent emergency international relief.

AMDA  is one of Japans most experienced NGO's in emergency relief and was heavily involved in the Kobe Earthquake in 1995.  We have  have carried out over 100 international relief efforts to date in all parts of the world.  Rose Charities is AMDA's close partner in Canada and provides support for AMDA missions as well as, on several occasions joined with support staff and teams. 

Donations to the AMDA efforts through the Rose Charities network will receive tax receipts and go directly to the efforts without any admin costs (always Rose policy) or advertising expenses

Japan Tsunami: AMDA relief efforts continue

Thousands of people are homeless and staying in temporary buildings such as schools, government buildings, hotels etc.  Though some supplies have been getting through there are still insufficient for everyone.  People interviewed continue to ask for food, water, clothing, and blankets. 

For those who still have their homes, electricity, water  and other infrastructure has been cut off.  Being winter, at night the temperatures are dropping to below zero.  The vulnerable, elderly, sick and children are especially suffering.  Both medical care as well as psychological support are needed.   Cases of pneumonia as well as hypothermia are increasing. 

While hospitals along the coast have been damaged, those further inland are functioning though overloaded.

The AMDA teams are part of a huge aid effort, very well orchestrated by the Japanese Government. Difficulties of access to many areas however still exist due to blocked access routes.

Donations to AMDA efforts are being collected by partner Rose Charities and go directly to support the AMDA teams without administration costs.    DONATE (CLICK)

AMDA Emergency Teams in North Japan

On Saturday Mar. 12th, after obtaining relief items such as batteries, water and food supplies in Niigata (AMDA's hub located 250km southwest of Sendai) AMDA's first relief team comprising two doctors, one nurse and one coordinator entered the city of Sendai in the most devastated Miyagi Prefecture.

Later on the 12th, AMDA's   second medical relief team also left for Niigata and joined the personnel from the first team to help the effort.   Both direct relief, as well as assessment of where and how relief can be increased is being carried out by the teams.
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With the terrible  extent of the devastation becoming  clearer  AMDA dispatched its  third team on Mar. 13th consisting of doctors and nurses.

AMDA President, Dr. Shigeru Suganami (picture), himself an experienced emergency physician is now also heading to   Niigata to  join the advanced teams  in Niigata, One group will then transfer to Sendai.

AMDA Canada is supporting the AMDA Japan efforts by collecting through partner Rose Charities in Canada. Donations are hugely welcomed and will go to the effort without any administration costs.  CLICK FOR DONATE LINK

AMDA Canada helping support AMDA Japan Emergency Earthquake / Tsunami relief teams

AMDA Canada is collecting to support the AMDA Japan emergency relief teams in North Japan .  AMDA Canada is run through Rose Charities Canada.  Please donate through the special AMDA Emergency field on our donation site.   Donations will go to the relief effort with zero administration costs.

Today.. Sunday 13th March,

AMDA Japan's third emergency medical team left today to join the other two teams already working in the disaster area.  AMDA Canada

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami; AMDA medical teams rush to northern Japan

AMDA disaster relief teams rushed to northern Japan today 12 March 2011 to help with emergency health care. Included were physicians including a pediatrician, nurses and logisticians.  The teams will aim initially to assist the  most vulnerable and set up a pont to which emergency supplies and medications can be deliververed. AMDA is one of Japans formost emergancy relief orgainzations.  Teams have recently been engageed in releif in Christchurch, New Zealand.

AMDA has experience of over 100 emergency relief efforts including earthquakes, tsunami, and conflict related human disasters.  AMDA Canada runs out of Vancouver and supports AMDA HQ efforts in major disasters in conjunction with Rose Charities.

Donations to assist AMDA HQ relief teams are very much appreciated and are being collected by partner Rose Charities     See  www.RoseCharities.ca     www.RoseCharities.us  or other Rose Charities sites.
CLICK TO GO TO DONATE PAGE-THANK YOU

Operation SMILE and Smile Train combining: Dr Sarom to represent in Perth at Op SMILE International Meeting

Dr Nous Sarom, Founder of the Cambodia Surgical Center (Operation FIRST and Rose Cambodia Rehab), is Cambodia's leading maxillofacial surgeon and a one of the primary consultants in many wonderful Operation SMILE outreach surgical camps.  Smile Train, an equally distinguised parallel organization runs the different policy of supporting currently existing surgical centers to carry out cleft lip / palate operations.  The Operation FIRST Cambodia Surgical Center is one of the foremost Smile Train Centers in Cambodia.  Now, the two organizations (Op SMILE and Smile Train) are joining forces and will in future be known as  Operation Smile Train.  Congratulations to both organizations for this move.

Dr Nous Sarom will be visiting Perth to represent / present at the Operation SMILE international surgical  conference in Perth this month (March 2011) having kindly been invited by the organization. He will then travel on to visit Sydney and meet up with  Rose Charities Australia board members.

Rose Charities Australia supports the Rose Cambodia Rehab Center, the physical therapy arm of the Surgical / Rehab Unit of Operation FIRST at Chea Chumneas Hosptital, Takmau.  The unit is runs under the Ministry of Health of Cambodia, an important aspect in assuring sustainability and proper support of the Cambodian medical system.  It is known by many locals for its kindness and compassion to its patients and staff - an element sadly lacking in at least one other establishment.

Both the Op First Cambodian Surgery Center  and Rose Cambodia Rehab are enormously appreciative to both Operation SMILE and Smile Train for their wonderful and continuing work to help Cambodia and Cambodians in need and support for the Cambodia Surgery Center.  Both magnificent organizations have alleviated an enormous amount of suffering since their inception.

Emergency optometry clinic up and running, Christchurch

Optometrist John Veale has now been running his emergency optometry / glasses clinic  in Shirley, Christchurch. Rose Charities New Zealand is providing funds for anyone who need glasses or eye tests but cannot afford them. Please email (click) if you need this assistance