Rose Charities - News

New Zealand Eye Team help eye screen poor in rural Cambodia: Dec 2011

2012-01-18T21:18:00.000-08:00

John Veale and Mike Webber (Optometrist Consultants, from Rose Charities New Zealand) went to Cambodia in mid-December, 2011. Their mission was to once again spend time at the Rose Charities Sight Centre in Phnom Penh with staff, training, ‘fine tuning’ and/or suggesting ways that could help in improving performance. The clinic now performs at a very high level of competence now in all areas of eyecare from surgery, medical ophthalmology and provision of spectacles after refraction, so the last six years of visits from the NZ team ( Dr. David Sabiston, John Veale and Mike Webber) , have proved very worthwhile.

Another aim of the work this visit was to attend and help at one of he outreach clinics undertaken by Rose clinic and staff. This is a strategy started this year to coordinate with a new Governmnent program for the rural poor. Seven NGO’s have signed up for the program, with Fred Hollows and Rose Charities being the first two groups to start outreach clinics and provide cataract operations to those to whom they never would have been previously available. The target is to perform 50,000 cataract operations by the year 2018 in Cambodia.

Rose Charities had planned for many years to commence rural clinics but in 2002 its vehicles and equipment were stolen by an crooked expatriate causing considerable delay to the program. Without this crime, The Rose Charities Sight Centre would by now have been able to assist many more poor Cambodians than the 100,000 it has assisted since 2002.

Mike Webber and John Veale attended the first Rose outreach clinic in the Kandal province and about an hour and a half drive from Phnom Penh. There was an official opening ceremony filmed by Tv news, and a high ranking Governmental official from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, before they we got down to business of screening.

They saw 253 patients, and of these about seventy were to be referred to the Rose Sight Centre for surgery for treatment at a later date. These patients were later transported down to Phnom Penh by truck (free), and taken home same way after treatment.

Dr. Hang Vra and his team conduct these outreach clinics once every two weeks at different locations in the provinces. The second outreach clinic saw 296 people and referred 125 referred to the Rose Charities Sight Centre for surgery.

Third outreach clinic saw 100cases`referred for surgery. The surgery in all these cases was predominantly for cataracts.

Mike Webber and John Veale also attended and helped at a program called Village Health And Community Development. This is a program run by Dr Veronica Ventura, an American gynecologist, who is based in Singapore. Both the Rose Charities Sight and Rehab/Surgical Centres cooperate with Village Health and Community Development programs where assistance can be given.

Dr Ventura has four such projects going in Cambodia. Her method it to target a village off the beaten track in Cambodia and takes in teams of various medical specialties, including ophthalmic, and to survey the health and needs of these isolated people. The program that John and Mike attended was in a village some one and a half hours drive from Kompong Thom, a town on the main road north to Siem Riep and geographically in the centre of Cambodia.

On this occasion The Singaporean team consisted of Dr Veronica Ventura, four Ophthlamic registrars in various stages of training, two optometry students, a lecturer in Optometry from the Singapore School, a group of medical students, and the Rose Charities NZ team (Mike and John). It was effectively a vision outreach program. The registering of patients, and various examinations were undertaken in classrooms in the village school. Over four days, 702 people were` seen for full health checks, and eye examinations. Of these about eighty required surgery ( 77 cataracts), and 220 pairs of ready made readers were supplied. A few required custom spectacles to be made up at Rose clinic in Phnom Penh. The surgery patients were to be
be transported free to the Rose clinic by Village Health, and receive their surgery free under the Government program a the Rose Sight Center. The Government program is generously sponsored by ABC Tissue.

Gratitude and Appreication: John and Mike would like to acknowledge PHF Foundation for their financial support in purchasing a Keeler Hand Held slit lamp for Dr Vra, Belinda and
Kevin Way (OIC) for their gift to Rose clinic of two Neitz ophthalmoscopes, Dr. Geoff Duff for his donation of a Perkins hand held to tonometer,
Alison Hall for donating a supply of mydriatics and cycloplegics,

Rose Charities would like to acknowledge the generosity and charity of ABC Tissue for their sponsorship through the Rose Sight Center (and other ngos) to help eye care, blindness prevention and sight restoration to the poor of Cambodia

2nd Rose Charities Project Presentation Forum, Vancouver, Friday 18th Nov. 2011

2011-11-19T15:50:00.000-08:00

The 'BC Place' Sadium formed an
impressive backdrop to the meetin

The 2nd Rose Charities Canada Project Presentation Forum held at the Creekside 'Olympic Village' Community Centre in Vancouver attracted around 80 persons and represented a spectrum from those with close Rose involvment to those just curious to know more about Rose projects. Food was 'pot-luck' which resulted in a groaning table of delicious food and an drinks were available at a small donation bar.

Topics demonstrated the wide range of Rose Charities Canada involvment areas, both geographical as well as sectorial. Sadly, time, and the quantity of projects permitted only short 5 minute presentations, but this tight schedule also allowed a mid period for refreshments and all-important networking .

Rachel Greene (Rose Charities NY)
presents on Social Networking

Special guests were Rachel Greene and Clare Seekins of Rose Charities USA, who presented the work of Rose Charities NY with their digital art program for reservation youth in Idaho, as well as a talk on social media.

The evening was deemed interesing and enjoyable by all.

Presentations consisted of ..

Rose Charities Canada Admin (Maggie Francis, Josephine de Freitas) http://rosecharities.ca

Rose Charities USA project (Idaho First Nation Youth Project) and Social Networking (Rachel Greene, Clare Seekins - both Rose Charities USA) http://rosecharities.us

Mayan Project (Education) (Dr Ellen Coburn) http://www.mayanproject.org

Safe Motherhood Guatamala (Annette Borkent) http://www.safemotherhoodproject.org

Malambo Grassroots (Jocelyn Banyard) http://malambograssroots.ca

Rose Charities in Haiti (Linda Warner) http://rosehaiti.info

Brighter Smiles Uganda (Drea Burbank) http://africanhearts.ca

Rose Charities Vietnam (Louis Lap Nguyen) http://www.rosevietnam.org

Education Generation (Mila Lukic ) http://www.educationgeneration.org

Rose Charities Cambodia (Dr Will Grut) http://rosecambodia.org

Volset Uganda (Roger Huyghe)

Stand Tall Education Uganda (Nicole Schouela) http://www.standtalleducation.org

Hands up for Africa Kenya (Colin Harivel) http://www.handsupforafrica.org

Rose Madagascar (Dr Emma Noble/Luke King) http://rosemadagascar.squarespace.com

Rose Sri Lanka (Mike Ramanaden) http://rosesrilanka.info

Rose Charities Canada's Louise Aaronson and Pricilla Yogendran
take refreshments between presentation

Thai Flood relief: Rose Charities Singapore and Malaysia spearhead Rose relief efforts..

2011-10-18T17:05:00.000-07:00

Led by Ms Christina Leong of the newly formed Rose Charities Singapore and assisted by Mr Vince Yeoh (Secretary, Rose Charities Penang, Malaysia), relief supplies are being arranged to assist the victims of Thailand's worst flooding on record. Thousands of people are stranded and over 300 people have lost their lives. Food and supplies are being purchased in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore for distribution from donors from the Rose Charities network and contacts on the ground implementing the distrubution.

The Rose Charities network is grateful for the initiative taken by Rose Charities Singapore and Malayisa.

All donations are gratefully welcomed. Please see www.rosecharities.org for ways to donate. Depending on your country of residence, your donation will either generate a tax receipt or your donation go further with 'gift aid (UK).'

A big welcome to Rose Charities Singapore !

2011-10-11T14:35:00.000-07:00

Rose Charities Singapore (Lawrence and Mme Cheah on right)

A Rose Charities Singapore has now been formed, assisted by Mr Lawrence Cheah and others. The whole Rose Charities network extends a warm welcome to our new organization !

Rose Charities Singapore has immediately sprung into action by helping raise funds for Baby Jeven who desperately needs a complex cardiac operation this October.

Baby Jeven and mother

Training women health deliverers, Afghanistan: first Tabish-Hillman (Rose Charities) workshop..

2011-09-28T18:24:00.000-07:00

1st Tabish-Hillman (Rose Charities) Womens Community Health Training has been implemented. Around 40 women from different communities and health centers received the training. Afghanistan has one of the highest rates of both maternal and infant mortality in childbirth in the world (see below)

"UN figures show that the number of women who perish in childbirth in Afghanistan each year – 24,000 – is 10 times the civilians killed in the war. The country has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world due to factors that include girls being married off as young as 12 and forced to give birth without hospital care." Click for Ref

Many Voices One Song meeting, South Africa - Hillman Fund (Rose) sponsors Ugandan participant

2011-09-26T11:47:00.000-07:00

The Hillman Fund of Rose Charities will fund the participation of a Ugandan student in an International Colloquium 'Many Voices One Song" on Health Promoting Schools at Stellenbosch University in November 2011 .
Alex is in his final year of training at Makerere University (MUK) Medical School and a graduate of the Brighter Smiles Africa program, which is our Ugandan school-based Health Promotion initiative that has been delivered successfully for the last 6 years through a partnership between the Faculties of Medicine at Makerere and the University of British Columbia, with the following three principal objectives:

To improve the health knowledge and determinants of health of rural Ugandan children through a school-based health promotion program delivered collaboratively by MUK College of Health Sciences undergraduates with teachers engaged and supported in community schools.

To provide previously unavailable opportunities for Ugandan Medical School trainees to experience valid community-based learning opportunities, through attachment in rural communities, and involvement in developing and delivering preventive health education, and

To foster international collaboration and mutual learning, in the context of improving child health globally, and to build capacity at MUK in educational program evaluation and research.

The international colloquium has been planned in recognition of the success of the Ugandan health promoting school (HPS) initiative, and will bring together international exerts and workers in the field to synthesize their key experience and evaluation of HPS models, and develop a manual for others to use to set up comparable programs in Sub-Saharan Africa.

After attending the colloquium Alex will work with us in the week afterwards on preparing the “How to” manual for starting programs in other schools in Sub-Saharan Africa. His reprise of his workshop presentation, and being there to join the discussion groups, will contribute a great deal to the understanding of other participants about the unique educational opportunities for medical students afforded by participation in community-based child health promotion programs in schools.

Books for Rose Sri Lanka School Children: Primary Enrichment Program

2011-07-27T12:35:00.000-07:00

With the association of Dr. Jogarajah of Loyal Publications, Colombo a book containing ten years of past Grade 5 Scholarship Examination published by Loyal Publication have been issued to a number of students who will sit for the Exams in August, 2011.
The Scholarship Examination (also known as the Grade 5 Scholarship exam) is a highly competitive Sri Lankan examination conducted by the Department of Examinations of the Ministry of Education. It is optional for students to undertake it during the final year of primary school (Grade 5 (usually ages 9-10)). Based on the results of the exam, students could transfer to prominent national schools. This Exam is a means for gifted students from villages to move to better schools with government scholarships. Annually based on demand for individual schools, cut-off marks are set by the Ministry of Education. In recent years the exam has become extremely competitive.
Every parent likes to enroll their child to a popular good school in major cities. If they fail in the first round to enter their child to Grade 1, then their next goal would be to get a good school by preparing their child to obtain a high mark in Grade 5 Scholarship examination. In this Examination, students get direct raw mark, unlike other examinations. Therefore Grade 5 Scholarship exam may be the hardest exam in the Sri Lankan school system, considering the age of the candidates.
Rose Charities Srilanka, under its Primary Enrichment Program helps students who are from areas of poor income generation and do not have the resources and access to gain practicable knowledge to prepare them for exam by conducting Enrichment classes after schools. RCSL is not only focusing the Grade 5 students but also preparing grade 4 students in advance to sit for the Grade 5 Scholarship Exam in the year after.
In 2010 Scholarship examination, according to Ceylon Daily News (26 September 2010), 267,750 of the 315,000 students sat the Grade 5 scholarship examination and obtained 70 marks or more. Out of these 16,000 students gained admission to popular schools in the country. Students who obtained best marks will get into following popular school in major Cities in Sri Lanka.
Like last year, in 2011 RCSL is implementing the Primary Enrichment Program in 14 schools in the area with a total of 410 students in grade 5 and 11 schools with 314 students in grade 4. Our Primary enrichment classes for grade 5 came to completion in June, 2011. As a part of this enrichment classes some of the students who were unable to afford for educational materials were issued with past paper books.
# Schools Name
1 Kalaimagal Vidyalayam, Veppayadi.
2 Sri Sakthi Vidyalayam, Navithanvely
3 Annamalai Maha Vidyalayam, Navithanvely.
4 Kannagi Hindu Vidyalayam, Karaitivu
5 Saraswathy Vidyalayam, Neelawanai.
6 Maha Vishnu Vidyalayam, Pandiruppu.
7 Kalaimagal Vidyalayam, Vellavely.
8 Vipulananda Maha Vidyalayam, Malwatta.
9 G.T.M. School, Puthunagar
10 English Language Institute, Kalmunai
11 Vinayagar Vidyalayam, Addappalam.
12 Kanapathipuram Vidyalayam, Malwatta
13 At-Risk Students from Various Villages

"Access for All" - helping disabled women in Cambodia.

2011-06-30T17:58:00.000-07:00

'Access-for-All" On Friday the 31st of July 2011, Joanna Thomson and her team at Rose Cambodia Rehabilitation Centre (RCRC) are excited to be attending the signing ceremony to receive a $20,000 (USD) grant from the Disability Inclusion Assistance Fund (DIAF). DIAF is a funding mechanism supported by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and managed by the Australian Red Cross (ARC). The goal of the DIAF is to reduce the vulnerability of persons with disability including landmine and explosive remnants of war (ERW) survivors, their families and affected communities in Cambodia.

The grant will be used to support the “Access For All” project which aims to address the issue of women with disabilities in rural areas being unable to access secondary and tertiary education. The project provides a safe, secure housing solution for disabled women, allowing them to move into the town and live independent, fulfilling lives where they can access educational opportunities. Not only are the beneficiaries able to access formal education but they are also trained in project management and organisational development skills which will enable them to be leaders and manage the project independently long-term. Through the learning of life skills, taught to them in the supportive home, they will be able to gain confidence and learn to participate fully in the community and to teach others about women with disability and raise awareness and advocate for disability rights. Through the long-term acquisition of skills and formal qualifications they will be able to earn an income and relieve the burden on their families of caring for a disabled daughter in rural Cambodia, increasing the living standards of not only themselves, but their whole family.

This project has been established by inspirational local Khmer man, Mr Ull Meng Hour. Located in Prey Veng Town, this project has been developed by a group of devoted local volunteers with Mr Hour’s leadership. While Jo Thomson is the Project Manager for this project, her role will largely be a consultative and advisory role as the day to day management of the project will be staffed by the women with disabilities who are the beneficiaries of the project. Mr Hour and his supporters will remain very much involved in the project acting as long-term project guardians who will provide training to the project team and will ensure that the project is being implemented in line with the identified objectives.

While this grant covers the basic costs of the project for the next year, more funds will be required to sponsor the beneficiaries’ educational requirements, in particular their University fees. As well, more laptops are required.

If you are able to help with these needs, please contact Rose Charities Director, Sarah Miller – sarah@rosecharities.org.au. For more information on Rose’s Educational Sponsorship program and to see the student profiles of those involved in the Access For All project please see http://roseeducation.wordpress.com/cambodia

Melodic Malambo: Beethoven, Bach, Mozart embark for Zambia !!!...

2011-06-21T19:14:00.000-07:00

We've been busy the last few weeks finding out about musical instruments and medical equipment! An odd combination! We're hoping to ship a container to Zambia with these goods in the fall. So far we have a piano!, a baby violin, a guitar, a trumpet, drums, music stands, and lots of music - Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, metronomes, strings, etc - we have promises of 5 new clarinets, another guitar, a drum set, a violin bow, and many CDs..... I've hardly started looking yet, so I'm hoping for many more donations once I contact the rest of my colleagues and local music stores.

Through a friend of Emma Noble, Rose Madagascar, we have had two electric OR tables donated, scrubs and linens - all of which we pick up on Thursday. Very exciting!! We're also going to look into wheelchairs for the Monze spinal cord rehabilitation center as well as other medical supplies for our two hospitals (Monze and Siavonga).

We've met with a few people here as well who are looking into the shipping possibilities ~ we are really grateful for their assistance.....and I have a long list of contacts of people who may be able to help!

Last week we attended a fundraiser at a home in West Van that was put on by a woman we met at our Scrabble fundraiser last year. She has a Zimbabwean charity. She hosted a lovely all day event with First Nations crafts, local sculptors, Zimbabwean sculptures and our Malambo Grassroots crafts. It was a great day! We sold many of our crafts and baskets and it was great to introduce Malambo Grassroots and Rose Charities to a new group of people.

Heidi Krutzen . 21’st June 2011
Vancouver. Canada

Cambodia advanced physiotherapy course 2011 commences

2011-04-25T07:26:00.001-07:00

Click for full site page

Field Analyser donated to Rose Cambodia Sight Center

2011-04-20T10:50:00.001-07:00

Another successful mission to the Rose Eye Clinic in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, has been completed. Pictured is Rose NZ Trustee Mike Webber and Dr Vra with the Humphrey Field Analyser. All the people in the clinic were absolutely thrilled with the gifted equipment, and could not wait to get taught how to use the gear."

The Rose Charities Eye Clinic in Phnom Penh has just received a major boost, with the arrival of high-tech equipment donated from the New Zealand optom community and a visit from Rose Trustee optometrist Mike Webber with technician Neville Wood.

Three instruments were air-freighted up early this year with the help of one of the Rose team’s guardian angels, Agility Logistics of Lower Hutt. Other benefactors, the PIF Foundation, Peter and Sylvia Aitchison, Sidonia and Adam Pertschy (of Germany ), Mrs Angela Aitken and Mrs Sue Forrest, met the cost of freight and air fares for Mike and Neville.

The three instruments are a Millenium Phaco machine used in cataract surgery, donated by Christchurch’s St Georges Hospital; a Humphrey Field Analyser used for early detection of conditions like glaucoma which cause blindness, donated by the Eye Department, Whanganui Hospital, and an autoclave donated by Alpha Technical Services, of Palmerston North.

As well, a chance encounter with a millionaire “refugee” from New York during the recent visit to Phnom Penh by Rose General Secretary Dr Will Grut has led to a $US17,000 YAG laser being given to the clinic.

The high-level equipment is in the good hands of the medical director Dr Hang Vra, who has just completed his postgraduate ophthalmology exams with top honours, and his wife Nathalie, who is topping her class as she completes her medical degree, having trained as a nurse in the Ukraine.

“Vra and Natalie have both done so well with their studies, while they work so hard for the hundreds of patients who arrive at the clinic every week,” said Mike Webber. “It is really rewarding for them and all the Rose supporters to see the first-class equipment in place.” With these latest instruments the clinic has everything it needs for the foreseeable future.

But changes are afoot. During Mike’s visit an early morning blessing ceremony was held before work begins on a new building that will become both home for Vra and Nathalie and their three sons and a new clinic where paying patients will be treated.

“In Cambodia, you don’t talk about private and public,” says Mike. “It is rich and poor. Vra will earn more money to educate his sons by establishing this new clinic. But he and Nathalie are totally committed to helping the poor as well. I feel confident the balance between their new clinic and the existing one will work out well.

“Things are rapidly changing in Cambodia, and already the city boundary has been extended past the section owned by Nathalie, which is about 15kms north of the present clinic along the main road to Siem Riep.

“So in all I believe that Rose NZ can be proud of what has been achieved over the past six years at the clinic. It is now running splendidly, with

good outcomes for the patients, and I believe that Vra and his team are running the show very well with less input from us as time goes on. They

will still need the occasional input and advice over time, but it wiil get less as their expertise increases. They are all so grateful for all the support from Rose Charities, both from Canada and New Zealand.”

Tsunami relief Japan: update 14th April 2011

2011-04-14T07:09:00.000-07:00

After one month has passed since the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami that hit north-east Japan, people in the afflicted regions participated in a silent prayer on Apr. 11th. Even now, innumerable aftershocks are shaking the country which is causing the delay in the recovery of infrastructures and giving people high level of stress. Meanwhile, schools and hospitals are gradually getting back to normal with people making efforts towards it.

Iwate Prefecture (the town of Ohtsuchicho):

In order to uplift children's mood, toys and stuffed animals of a popular Japanese cartoon character was donated in response to the call for help from AMDA's pediatrician. The "Anpanman Program", named after the character, was initiated in line with the ongoing mobile clinic services which provides recreation time for children besides medical treatments. While a number of stressed-related ailments are seen among patients, the program aims to take care of children's mental health and put them at ease.

Other than the above, many patients complain of troubles with their eyes as they are exposed to the powder dust from the rubble. A nutritional program has also been implemented to improve the unbalanced diet of the evacuees and plans are underway to provide vitamin supplements as well.

Miyagi Pref. (the town of Minamisanriku-cho):

While mobile clinic services were delivered to Omori district in Minamisanriku-cho, the local Shizugawa Hospital has taken over the temporary prefabricated clinics from the Israeli medical team. The hospital has put its hands on resuming their regular operations and is expected to be normalized gradually.

Norovirus is still prevalent in Minamisanriku-cho, however, the preventive/hygiene measures implemented by AMDA have been effective in controlling the outbreak. From now on, hygiene awareness will be very important due to the arrival of a warmer season. There are 5 norovirus patients out of 360 evacuees at Shizugawa Elementary School.

After receiving the above report, AMDA sent relief goods such as vitamin supplements, dust-proof goggles and paper towels to both Iwate and Miyagi.

Latest dispatch of AMDA personnel:

23rd group: 1 acupuncture therapist, 1 nurse (Apr. 11th)

24th group: 2 doctors (including AMDA President) (Apr. 12th)

Total number of AMDA¡Çs relief personnel (as of Apr. 12th): 131

48 doctors, 27 nurses, 3 midwives, 2 assistant nurses, 3 pharmacists, 2 psychotherapists, 43 coordinators (including interpreters), 2 careworkers, 1 acupuncture therapist

Tsunami relief: update 11th April 2011: Singer Takeshi Kitayama visits area..

2011-04-11T07:04:00.000-07:00

(2011-04-11)

On Apr. 10th a number of volunteers gathered at a local temple in Okayama (home to AMDA) to sort out gifts to be sent to the disaster victims in Ohstuchicho and Kamaishi City in Iwate Pref. 1,500 sets of gifts (originally donated by high school students from Hiroshima) will be sent to the afflicted sites on Apr. 11th.

Iwate Prefecture (the town of Ohtsuchicho):

The recovery of electricity had brought back town lights and re-operated traffic lights, however, the power went out again after the earthquake which occurred on Apr. 7th. Many people in the area became very downhearted about this as having electricity restored had been a very significant point int the recovery process.

Besides the ongoing medical services, AMDA set a playroom for children and also held a little sport event and a movie-viewing to lighten the stress of the evacuees.

Now that 10 % of the elderly are becoming bedridden, the need for nursing is increasing. AMDA is offering blood tests and other medical check in its mobile medical trailer.

Miyagi Pref. (the town of Minamisanriku-cho):

On Apr. 8th a renowned Japanese singer, Takeshi Kitayama, visited Shizugawa Elementary School in response to AMDA's call for help to ease the suffering of the victims.

After his hearty a cappela performance that arose a touching moment, Kitayama went around the evacuees and gave them warm words of encouragement to show his care.

Minamisanriku-cho still faces the lack of lifelines including water, electricity and gas (as well as gasoline,) however, sign of recovery is yet to be seen. Meanwhile, AMDA will continue to battle the spread of norovirus by sending additional medical personnel and relief supplies.

Latest dispatch of AMDA personnel:

21st group: 2 nurses (Apr. 9th)

22nd group: 2 doctors, 1 nurse, 1 coordinator (Apr. 10th)

Total number of AMDA's relief personnel (as of Apr. 10th): 128

46 doctors, 26 nurses, 3 midwives, 2 assistant nurses, 3 pharmacists, 2 psychotherapists, 43 coordinators (including interpreters), 2 careworkers, 1 singer

CIEAF/Kayama Enterprises fundraiser for AMDA Relief - big success

2011-04-09T13:43:00.000-07:00

Dr Collin Yong receives cheque from Consul General Ito and Committee

Fundraiser, Richmond, B.C. 8th April 2011, a big success ! : the fundraising dinner held at the Continental restaurant on Cambie and No 5 Road was packed. Organizers and honorary guests gave presentations. Dr Collin Yong (Rose Charities / AMDA Canada) spoke on the current situation and emergency relief and AMDA' background. There was beautiful live koto music.

Finally Dr Yong accepted the hugely generous cheque for $35,000 for AMDA Japan relief. The final donation total however was over CAD 50,000 ie when all the profits from the evening were counted.

Organizer : CIEAF (Canadian International Education Assistance Foundation) â€“ http://www.cieaf.com/

a registered charity organization with focus help children rehabilitate psychologically and educationally in post disaster and post traumatic scenarios.

Committee:

CIEAF

Steveston Community Center (Honorable Adviser) President – Jim Kojimma

Steveston Buddhist Temple (Honorable Adviser) President – Bud Sakamooto

Kayama Enterprises Ltd (From Commercial Sector) Daniel Leung & Doug Yokoyama (the two persons with the inspiration for the event)


From left: Dr Collin Yong, Mme Janice Johnston, Mr Louis Lap Nguyen

AMDA

Supported by :

Consulate General of Japan in Vancouver – Consulate General Mr. Hideki Itoo

Generous donations came in by word of mouth and several companies donated from their sales.

Then at the dinnerFundraising Dinner, 54 tables (10 persons each) were made available and tickets sold for CAD 58 / person.

The Continental Restaurant donated the majority of the food.

It is almost impossible to praise the generosity, initiative and achievement of the organizers and those who supported more highly. It was an outstanding evening, both enjoyable and charitable.

Japan tsunami relief: 8th April 2011

2011-04-08T08:59:00.001-07:00

(2011-04-08)

Iwate Prefecture (the town of Ohtsuchicho):

AMDA has been continuing medical treatments at the evacuation centers and mobile clinic services in the vicinity. The common ailments include chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes as well as common cold, hay fever, gastroenteritis, tetanus and so on.

In consideration of the prolonged evacuation life, partition walls are now provided to the families in securing privacy.

Also to keep the elderly away from becoming bedridden or economy-class syndrome, gym machines were installed at the evacuation centers to encourage their physical exercise. About fifty people are using the facility on average per day.

Miyagi Pref. (the town of Miamisanriku-cho):

The decline in the number of evacuees is currently seen at Shizugawa Elementary School; the number has decreased from 250 to 200.

Two electric generators were delivered to an evacuation shelter that did not have electricity. From now on they are able to use electricity in the room where norovirus patients have been isolated.

On Apr. 4th AMDA sent one psychiatrist and one nurse to Minamisanriku-cho to provide mental care for the evacuees withstanding this hardship. As there are several evacuees suffering from panic disorders, the need for continuous mental care became visible.

While counter measures for norovirus have been carried out, AMDA decided to send supplies such as bleach and other sanitary goods to reinforce the efforts.

Visit by a famous Japanese singer, Takeshi Kitayama:

As part of AMDA's assistance, on Apr. 8th AMDA sent a renowned Japanese singer, Takeshi Kitayama to the evacuation center to entertain and ease the fatigue of the evacuees. According to AMDA President Dr. Suganami, music is one of the most effective means to ease their feelings while tough evacuation life continues in the afflicted sites.

His hearty a cappela performance resonated with the hearts of the evacuees, many of them bursted into tears listening to him.

Latest dispatch of AMDA personnel:

19th team: 2 doctors/interpreters, 1 doctor, 1 nurse (Apr. 4th)

20th team: 2 doctors, 2 nurses, 1 assistant nurse, 2 coordinators (Apr. 8th)

Total number of AMDA's relief personnel (as of Apr. 8th): 121

44 doctors, 23 nurses, 3 midwives, 2 assistant nurses, 3 pharmacists, 2 psychotherapists, 42 coordinators (including assistants and interpreters), 2 careworkers

Japan tsunami relief and community rehabiliation: update 6th April 2011

2011-04-06T13:21:00.000-07:00

(2011-04-06)

'AMDA to Support Local Doctors by Donating Temporary-Clinic Units'

AMDA President, Dr. Shigeru Suganami held a press conference at AMDA Headquarters in Okayama, Japan on 5th April, announcing that AMDA will complete the emergency relief operations in the afflicted areas by the end of April and shift to rehabilitative assistance. The main project in the next stage will be to donate temporary-clinic units to local doctors whose clinic buildings were destroyed or washed away by the catastrophe.

AMDA has already been providing medical care after setting up a mobile-clinic trailer equipped with devices such as intravenous drip (IV) and electrocardiogram (ED). AMDA is also planning to construct two temporary clinics in Ohtsuchi-cho (Iwate Pref.) and Minamisanriku-cho (Miyagi Pref.) respectively. Setting up a temporary clinic (including various medical equipments and supplies) will cost around 10,000,000 yen (about 118,000 USD).

AMDA has heard that there are a number of town doctors who lost their clinics in the tsunami. Dr. Suganami appealed that there is a need of support in the form of a state-run loan offered to the local doctors in rebuilding their daily operations as soon as possible.

Dr. Suganami also reported that AMDA employed twelve locals as drivers, care workers and operational staff. He appreciated their knowledge of local geography and human relationships which greatly helped AMDA's activities.

From now on, AMDA is going to support the rehabilitation of schools. To begin with, AMDA will give out "back-to-school" kits containing stationery and school bags.

In collaboration with foreign medical organizations, plans are also underway to establish a scholarship program for the local high school students that are aiming to become doctors/nurses in the future.

Tsunami relief update: 5th April 2011: Rehabilitation continues with medical support for vulnerable groups

2011-04-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

(2011-04-05) In line with the ongoing medical relief, AMDA has started to shift its relief activities to rehabilitative assistance after three weeks have passed since the earthquake struck.
AMDA President, Dr. Shigeru Suganami, who worked in the afflicted site (Iwate Pref.) until Apr. 1st will be holding a press conference on Apr. 5th to report the progress and further scope of AMDA's relief activities.
Iwate Prefecture (the town of Ohtsuchicho):
No case of norovirus has been reported at the evacuation shelter, however, cases such as fever and dehydration have been increasing. As April is the beginning of a new school year in Japan, due to the reopening of schools some kind of change can be expected at schools that are currently used as evacuation shelters.
Meanwhile, AMDA received a donation of more than 150 book bags for school children from its donors in Okayama Prefecture, home to AMDA. The bags will be sent to Ohtsuchi Elemetary School in Ohtsuchicho, Iwate Pref. on Apr. 11th.
To help AMDA's activities up and running and also to help create job opportunities, AMDA has hired a total of nine local people in the area which includes a driver, an assistant, a clerk, an acupuncture therapist and so on.
Miyagi Pref. (the town of Minamisanriku-cho):
In response to the inquiry from the Israeli medical team, AMDA has decided to send two additional doctors/interpreters to Minsamisanriku-cho. They are expected to work with the Israeli team in providing coherent medical services for the tsunami survivors.
It is reported that there has been an outbreak of norovirus in Minamisanriku-cho; several patients where also found at Shizugawa Elementary School where AMDA is currently based at. Amongst the patients are of those who will soon be relocated to elsewhere for a mass evacuation, hence AMDA is urgently trying to list them up for further refferal at their destination.
Latest dispatch of AMDA personnel (as of Apr. 5th):
1 midwife (Apr. 2nd), 1 coordinator (Apr. 2nd), 2 careworkers (Apr. 3rd), 2 doctors/interpreters (Apr. 4th)
Total number of AMDA's relief personnel (as of Apr. 5th): 114
41 doctors, 20 nurses, 3 midwives, 1 assistant nurse, 3 pharmacists, 2 psychotherapists, 40 coordinators (including assistants and interpreters), 4 careworkers

Tsunami relief: update 2nd April 2011. Focus shifting to rehabilitation...

2011-04-02T08:45:00.000-07:00

(2011-04-02)

After three weeks have passed since the unprecedented earthquake and tsunami, the climate has become relatively mild from the time when the disaster struck Tohoku and Kanto regions. However, whilst the evacuation life prolongs with the recovery of lifelines stagnant at this stage, more and more people have complained a chronic sick feeling.

Emergency medical needs have decreased as a number of medical teams are now active in the devastated sites. Hence, along with the ongoing medical relief activities, AMDA has begun shifting its target to the highly-demanded elderly nursing from Apr. 1st.

AMDA will be launching a nursing-assistance program in collaboration with a Japanese company specialized in the field. From now on, careworkers will be sent to AMDA's work site to work with the existing teams; providing the elderly nursing care in rotation.

As of Apr. 1st, from AMDA there are 24 personnel in Ohtsuchicho (Iwate) and 9 personnel in Minamisanriku-cho (Miyagi) respectively.

Iwate Prefecture (the town of Ohtsuchicho):

Along with the regular medical services, one of AMDA doctors started to offer acupuncture treatments at Ohtsuchi High School.

Meanwhile, AMDA and its partners, namely, AMDA Indonesia, MERCY Malaysia, Medipeace (Korea), Bangkok Hospital (Thailand) and Network Chikyumura (Japanese NGO) have decided to launch a scholarship program for the disaster victims.

The scholarship is targeted to the high school students in the disaster-stricken areas who wish to become a doctor in the future. Besides financial assistance for three years, the scholarship aims to provide international cultural exchange opportunities through the support organizations.

Miyagi Prefecture (the town of Minamisanriku-cho):

At Minamisanriku-cho, it is foreseeable that due to the relocation of the residents (1,100 people) the number of evacuees will decrease from now on. At the same time, the medical supplies have been currently fulfilled.

AMDA held a briefing session on norovirus in preparation to the potential risk of breakout as the sanitary condition in the shelter has been deteriorating due to the prolonged evacuation life.

Latest dispatch of AMDA personnel (as of April 1st):

2 careworkers for the nursing-assistance program (Ohtsuchicho, Iwate Pref.) (Mar. 31st)

17th team: 8 personnel (2 doctors, 3 nurses, 1 counselor, 2 coordinators) (Apr. 1st)

Total number of AMDA's relief personnel as of April 2nd: 108

39 doctors, 20 nurses, 2 midwives, 1 assistant nurse, 3 pharmacists, 2 psychotherapists, 39 coordinators (including assistants and interpreters), 2 careworkers

AMDA tsunami relief: update 1st April 2011

2011-03-31T21:16:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-29T12:14:00.000-07:00


(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

2011-03-27T15:44:00.001-07:00

(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

2011-03-25T10:52:00.000-07:00

(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

2011-03-24T16:35:00.001-07:00

(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

2011-03-23T07:37:00.001-07:00

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

2011-03-22T13:48:00.000-07:00

(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

2011-03-18T16:32:00.000-07:00

(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

2011-03-17T12:49:00.000-07:00

AMDA Relief efforts for Japan tsunami expand

2011-03-17T07:53:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-16T00:21:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-14T16:24:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-13T13:59:00.000-07:00

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.
.
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

2011-03-13T13:38:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-12T08:37:00.000-08:00

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

2011-03-03T05:05:00.000-08:00

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

2011-03-02T06:31:00.000-08:00

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

Helping Christchurch

2011-02-25T13:12:00.001-08:00

Rose Charities New Zealand partly runs out of Christchurch. Within the 200 casualties, everyone knows someone who has been killed or injured though all Rose personnel fortunately escaped. The main historic center of the city is devastated. Johnny Veal (Rose NZ Optometrist) says it 'is like a war zone, but perhaps worse as the shocks continue'.
A lot of aid and resources have been mobilized including international rescue teams. However there are needs which are not met. One such, has been identified by John himself. Many people have lost everything including their glasses. Without them they cannot function, drive, work etc. Most of the optometry clinics have been destroyed. John has stared a small emergency one in a suburb and is being overwhelmed with requests. As there has been so much loss many people now are without financial resources. Rose Charities New Zealand with support from Canada is assisting John in this initiative. .. .. (DONATE NOW - CLICK)

Rose Charities relief going out to flood victims

2011-01-18T17:36:00.000-08:00

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.

[gallery columns="4" orderby="rand"]

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

2011-01-15T15:43:00.000-08:00

Flood in Kalmunai - 14.01.2011

Wellaveli Bridge Broken by Flood

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

2011-01-12T08:39:00.000-08:00

Update from Kalmunai-Ampara 12.01.2011

January 12th, 2011 | Author: richkalmunai

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 10^th 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.

Flooding in Kalmunai, Ampara and regions, Sri Lanka

2011-01-11T07:55:00.000-08:00

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

January 11th, 2011 | Author: richkalmunai

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.

Emergency support for Sri Lanka flood victims

2011-01-10T13:17:00.000-08:00

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

Tot' surgery successful !

2011-01-05T11:22:00.000-08:00

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 !

Rose Charities Australia seeks to support Queensland flood victims

2011-01-04T15:38:00.000-08:00

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.

Ambassador Hoffman presents project funding cheque to Surgical Center

2011-01-03T16:12:00.000-08:00

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

Cambodian Tot ready for life-changing surgery

2011-01-02T12:59:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-02T08:06:00.000-08:00

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

Amy returns from AMDA Cholera relief mission, Haiti

2011-01-01T13:49:00.000-08:00

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

CIDA (Canadian International Development Aid) to help victims of Cambodian Water Festival Disaster

2010-12-31T22:03:00.000-08:00

The Canadian Government is assisting victims of the November 2010 Cambodia Water Festival Disaster by an emergency Canda Fund grant through Rose Charities Cambodia Surgical Center / Operation First Cambodia. Over 400 persons lost their lives in a stampede over a small footbridge linking an island in the Tonle Sap river just offshore from Phnom Penh, and the mainland. In addition many persons were injured and need medical, surgical and rehabilitative assistance. Cambodia Surgical Center which is run by Operation First at Chea Chumneas Hospital houses some of Cambodia's leading surgical facilities in Camboida as well as a international standard physiotherapy unit. It is anticipated that several hundred survivors are in current need of assistance and will be helped by Canadian generosity.

Asolate Rwanda: Stove production beigns...

2010-12-16T11:55:00.000-08:00

Stove Production Begins Asolate Rwanda

With the generous support of the Body Shop Foundation, and other private donors, The Asolate Stoves Project, in the Kicukiro District of Kigali, has been able to start stove production. Fourteen technicians are currently working with fourteen youth to build several different styles of coal-burning stoves. News of these stoves has traveled, and demand is high. People from other provinces are requesting Asolate’s stoves, which is very encouraging! The stoves are incredibly efficient. They should reduce the amount of wood needed for cooking, with is highly beneficial to the environment. In addition they provide skills and income generation. Asolate is is a member project of Rose Charities Canada

Rose Charities Sri Lanka Graduation Day !

2010-11-29T13:21:00.000-08:00

Rose charities’ Graduation day 13th November, 2010

Rose charities’ early childhood education centre was celebrated the Graduation day on 13^th November, 2010 at English language institute. The students staged many programs such as speeches, dances and dramas. They were attracted by the parents and the teachers. The chief guest for this function was Mr. Prabakaran the (principal of Wesley high school Kalmunai) and the distinguished guest were Mr. Sanjeev Sivakumar (the registrar of southeastern university) and board of directors.The certificates were given to the students by the guests who were complete the preschool education and joining the primary education in year 2011.

Assistance for Cambodian Water Festival Bridge Disaster 22 Nov 2010

2010-11-24T10:58:00.000-08:00

Rose Charities / Operation First run rehabilitation and surgical projects in Takmau, Phnom Penh (Chea Chumneas Hospital) under the Directorship of Dr Nous Sarom and Ms Joanna Thomson (Rose Charities Australia) Thankfully no staff or family were caught up in the awful bridge disaster last week where over 335 victims lost their lives; most of them young persons.

The Rose Charities network is offering all assistance to Operation First / Rose Rehab for any emergency surgery or rehab treatments needed.

Rose Charities has an intimate history with Phonm Penh Cambodia in the area of surgical and rehabilitative assistance. It was there that the organization was founded in 1998.

To donate please click www.rosecharities.info/donate.htm. Donations will go medical / rehab or other needs of any of the victims or their families

The image is of surviving victims being treated in a local hospital

All of Rose Charities extend all their sympathy to Cambodia for this terrible event.

Asolate Rwanda 'Green Stoves' production project opens

2010-11-06T11:01:00.000-07:00

Asolate Rwanda has opened its new project to produce 'green' wood burning stoves. The stoves which are far more efficient than those commonly used in rural Rwanda. Many of the participants in Asolate project training programs are ex child soldiers

Asolate has trained more than 41 local youth leaders, 6 trainers from Asolate training centres, and 14 technicians who will all work on the Asolate Stoves Project. They have been trained in project management, how to participate in achieving millenium goals, and how to act in order to reduce poverty.

The stove project was supported Asolate's Canadian arm, a member project of Rose Charities.

VIBE Center Sri Lanka - ready to open !

2010-11-03T11:29:00.000-07:00

The Vancouver Board of Trade in conjunction with Rose Charities Sri Lanka has built an education and technology center for the town of Kalmunai. After the 2004 tsunami a fund was established by the Vancouver Board of Trade and the funds collected donated to Rose Charities Sri Lanka to help with and augment their community programs (see http://rosesrilanka.info)

The decision was made by Rose Charities Sri Lanka Program Director Dr Yoga Yogendran, in conjunction with Mr Frank Borowicz, Governor of the Vancouver Board of Trade, to found the facility. The VIBE Center will be one of the first international facilities of its kind and will be equipped with the technology to enable people in remote rural communities to engage in on-line learning and knowledge management through the VIBE e-learning portal, in conjunction with the local Chamber of Commerce. It will also be on of the first learning centers through which a unique new kind of on-line specialized English language training developed by “KnowledgeOne” (a Vancouver group) will be made available.

The formal opening of the VIBE Center will be at the end of November.

Rose Charities Sri Lanka was registered in Sri Lanka following initial emergency relief, medical and counseling teams were sent from Canada. Mr Anthony Richards, now Chief Executiver Director of Rose Charities Sri Lanka traveled to Sri Lanka from Canada with the first emergency team and has devoted his life ever since to the building up of Rose Charities Sri Lanka. Projects now include, education, health, peace-sports, micro-credit, income generation and community development. The VIBE Center will be a huge step forward for the Kalmunai Community, one of the worst affected by the tsunami in Sri Lanka

New Book: Superfly: By Dave Waterman and John Partington-Smith: Proceeds to do go Rose Charities

2010-10-26T12:29:00.000-07:00

See .....http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1661748 (Click)

Internationally renowned photographer David Waterman, and acclaimed cartoonist, designer and artist John Partington-Smith both have a lifetime of tales and jokes from their skydiving careers. Both were among the originators of sport parachuting and skydiving in the UK founding the first relative skydiving team(s) and continuing activities in all aspects of the sport for 40+ years. The book is a compilation of jokes and snippets from all these years. They are generously donating proceeds to Rose Charities.

Even if you are not a skydiver you will find the pages enormously funny and entertaining, and you will, in your purchase be helping the poor through an organization with almost zero administration costs, community level projects and the sort of work-together ethic that is found in skydiving.

Dave and John 'PS' are amazing individuals of incredible talent. Their generosity is hugely appreciated.

Malambo Grassroots Zambia becomes member project of Rose Charities Canada

2010-09-16T19:36:00.000-07:00

Malambo Grassroots, formerly Mwabuka has become a formal member-project of Rose Charities Canada. The program is 16km north of Monze in Zambia and supports a school, health clinic and womens groups which produce wonderful handicrafts some of which have been sold in Vancouver to raise funds for the project.

Poverty in Zambia is very bad. More than 2/3rds of the population live on below $1 per day. See www.malambograssroots.ca

Cambodia Eye Surgery: 90,000 patients since 2002

2010-08-28T09:07:00.000-07:00

The Rose Charities Cambodia Sight Center has seen over 90,000 patients since 2002 and carried out around 12,000 surgeries, most of them to restore sight or prevent blindnes.
Patients for consultation and treatment come to the clinic by their own means from all over Cambodia, such is its reputation.
The Rose Charities Sight Center has attained its high reputation through the expertise and dedication of its all Cambodian staff and the support of Rose Charities experts, mainly from New Zealand and Nepal

In 2002 the clinic was gutted and looted by a crooked expatriate, loosing its vehicles. Patients however continued coming from all over Cambodia, such was its reputation. It has thus risen again through the dedication, charity and work of many - a triumph for honesty and morality, and a huge asset for the poor of Cambodia

Nursing School support - Haiti

2010-08-27T13:00:00.000-07:00

Haiti - Rose Charities has sent a massive shipment of medical equipment and supplies for the Nursing School and Hospital in Port-au-Prince. The 40 ft container, packed to capacity with beds, cribs, scrubs, needles, monitors left MedWish International (Ohio, USA) yesterday and will arrive in around 4 weeks time. Much of the contents were donated to Rose Charities by MedWish - all are desperately needed items

Canadian Nurse Educators will be going to Port-au-Prince in October to conduct a neonatal nurse education program for 20 Haitian nurse educators. Rose Charities Canada has bought equipment and mannequins to assist.. Donations from the Sikh community and many others in Vancouver have made this possible. The nurses' school was completely destroyed in the earthquake with the loss of 74 young nursing students. The Vancouver nurses will be offering instruction to 20 students from four hospitals in Port-au-Prince.

Books to rebuild Haiti

2010-08-24T11:01:00.000-07:00

The first shipment of french language nursing textbooks donated by Rose Charities has arrived at the School of Nursing in Haiti! It took us quite a while to source these! We wanted to ensure that they were the right books for Haiti and trying to research what we were looking for on the internet in french was a challenge. Finally one of our volunteers, Jan Johnston , got on her bike in Montreal and pedaled down to the Montreal School of Nursing and spoke to the Dean who was incredibly helpful. She put us in touch with the publishers and advised us on what to purchase. The publisher gave us a good discount and donated 30 books.
And after many emails going backwards and forwards to Haiti to get through customs etc- we hear that they arrived safely. The school is up and running again in 3 large tents. They dug some of their old books out of the rubble but these are in pretty bad shape.
Now the next task is to get the equipment for the teaching lab!

CSUK-Rose Charities Cambodian Education sponsorship program

2010-08-11T16:11:00.000-07:00

The Rose Charities - CSUK Cambodian education sponsorship program has now started. Founded By Sarah Miller (Rose Charities Australia) and Mr Rady (FDCC Cambodia) two students, Mao Mengley and Nhor Dany have been selected as the first recipients for their studies at Chea Sim University of Kamchay Mear (CSUK). Both students are studying accountancy , both stating that they know that good financial managers and accountants are in great demand in Cambodia.

Rose Charities main education sponsorship program is currently in Sri Lanka, were all ages are sponsored in a major program which also covers ECCE (early childhood care and education). In Sri Lanka for college / university level education, Rose Charities works closely with the organizaton Education Generation which helps sponsor students on a world-wide basis using the internet as a primary vehicle

Many more deserving students in Cambodia also need assistance. Any donations to this program are clearly most welcome. Students are carefully selected according to their needs.

Flood relief images Pakistan - from FPHC

2010-08-07T12:45:00.001-07:00

Rose Charities / Hillman Fund / AMDA Canada is assisting the Pakistan Flood Relief effort though its partners Frontier Primary Health Care FPHC and AMDA Canada. FPHC is a grassroots NW Pakistan registered organization which delivers wonderful health care projects to its region in the areas of health education, maternal and child health, and medical clinics and outreach. In this time of disaster they are working flat out, 24-7 in near impossible conditions to assist tens of thousands of sick, injured and homeless people. At the time of writing AMDA International is coordinating with them for an emergency international mission with staff from their offices in Indonesia and Afghanistan.

Funds for these efforts are needed urgently. Please donate if you can - every bit helps however small. Rose Charities has no admin costs; except for small bank transfer charges, funds go entirely to where they are intended www.rosecharities.info/donate.htm

Help to Pakistan flood victims

2010-08-07T10:57:00.000-07:00

Rose Charities is a long time supporter of Dr Emel Khan who runs an amazing program on the Pakistan Afganistan border called Frontier Primary Healthcare FPHC. If you want to donate to help FPHC donate to Rose Charities (state that your donation is to go to Pakistan flood relief)

Dr Khan writes:

Really the situation here is worst and irreversible damages have been caused by the heavy rains and floods in Pakistan. The floods have played havoc in whole Pakistan especially Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa, Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab provinces. However, the Khyber Pukhtoonakhwa province has been worst affected. The beautiful vally of Swat, Shangla district, Lower Dir, Upper Dir and Malakand agency, districts of Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, Nowshera and Charsadda are amongst the worst hit areas of Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa. Mardan and Swabi districts have also been affected but the damage is not that heavy. The floods have entered Punjab province and now entering Sindh. This is still raining here and even today one of our teams could not reach to its place of medical camp because again there were new floods and the team had to change its area of work. There are torrifying scenes in the flood affected areas and even 20 Feet flood water was flowing over roads. Currently two of our mobile teams consisting Medical Doctors, Medical Technicians, Lady Health Visitors, Social Mobilisers and support staff equipped with Ambulances, medicine and equipment are providing emergency medical services including Mother and Child Health Care services to flood affected people. So far the major diseases reported are Skin infections, diarrhoea and Respiratory infections. Till yesterday the two teams have treated 3,240 patients and provided antenatal care to more than 55 pregnant women. In addition to the mobile teams, our fixed health centres in Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan and Swabi districts are also providing health care services to flood affected people even if they are out of the catchment areas of our health facilities. We are also providing other support like occasional cooked food, clothes and utencils etc. But the demand is very high and even the national, international organisations and Government of Pakistan cannot meet the requirement. Our health facilities are collecting donations in kind and cash from those people who have not been affected by the flood but these donations are very limited.

Excellency, Prof Sea Huong, Vice Secretary of State opens 3rd. Rose Charities Intl. Meeting

2010-07-27T15:36:00.000-07:00

The 3rd Rose Charities International Meeting held at the Imperial Garden Hotel in Phnom Penh was officially opened by Proff. Sea Huong, Vice Secretary of State at the Ministry of Health. Rose Charities International, Rose Charities Cambodia, Operation First Cambodia and Rose Rehabilitation Cambodia is very grateful to Excellency Sea Huong. A copy of his opening address is found below (beneath the photographs)

(left to right: Dr Basant Sharma, Vice President, Dr William Grut, Sec. General Rose Charit. International, Excellency Sea Huong. Under Sec. of State for Cambodia, Mr Mike Webber OMNZ. Meeting Moderator)

Opening address of Excellency Sea Huong..

It gives me great pleasure today to open the 3rd Rose Charities International Meeting, Co-hosted by Rose Charities Cambodia, Operation FIRST Cambodia, and Rose Charities Canada, three organizations which have up to 12 year histories of helping to deliver health care to the poor of Cambodia under the guidance and permission of the Government of Cambodia

I would like to welcome today both delegates from Cambodia, delegates from our close neighbouring countries and also from further overseas. These countries include Malaysia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, the United States and Canada.

I would also like to say to Rose Charities – Welcome home ! I say this because I know that it was here in Cambodia that Rose Charities started. Initially a branch of the organization IRIS in 1997, it became its own independent organization in 1998 registered in British Columbia, Canada. Though Rose Charities now has branches and/or projects planned or existing in over 15 countries, it was nevertheless here in Cambodia that was the starting point. So this is why I say ‘Welcome home’

I know though that there are some delegates here who have not previously visited Cambodia at all. To you I say, a special welcome and a thank you for traveling to see us. I hope you all very much enjoy your stay. I extend a special big welcome to you and hope that you will take home many happy memories with you.

The Government of Cambodia considers the provision of proper health care for the poor to be a very high priority and welcomes properly managed and run NGO’ efforts to assist in this process. It is extremely important however for such NGO’s to work closely with the Government and follow all official programs and protocols. It is only through such coordinated and standardized procedures that real progress will be made. A team where individual members are not following rules and procedures will fall to pieces and help no-one. They do not help Cambodia . But a team where members are all working together in properly coordinated efforts will advance in great strides to advance the welfare of all and help to build a bright future for the country. I am very happy to say that we consider both Rose Charities directed and founded by Dr Hang Vra and Operation FIRST, directed and founded by Dr Nous Sarom, to be proper team members of the best possible type and so I was happy today to come to open this meeting.

Though their surgical and eye projects respectively Dr Nous Sarom and Dr Hang Vra have and continue to provide a most wonderful service to the poor and debilitated people of Cambodia. These two surgeons demonstrate not only the highest ideals of charitable assistance and professionalism to their patients, but also fit it into a framework of teaching and training to pass their knowledge on to others. I express my appreciation of their work as does, I know the whole Rose Charities network

Rose Charities and Operation FIRST are both fully registered Cambodian organizations and are thus sibling members of the whole Rose Charities international family. It is a family which also has many close friends which cooperate and mutually assist with project work and administration. Some of those friends are here today too, such as Impact Cambodia, FDCC Cambodia, Sovann Komar, Somali Mam and AMDA. They and others all contribute so much to all our work to improve the lives of those in need.

Rose Charities and Operation FIRST projects have at times been assisted by not only individuals and sibling Rose organizations but also from other governments through their embassies. Most noteworthy here has been Australia who have provided both material support but recently, support through their ‘Youth Ambassador’ scheme to sponsor a physiotherapist trainer, Ms Joanna Thomson, to assist with rehabilitation services at Operation FIRST Such initiatives are a great help to Cambodia and much appreciated. Rose Charities New Zealand has also been pivotal in assisting with material, teaching and logistical support for eye surgery and medicine as well as optometry. Mr. Mike Webber and Dr David Sabiston of New Zealand as well as Dr Basant Sharma of the Lumbini Eye Hospital, Nepal, have been foremost in these efforts without which the Rose Charities Eye clinic would be far smaller and less functional than it is today.

I would also like to acknowledge the non medical, social, income-generating and education programs that various Rose Charities organizations also carry out many by delegates within this room. Progress in all these areas of the developing world is vital and Rose Charities carries this banner high particularly in countries in Africa as well as Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Rose Charities Malaysia combines public health education (Expo) with vital clinics for the needy and I praise this too. Finally, I must mention the emergency humanitarian relief activities of Rose Charities which have been carried out for many years and included at one stage assistance for flood victims here in Cambodian itself. Most recently however has been the Haiti Earthquake disaster where Rose Charities nursing teams continue to work

It remains for me then to officially declare this important meeting open. I wish it all success and hope that its aims of learning, networking, mutual understanding and advancement are entirely fulfilled. My very best wishes for this now, and far into the future. The meeting is now open !

Thank you. ..

Excellency Sea Huong (center). Mme. Trish Gribben Rose Charities NZ Chair (right)

Mrs Linda Roberts. Rose Charities International Hon. Secretary presents an opening address

Below.. a packed conference room...

Cambodian Rehab Surgery goes to sea !

2010-07-27T11:51:00.000-07:00

Dr Nous Sarom, Director of Operation First - Rose Rehab Cambodia and Rose Charities International Board Director is Cambodia's leading maxillofacial surgeon. Dedicated specifically to rehabilitation surgery peripheral rehabilitative therapies since 1998, Rose Charities is widely recognized as being the pinnacle organization in Cambodia in the field. Dr Sarom, Operation First and Rose Charities / Rose Rehab Cambodia work closely with other excellent organizations such as Impact Cambodia, Smile Train, Operation Rainbow and Operation Smile (Dr Sarom regularly participates in Operation SMILE missions, including in recent times to Lao, Thailand, and Bhutan, as well as Cambodia itself.

Operation First / Rose Rehab Cambodia run fully under the Cambodian Ministry of Health, support Ministy of Health progams and, of paramount importance, operate from proper Ministry of Health Facilities.

In June 2010 the United States Hospital Ship USNS Mercy came to Cambodia's main deep-water port (Sihanoukville) to provide humanitarian medical assistance to poor Cambodians. Dr Sarom was specifically invited via the US Embassy in Phnom Penh to partake in the mission. Patients were screened at Sihanoukville Hospital then taken to the ship for surgery in its wonderfully equipped facilities. Rose Charities / Rose Rehab Cambodia is very appreciative of this generous USA initiative for Cambodia. The USNS Mercy is an amazing facility which provides enormous good wherever it goes.

Rose Charities Cambodia / Rose Rehabiliation Cambodia and Operation FIRST are all supported by Rose Charities USA which runs out of New York and is a 501(c)(3) organization (ie donations receive USA tax receipts) Any donations to the program are hugely appreciated. Rose Charities has USA has zero administration costs, no directors salaries, no office charges. It works with local people to respond to their needs, and to support their own health and other systems.

Rose Charities in Haiti - Update July 2010

2010-07-23T21:18:00.000-07:00

Initially coordinating with AMDA International, which specializes in emergency relief, Rose Charities worked with AMDA Canada to help send emergency orthopaedic surgical teams to St Marc and Gonaives. Personnel came also from Columbia, Bolivia, India and Japan. Within several weeks a second initiative was commenced, in this case to Port au Prance, sending pediatric teams, both from B.C’s Children’s Hospital and other center(s) on Vancouver Island and Mainland B.C, Alberta . Generous support was given particularly from the B.C. Lower Mainland Sikh Temples and support groups and Dr Pargat Sigh, Consultant Pediatrician headed one of the earliest pediatric teams to travel to Port au Prince. In total (both surgical and pediatric), 11 teams were sent from the period some 4 days after the quake to May 2010.

AMDA followed up its surgical initiative, by sending a prosthetic team to help with the terrible problem of crush injury amputations while Rose Charities moved its focus to nursing.. The quake had completely raised the nursing school killing some 40 trainee nurses. so Rose Charities efforts to date have focused on the re-establishment of this facility with sending both nurse trainers, equipment and books

Rose Charities has pooled resources with Health Frontiers www.healthfrontiers.org , a highly respected and experienced Minnesota based Health Organization which runs projects in Laos, Malawi and other centers. Sharing a local office and project coordination center, Health Frontiers is concentrating on reestablishment of pediatric physician services.

Rose Charities is not primarily a disaster relief organization but will engage in such activities where and when the organizers feel they can be of assistance. Focus however is always, wherever possible to ensure involvement extends long term assistance, not simply carry out immediate assistance and then leave. In the case of Haiti, the commitment will continue to re-establishing and upgrading nursing, particularly pediatric nursing training and the provision of good, locally managed mother and child care into the future.

New homes for the blind - Hue

2010-07-18T11:33:00.000-07:00

As part of our commitment to improving the quality of life for blind people in Hue, Rose Charities is building ten homes for some of the poorest residents. With a donation of $2000,00 from the Canadian Chamber in HCMC (CanCham) and support from PEB Steel Construction Company, the first home was "unveiled" on July 17th, 2010. PEB Steel has very generously offered to undertake the construction of the roofs on all ten houses.

http://rosevietnam.giving.officelive.com/default.aspx

Rose Charities - Vietnam

2010-07-18T11:26:00.000-07:00

Over the last two years Oliver Bonas UK has been making steady donations to Be Tho orphanage. These funds have contributed to the building of a new orphanage to ease overcrowding, support for essentials (such as food, etc.) and most recently the purchase of three "professional" sewing machines and one needle over-lock. These machines will make a considerable difference to the girls in the training programme that has been set up at the orphanage to ensure a means of support for young women when they leave (the boys learn carpentry). With the help of Albetta, a local clothing manufacturing company that has also been a generous donor to Be Tho, and with training from volunteers from the Canadian women's group in HCMC, the young seamstresses at Be Tho will soon be producing professional quality goods which can be sold at local markets.

For more information please visit http://rosevietnam.giving.officelive.com/default.aspx

2010-07-18T05:22:00.000-07:00

For an update on all that is being accomplished in Vietnam, please visit

http://rosevietnam.giving.officelive.com/default.aspx

2010 Charity Rose Award recipient: Mr Nguyen Chi Phuoc

2010-07-07T09:31:00.000-07:00

Mr Nguyen Chi Phuoc of Rose Charities Vietnam is the recipient of the 2010 Charity-Rose Award

Mr Phuoc has been committed to Rose Vietnam form the very beginning. He was responsible for identifying and addressing the need in Hue for adult blind people to have an education and was instrumental in getting the (blind) school built, the Braille computers and locating a teacher. He led the charge in establishing the Laundromat and acupressure clinic which are operated by the blind students, thus enabling them to earn money and for the first time in their lives enjoy a measure of independence, and is presently negotiaing the construction of homes for ten of the students who currently live in shacks.

Mr Nguyen responded immediately when the typhoon hit Hue (see film clip below) by providing disaster relief for the students in the school as well as for other poor members of the community. He has provided wheelchairs for disabled adults, canes for the blind, scholarships, food and gifts for the children in a number of of orphanages, support for disabled children and street children, and organizes an annual mobile clinic to deliver cataract surgery for 200 patients.

For the last year he has maintained contact with and provided support for Be Tho orphanage and Sister Vinh during the construction of Be Tho 2, which is now complete and houses 100 orphans..

All of these projects were established and supported by Mr Nguyen Chi Phuoc, both physically and financially in a true Spirit of Charity, and in the name of Rose Charities Vietnam

Mr Nguyen Chi Phuoc is relentless in his aim to help the less fortunate; he is diligent about identifying the most needy and ensuring that they get the help they need, he is conscientious about how the funds are spent and seems to stretch a dollar a huge distance. He charitable spirit is remarkable and without him many poor Vietnamese have benefited hugely

Sadly, Mr Nguyen Chi Phuoc was unable to attend the 3rd Rose Charities International Meeting in Phnom Penh , but Ms Hanh Thuc Nguyen represented Rose Charities Vietnam and was able to collect the award on his behalf (see photo below) from the Secretary General of Rose Charities International

State of Rose Charities Network Worldwide - Report

2010-06-28T20:24:00.000-07:00

The most recent 2010 Rose Charities worldwide (descriptive) report is now available online
Page 1 is shown below - click link above for full pdf report.

Rose Charities 3rd International Meeting, Phnom Penh Cambodia, June 2010

2010-05-28T10:21:00.000-07:00

Almost everyone who is interested is welcome to this meeting but please obtain an official invitation from the Secretariat rosecharities2010@live.com

(Click on image below to enlarge)

Poly-rehab therapy / Physio therapy center opens in Cambodia

2010-05-26T09:37:00.000-07:00

Joanna Thomson has opened the Rose Charities Australia / Operation First Phsio- and other rehabiltative therapies Center in Chea Chumneas Hospital, Takmau (near Phonm Penh), Cambodia. ( www.FirstRose.org ) Joanna is an AYAD (Australia Youth Ambassador) Volunteer so has been greatly assisted by their excellent program. The Center will be supported by other Rose Charities group members (Canada, USA etc) and will look to establish strong ties with other organizations within and outside Cambodia. Rose Charities programs only work within the Cambodian National Government framework.

(click on images below to enlarge on your screen)

COS-ROS Eye Conference: Phnom Penh Cambodia, Friday 25thJune 2010

2010-05-12T13:56:00.000-07:00

Cambodian Ophthalmological Society Clinical Seminar on
“ Inovation of Ophthalmology in Cambodia “
25 - 26 June, 2010
Naga World Hotel, Phnom Penh
Hosted By Cambodian Ophthalmological Society and Rose Charities New Zealand

25 June, 2010

Facilitator         :    Dr. Touk Barang, Mar Amarin
7:30-8:00         :    Registration
8:00-9:00        :     Cambodian National Anthem
            :     Welcome Speech President of COS
            :     Speech by FHF
            :     Speech by ROSE Charities: Dr William Grut
            :     Opening Speech Chairman NPEH ,Dr. To Chhun Seng

9:00-9:30         :     Coffee Break

9:30- 9:50        :     Update on Blindness control in Cambodia,Dr. Do Seiha

9:50-10:10         :     Role of Rose Charity in Blindness Control,Dr. Hang Vra

10:10-10:30       :     The way to success in High Volume Cataract Surgery BOC,   Mr. Ek   Sarou

10:30-10:50        :     Survey on School Screening in Siem Reap Province, Dr. Ngy Meng

10:50-11:30        :     Special Lecture in Oculoplasty, Prof Kenn Freedman Texas University- USA

11:30- 12:00        :    Discussion , Question and Answer

12:00 - 1:30 pm    :     Lunch Break

1:30-1:45        :     Refractive Correction of Keratoconus With Contact Lenses            Guest speaker – Mike Webber – New Zealand

1:45-2:00         :     Doctor, my child cannot see !,     Dr. Amarin and Dr. Khov Phara

2:00-2:15        :     Systemic Eye Diseases ,    Dr. Pang Samorn

2:15-2:45         :     Endonasal DCR, Guest speaker – Prof. Basant Raj Sharma- Nepal

Discussion , Question and Answer

2:45-3:15          :     Coffee Beak

3:15-3:30                  :          Limbal relaxing Incision) for Treatment of Astigmatism during                                             Phhacoemulsification, Guest speaker – Prof.Basant Raj Sharma- Lumbini Eye                                                                Institute Nepal

3:30-3:45            :     Techniques of SICS    Dr. Kak Kada

3: 45 - 4:00        :    Complication of Cataract Surgery,   Dr. Hang Vra

4:00 - 4:15           :     Transition from SICS to Phaco Dr Heng Hour

4:15 – 4: 30        :     Management of Fungus Cornea Ulcer -Takeo Experience,     Dr. Sun Sarin

4:30- 5:00        :    Discussion , Questions and Answers

Contact: contact@rosecharities.org

Please help Cambodia's health services integrate properly by supporting national plans, programs and organizations such as the Cambodian Ophthalmological Society

Cambodian surgical Operation FIRST outreach mission March 2010

2010-04-25T18:08:00.000-07:00

Dr Nous Sarom of Operation FIRST / Rose Charities is Cambodia's foremost rehabilitation surgeon specializing in cleft lip and palate, burns and other debilitating surgically correctable conditions. (see www.FirstRose.org ) . Dr Sarom writes

"just to give you couple of pics for our outreach mission last Month in Siem Reap Military Hospital.It was very succesfull+++++ mission. Metfone Companie( Business for phone and internet and cooperation with military) help for transportation/food/ hospitalization for the patients.

The team included:

1/Dr.Sarom Plastic Surgeon

2/Dr.Yeav Bounthai: Anesth

3/Dr.Top Chansy: Anesth assistance

4/Prof.Alice Smith(from Op.Smile) Speech Pathologist

5/Mech Chamreun( OR Nurse)

6/ Va Morgan( Bio med, From Angkor Hospital for Children)

7/other 6 local military medical staff.

1 day screening and 2 days of surgery.

Screen 20 and operated 14 though others referred to the Operation FIRST specialist center.

Milk Gallery:FOTORELIEF for Haiti..

2010-03-26T10:57:00.000-07:00

New Moon's Heidi Helps Haiti

March 22, 2010 at 3:24PM by Kelli Acciardo | 1 comments so far

Noot Seear, supermodel, actress (she plays Heidi in New Moon), and President of Rose Charities, hosted an evening of photography and charity with Fotorelief to benefit Haiti recently at Milk Gallery in NYC. The silent photo auction called, "A Picture Saves a Thousand Lives," featured work by over 100 of the world's most respected fashion and fine art photographers (including Annie Leibovitz, Patrick Demarchelier, Terry Richardson, and Steven Klein, to name a few). In between mingling with guests and taping down starting bids throughout the gallery, Noot managed to catch up with Seventeen about her goal for the night, her beauty tips, and whether she'll be making an appearance in Breaking Dawn. See what she had to say...
Seventeen: Tell me about tonight's event and why this cause is important to you.
Noot Seear: This is the 9th event I've done and I'm excited about the work featured tonight, especially since it's not all fashion photography. There's a good mix of amazing photographers represented. All of the proceeds from the auction will go to Rose Charities, to provide long-term care and rehabilitation for the survivors of the Haitian earthquake.
17: What are some beauty tips you've learned from modeling?
Noot: Always have confidence. That's the most important thing. Moisturizer is also really important, but it's good to keep things simple.
17: Will we be seeing more of Heidi in Breaking Dawn?
Noot: Yes! I've been contracted and I'm really excited. Everyone is great to work with.
"A Picture Saves a Thousand Lives" raised over 70,000 dollars to help Haiti. To find out more about how you can give back visit rosecharities.info.

Scene in NY: FOTORELEIF for Haiti: Milk Gallery 18th June 2010

2010-03-23T18:23:00.000-07:00

AMDA Relief in Chile

2010-03-19T07:58:00.000-07:00

AMDA Emergency Relief in Chile

Emergency Relief for Chile Earthquake (Mar. 19th, 2010). The relief effort on this occasion is largely being supported by AMDA Japan, Bolivia and Peru. As of Mar. 18th, AMDA’s second relief team has reached Talca where AMDA is setting up a logistic hub for a relief effort targeting the coastal region of Constitucion, the worst tsunami-affected area. AMDA team is currently stationed at Talca’s army base where support on logistics and security have been provided by the Chilean Army. In the afternoon of Mar. 18th, the team visited Constitucion to determine the extent of the damage along the coast. According to Constitucion Hospital, the death toll is 95 with approximately 80 people missing.The damage in the area is utterly devastating that the houses and buildings were almost flattened with most of them turned into heaps of debris. Since the occurrence of the initial earthquake on Feb. 27th, the tsunamis in the scale of 10-15 meters have occurred for four times at least.From now on, the team is planning to conduct relief activities aimed at maintaining infant health. The team is expected to carry out the distribution of relief goods, mobile health consultations and infant health survey in the region.

Operation FIRST Cambodia commences outreach program

2010-03-15T08:42:00.000-07:00

Operation FIRST - Rose Charities close partner rehab. surgery organization in Cambodia is starting an outreach program for mainly cleft lip and palate surgery. The first mission will take place at the Military Hospital in Siem Reap from the 20th March. Dr Nous Sarom, the founder and President of Operation FIRST has considerable experience in outreach operations having been involved in such with both Rose Charities and Operation SMILE.
Operation FIRST , based at Chea Chumneas Hospital ( www.FirstRose.org ) is one of Cambodia's leading centers for all types of rehabilitation surgery and regularly welcomes teams from around the world (Operation Rainbow Canada, IMPACT, Chinese University of Hong Kong etc etc ). Operation FIRST was founded by Dr Nous Sarom in conjunction with Rose Charities in 2005. Unlike some other 'pirate' facilities in the country it is a proper Cambodian Ministry of Health Center and so supports the drive for national standards, programs and protocols

Mike of Rose Charites NZ webber takes microscope to Cambodia

2010-03-13T12:51:00.000-08:00

Mike Webber of Rose Charities New Zealand has just returned from Cambodia. Mike, has just returned after a very productive trip to the Rose Charities Eye Clinic in Cambodia. Mike took with him three generously donated items from New Zealand. An A-scan laser, a keratometer and a beautiful Moller-Wedel operating microscope. All these items will be of enormous benefit to the eye clinic and were gratefully accepted by Dr’s Hang and Natalia Vra. Mr Sam Plummer and his wife, New Zealanders living in Phnom Penh, kindly assisted with customs formalities and all the equipment was delivered without mishap.,

Mike Webber along with Dr David ’Sabo’ Sabison and Mr John Veale have been enormously instrumental in supporting and developing the eye clinic into Cambodia’s foremost facility for the poor together with Drs Vra. Both Mike Webber and Dr David Sabiston are recipients of the N.Z. Order of Merit, one of the countries highest honours. Mike, Sabo, and John have, over the years each made several visits to Cambodia both to teach as well as assist with organizational support.

On this occasion the equipment was donated from generous individuals from both the North and South Island.

AMDA relief team departs for Chile

2010-03-02T23:17:00.000-08:00

AMDA HQ Japan is coordinating with AMDA Bolivia (Dr Esteban Foianinni) to take medical relief to earthquake destroyed southern Chile. The Bolivian team will cross overland and meet with HQ personnel from Japan in Santiago. Both teams will bring medical supplies to assist the relief efforts

Child medical services in Haiti: Rose links with AAP and Health Frontiers

2010-02-06T08:14:00.000-08:00

Rose Charities has teamed up with the AAP and the International Pediatrics Association to support their plans in Haiti. The Minnesota based, international NGO Health Frontiers is already partner. This organization runs pediatrics and medical programs worldwide. Prof. Elizabeth Hillman of the Hillman Medical Education Fund (HMEF) was instrumental in providing contacts for this linkage as well as Dr Marlene Goodfriend of the AAP.

A small team consisting of Dr Bron Anders (AAP) and R.N. Angela Assalone ( BC's Childrens Hospital) -Shown in image discussing plans with Josephine de Freitas- will shortly in Haiti to both assist at the Community Hospital in Port-au-Prince. As the Port-au-prince airport is still closed to commercial flights, the team will, as with the five previous teams sent by AMDA and Rose Charities make the long road journey from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. The plan is to establish a base from which both the Haiti Pediatrics Association pediatricians can work and plan and also for AAP international pediatric teams to operate. Currently one of the Rose Charities members contacts in Haiti is kindly assisting with some limited space and this is where the initial teams will stay. The community of Haitian pediatricians have been hit hard by the disaster. Many have lost their lives while others are coping with grief and loss. Pediatric nurses are suffering the same circumstances. A second team, consisting of Dr Collin Yong and R.N. Doreen Lore (B.C. Childrens Hospital) will be relieving the first team in approximately 2 weeks time.

The current Rose Charities - AMDA Canada pediatrics assistace team consisting of Dr Pargat Singh Bhurji and R.N. Kirby Pickard will return at the end of next week. They find they are treating a wide spectrum of cases including dehydration, phycials injuries, diarrhoea, respiratory tract and a host of other infections. The work is very stressful and taxing under extremely difficult conditions. The disaster not only has inflicted terrible primary injuries (fractures, crush, inhalataion etc) but also reduced regular medical services to an extremely low level, meaning that demand for all aspects of medicine and surgery are now huge

Fifth AMDA team heads for Haiti: RN. Ruby Kaur Gill. St Paul's Vancouver joins

2010-02-03T12:03:00.000-08:00

R.N. Ruby Gill of Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) has departed for AMDA Canada to join the 5th AMDA Surgical relief team to work at Gonaives, Haiti. This new team is headed by Dr Esteban Foianinni of AMDA Bolivia, an orthopaedic surgeon. Thus,as with the previous team the work will concentrate on orthopedic surgery though all medical / surgical cases will be also assisted where possible.
R.N. Martin Ward (B.C. Children's Hospital) and R.N. Kathleen Ward (Edmonton Alberta), who had been with the previous AMDA Columbia organized team returned very recently and were able to brief the new team as they departed. A wide range of persons were treated and around 10 surgeries per day performed for all conditions though the majority were fractures. Sometime, not having sufficient orthopedic hardware the team had to improvise by making their own from what they could find. In addition a very kind, and timely donation from Dr Jim Scott & RN Paula Spicer of Georgia, USA who visited the team hugely assisted (and much gratitude is expressed for Dr Scott and Ms Spicer for this)
All teams bring their own supplies. On this occasion the AMDA Bolivia team is bringing some 500kg of surgical equipment and supplies which will be trucked in. They enter Haiti by a long drive from Santo Domingo which is very slow on the Haitian side of the boarder as roads are in a poor state of repair.
R.N. Ruby Kaur Gill is British / Canadian of ethnic Punjabi background. Although working in a different geographical location to the AMDA Canada / Rose Charities pediatric team headed by Dr Pargat Singh Bhurji she is thus the second medical professional from this particular Canadian community. Rose Charities and AMDA Canada have been hugely touched and grateful for the incredible support from the Sikh community, not only in donations but also in generous offers to volunteer. The logistical support of CECI www.ceci.ca has also been pivotal in enabling all teams to assist and both AMDA and Rose Charities are very grateful indeed to this remarkable organization.
Dr Bhurji's pediatric team are working flat out. There is a great shortage of pediatric staff as many were tragically killed in the quake and others have lost so much that they are completely occupied trying to survive. The nursing school also lost several hundred students and trainers.
Other AMDA teams have or are working at St Marc's and Jimani (Domincan Repbublic very near Haitian border) and an AMDA International logistics group headed by Mr Nithian Veeruvagu is maintained in Santo Domingo for supply, communication and overall administration.

Haiti emergency relief updates. 31st January 2010

2010-01-31T08:53:00.000-08:00

31st January 2009

- Team 3: Pediatric in Port-au-prince under CECI supervision: Have now established a special pediatric unit in a large tent (safer for aftershocks and much of regular infrastructure destroyed) . Dr Pargat Singh Bhurji and R.N. Kirby Picard
- Next phase under planning by Rose Charities, AMDA Canada. Dr Pargat Singh Bhurji, Dr Collin Yong, Dr Mike Seear and R.N. Martin Ward (B.C's Children's Hospital) main advisors and organizers with Rose Charities / AMDA Emergency relief panel.
- Surgical team Gonaives (AMDA HQ organized) consisting of AMDA Columbia and AMDA Canada personnel finish their mission in next few days and be replaced by a fresh team (probably AMDA Nepal and/or AMDA Bolivia)

Rose Charities Cambodia Surgical Centre

2010-01-31T07:24:00.000-08:00

Rose Charities Cambodia Surgery Center (RC CSC) programs are in great demand. Burns, cleft lip and palate, land mine injuries, slow growing tumors and many other conditions are treated both by Cambodian and visiting expatriate teams. Rose Charities founded their rehab surgery unit in 1998. The original unit is properly integrated into the Cambodian health system at Chea Chumeas Hospital near Phnom Penh. Rose Charities Canada and Cambodia suffered a major looting and vandalization of its projects in 2002 (orchestrated by a crooked expatriate) but was able to recover though the generosity of donors from Canada, USA, UK, NZ, Australia and donors of many other countries. Sadly Rose Charities success has lead to many scams. In Hongkong it is reported that funds are collected in some restaurants or bars under the Rose Charities name, though no funds are ever forwarded to our organization from these possibly fraudulent collections.

Please donate to real surgery for the poor of Cambodia by Rose Charities . www.RoseCharities.Org (or) rosecharities.org.uk

R.N. Karla Dozzi returns from Haiti

2010-01-29T20:30:00.000-08:00

R.N. Karla Dozzi returns from the first AMDA emergency medical team which arrived in Haiti some 5 days after the disaster. Excellently coordinated by the Quebec organization CECI the team worked at St Marc assisting with the high level or orthopaedic injury. Cases included multiple crush and fracture injuries, both open and closed. Infection posed a very great problem and Karla was kept busy with a considerable amount of wound dressing. The teams work work paved the way for a follow up team make up both of surgeons and nurses from Canada and Columbia Karla is from Sudbury Ontario and currently works in Toronto. Karla returned home shocked and saddened by the extend and severity of the cases she saw

Vancouver children's medical team to join Haiti effort

2010-01-25T11:30:00.000-08:00

Pediatrician Dr Pargat Singh Bhurji and R.N. Kirby Pickard depart for Haiti via Santo Domingo in the next 24 hours. Dr Bhurji was a pivotal member of the AMDA Canada / Rose Charities Sri Lanka 2004 Tsunami pediatric relief team from BC Childrens Hosptial. On this occasion the B.C.Childrens Hospital staff are also involved, with the main effort being directed by Dr's Collin Yong and Mike Seear both highly disaster / relief experienced international pediatricians. R.N. Martin Ward (B.C Children's Hospital) is already in Haiti, working with the AMDA Canada surgical team now in Gonaives. Kirby works at St Pauls Hospital, Vancouver. R.N's Karla Dozzi (Sudbury an Toronto) and Kathleen Firth (Edmonton) are also currently on site

In Kalmunai Sri Lanka, Dr Pargat Bhurgi became a star with local population by not only bringing superb pediatric skills, and warm personality but also his ability to play cricket ! He is still asked after, regularly by those helped through the Rose Charities / AMDA Canada project there.

R.N.Kirby Pickard has experience in working in Honduras as well as being highly trained, including burns, fractures etc.

With the arrival of the pediatric team there will be three areas medically assisted by the cooperating team(s) of AMDA Canada (through AMDA International), Rose Charities, and CECI (who have proved huge logistical assistance and direction in Haiti); Port au Prince, Gonaives and Jimani (just across the border in the Domincan Republic)

AMDA International Haiti relief team to start work in second center

2010-01-23T16:12:00.000-08:00

The Haiti relief team is to start operations at Gonaives, some 60km further north than St Marc. This area has a large population of Spanish speakers, many ex Cuban. AMDA Colombian volunteers clearly would be of great assistance in this area

Injuries at St.Marc currently being seen include multiple fractures, dislocations, sprains and strains, intracranial injuries, internal injuries of chest, abdomen and pelvis, open wounds, broken skulls, burns, injuries to nerves, spinal cords and blood vessels. Paraplegic conditions are also seen. Pressure of demand at St Marc is taxing facilities to the limit. The team has been assisting not just medically / surgically, but also in administration, patient records and patient organization.

B.C.Children's Hospital nurse Martin Ward and Kathleen Firth from Edmonton Alberta have now joined the team

AMDA Colombia team to join AMDA International team effort

2010-01-22T22:13:00.000-08:00

A surgical team from AMDA Colombia is travelling to Domincan Rebublic (then on to Haiti) tomorrow 23rd January 2010 to join the AMDA International team effort. Two AMDA Canada surical nurses, RN's Martin Ward and Kathleen Firth arrived today from Vancouver and Edmonton also to join the enlarging team. Surgical volunteers from Bolivia and Nepal are standing by. In Vancouver, a pediatric medical team supported by various groups including AMDA Canada, Rose Charities Canada and others is also in preparation consisting of Canadian pediatric experts from local hospitals including B.C Childrens Hospital, Vancouver General Hospital and others. Expansion of the team work to other areas in addition to St Marc will be implemented very soon.

R.N Martin Ward of B.C. Children's Hospital, leaves for Haiti emergency surgical relief

2010-01-21T16:52:00.000-08:00

B C Children's Hospital Nurse Martin Ward is heading for Haiti to join the AMDA Emergency Surgical team at St.Marc. Martin brings his hugely needed skills to the team who are working flat out under very demanding conditions. Martin has worked on an AMDA team previously when they rushed to Aceh post tsunami 2005. Rose Charities and AMDA Canada are supporting the AMDA relief efforts.

Images from the AMDA Haiti relief team - by Nithian Veeravagu (AMDA) - Team Leader

2010-01-20T20:05:00.000-08:00

Images from the AMDA Haiti Team (click)

Medical team at work in St.Marc's Hospital Haiti

2010-01-18T17:26:00.000-08:00

Haiti medical team update: The AMDA International Medical Team (which includes personnel from AMDA and Rose Charities Canada) is now hard at work in St Marc. Hospital, Haiti, some 50km north of Port-au-Prince. They are being directed by CECI and are working along side a team from the Massachusetts General Hospital. The work is non-stop with the bulk of need being in orthopedics / orthopedic surgery.

An expansion of the mission is planned in the near future.

Detailed AMDA report (click)

Short interview with Will Grut on Haiti

2010-01-17T08:09:00.000-08:00

Haiti Medical Relief team en route

2010-01-14T07:23:00.000-08:00

Rose Charities is working with AMDA Canada to assist this terrible earthquake disaster. Three medical relief team members left Japan today Thursday 14th and will be joined by Dr Collin Yong (Vancouver) and Nurse Karla Dozzi (Toronto) en route. Medical supplies will be taken by the team. Donations through Canada Helps please http://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=s88403 for Canada.
or..
UK www.JustGiving.com
USA www.FirstGiving.com
Other countries. via links on www.RoseCharities.org

Previous emergency missions

Female Community Health Volunteer Eye Training Program: Lumbini Eye Institute, Nepal

2010-01-08T08:28:00.000-08:00

Image of 'presentation day' in Nepal for the Lumbini Female Community Health Volunteer training program. Dr Basant Raj Sharma of the Lunini Eye Institute presents a diploma to a proud recipient.

The FCHV program of the Lumbini Eye Insitute program trains women village volunteers to screen for eye disase. Early detection of conditions such as glaucoma or trachoma will identify the need for sight-saving treatment which can be provided free or at very low cost by the Eye Institute. Awareness teaching of eye conditions and eye care is also given by them. 'Dr Basant' was one of the founders of this hugely successful program which is also sponsored by Rose Charities New Zealand.

Dr Basant is one of the founder members of Rose Charities Cambodia traveling most years to Cambodia to train and teach

Under One Umbrella Society Vancouver wins Award

2010-01-07T10:39:00.000-08:00

Newsflash:

Under One Umbrella Society wins B.C. Cancer Society Community Development Project Award for the Under One Umbrella Homeless Street Fair

Congratulations from Rose Charities Canada.. truly well deserved !

NZ Order of Merit for Dr David Sabiston announced..

2010-01-01T08:27:00.000-08:00

STOP PRESS. Announced 6am December 31st 2009.

Her Majesty the Queen appoints Dr David Sabiston (Rose Charities NZ) as a Member of the N.Z. Order of Merit in recognition for services of ophthalmology and to the community.

David has worked tirelessly over the years to provide expertise, resources, training an support for Rose Charities New Zealand and Rose Charities Cambodia (Eye Clinic) Thanks to his work (and also of Mr Mike Webber and John Veale) the clinic remains the most functional in the country and has restored sight or treated eye disease to many many thousands of poor Cambodians

Newspaper article(click)

The entire Rose Charities network offers all congratulations. We are very proud !

Cambodia educational support program commences

2009-12-07T18:26:00.000-08:00

The Rose Charities Cambodian Educational support program was commenced last week. Based on the program implemented in Sri Lanka in 2007 the support aims to allow talented students who could not otherwise afford it to complete their college education. A successful degree or diploma leads to a job and income generation not only for the student, but also for their family and often their community too. This program is being organized by Sarah Miller of Rose Charities Australia. It is hoped that other organizations will join in as the program develops.

'Stand Tall Education ' Organization - A new school in Uganda

2009-11-28T14:48:00.000-08:00

Education in Uganda... some facts

Although Universal Public Education was introduced in Uganda in 1997 for primary school children, education in Uganda is not free. Families must still pay for learning materials such as pencils, paper, exercise books, uniforms, meals and transportation.
At present, there are nearly 2 million HIV/aids orphans in Uganda. Literature shows that these orphans face unique problems when it comes to school attendance, including possible intra-household discrimination.
Uganda’s drop-out rate is high. In Kampala alone, close to 50% of pupils who enroll in Primary 1 do not complete Primary 7 in the set time frame.
The quality of public education in Uganda is poor: with large class sizes, lack of proper furniture, equipment, and school supplies, and an education style that discourages active participation between children and teachers.

Stand Tall Education - a Rose Charities partner organization - is constucting a no-fee primary school in Kampala, Uganda to educate poor and orphaned children who cannot afford the expense associated with government-sponsored schools. The school is located on a one acre property in a low income area of Kampala.

New school for Mahatsara Project Madagascar

2009-11-25T06:26:00.000-08:00

The Mahatsara Project of Rose Charities Madagascar has built a new school. This brings the current numbers of children attending to almost 200 with 11 teachers and 3 directors.

The project has been running now for 5 years and focuses on community development of the village and area in all sectors, education, health, agricultural support.

Typhoon Ketsana hits central Vietnam. Rose Charities Vietnam brings relief supplies

2009-11-23T15:09:00.000-08:00

Emergency relief for typhoon Ketsana stricken central Vietnam. Mr Nguen of Rose Charities Vietnam, brings much needed supplies to a school. October 2009

Partnerships, Empowerment and Results - Rose Charities 3rd International Meeting 2010

2009-11-04T11:03:00.001-08:00

- CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW TO ENLARGE -