Saturday, November 19, 2011

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

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



    Tuesday, October 18, 2011

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

    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).'

    Tuesday, October 11, 2011

    A big welcome to Rose Charities Singapore !

    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

    Wednesday, September 28, 2011

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

    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

    Monday, September 26, 2011

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


    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.

    Wednesday, July 27, 2011

    Books for Rose Sri Lanka School Children: Primary Enrichment Program

    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











































    Thursday, June 30, 2011

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

    '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

    Tuesday, June 21, 2011

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

    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

    Wednesday, April 20, 2011

    Field Analyser donated to Rose Cambodia Sight Center

    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.”

    Thursday, April 14, 2011

    Tsunami relief Japan: update 14th April 2011

     

    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

    Monday, April 11, 2011

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

    (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

    Saturday, April 9, 2011

    CIEAF/Kayama Enterprises fundraiser for AMDA Relief - big success

    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) – 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.
     

    Friday, April 8, 2011

    Japan tsunami relief: 8th April 2011

    (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

    Wednesday, April 6, 2011

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

    (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.

    Tuesday, April 5, 2011

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

    (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

    Saturday, April 2, 2011

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

    (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

    Thursday, March 31, 2011

    AMDA tsunami relief: update 1st April 2011

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

    Tuesday, March 29, 2011

    AMDA-Japan tsunami relief: update 29th March 2011



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

    Sunday, March 27, 2011

    AMDA Tsunami relief update: 27th March 2011

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

    Friday, March 25, 2011

    AMDA tsunami relief: update 25th March 2011

    (2011-03-25)

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

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

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

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

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

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



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



    Miyagi Prefecture (Minamisanriku-cho):

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



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

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

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

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

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

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