January 2010 Newsletter 5th Edition

Welcome to the Fifth Edition of our Newsletter...

As I embark on my 5th newsletter I am encouraged by the positive feedback and interest relayed to us by readers and members. We enjoy sharing our successes and the positive outcomes ADFA has achieved. We hope you will continue the journey with us, and know that your help and involvement is an integral part of our organisation.

ADFA is now 4 years old, and even though all charities have had a down turn in financial assistance during the last 12 months due to the recession, we have managed to keep supporting our three main regions, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Somalia. Support is also given by ADFA to the Hargeisa General Hospital and the Medical School at the University in Hargeisa in conjunction with the Medical School of UWA. We have managed to assist other overseas organizations with the donation of hospital beds for Tanzania and Cambodia.

C-arm x-ray machine donated by a Perth x-ray centre

The Management Committee welcomes Paul Tye to the committee. Paul is the Director of Team Works Australia Pty Ltd and has been working with ADFA over the last 12 months in a voluntary capacity. Paul continues in his voluntary capacity by heading the Sponsorship and Corporate arena and submitting his applications and presentations. His professional expertise and knowledge is of great value to a charity like ADFA, and we are delighted he is able to bring in fresh ideas and open new doors.

This year ADFA has been able to source goods in kind , as financial donations are slower than normal for all charities. Due to many of the major hospitals in WA changing their current ward beds over to electronic beds, ADFA has been donated several hundred beds. This has been a very valuable and useful windfall. It has been a major project organising the transportation and packing of these beds into sea containers; however worth every ounce of effort. To date there has been 180 beds shipped by sea container and arrived safely at their destination.

SEA CONTAINERS

Goods being received by hospital staff in Hargeisa

Robert Forward and David Cribb have put in a huge effort this year locating and transporting the hospital beds and storing them in the shed at Claremont. There has been a variety of medical supplies donated to ADFA such as hospital trolleys, dressings, surgical equipment, mattresses, pillows, wheel chairs, crutches and much more. All this equipment needs to be collected, cleaned, packed and stored. Getting the sea container on the water is just the beginning as it is not an easy task negotiating the documentation and customs as the container passes through the various ports until it reaches its final destination. Once the container arrives, there is more organising for the goods to be unloaded and trucked to the various hospitals. In Australia this is straight forward, but in overseas countries finding a truck and driver is not always easy. We always cheer at the meetings when Robert announces the goods have arrived safely! It is a great achievement.

Donated medical aid arrives in Ethiopia

The donated medical supplies are extremely beneficial to the hospitals we visit, and whenever possible equipment required for teaching and operating during an ADFA visit is sent ahead by sea container. Much of the equipment is very heavy and not suitable to transfer by air freight. The equipment used during the visit is then donated to the hospital at the completion of an ADFA mission.

The Perth Apex Club has been involved in the sea container project from conception and continues to help pack the sea containers. They are a very willing community group who we have come to depend on as part of the team, and to the success of shipping the sea containers. The Rotary Club of Palm Beach very kindly assisted in the sorting and packing of goods in the storage shed. Without the help of these service clubs we would not be able Donated medical aid arrives to run the sea container project. Our special thanks go to these in Ethiopia people for their continued and valued support.

BOSASO

ADFA has not been able to send a medical team to Bosaso for a medical mission this year due to the political unrest in the country. However, there are people in Bosaso that still need our help. The new wing of the Bosaso Hospital is currently under construction with the anticipated completion date being January/February 2010. ADFA has made a commitment to furnish the new wards once completed.

Robert Forward has visited various Rotary Clubs throughout WA where he gave a presentation. The Rotary Clubs were asked to support ADFA with a donation for the new wards at the Bosaso Hospital. Thirteen of these clubs have responded to this plea with a donation of $1500 per club. These funds have been allocated to the Bosaso Hospital.

Since the initial request for help with the building funds, Dr Abdulaahi has received the funds within Bosaso and has commenced the new ward buildings. Dr Abdulaahi has now requested ADFA provide the new medical furniture, medical equipment and office furniture for the new wards. A sea container filled with hospital beds, mattresses, pillows, lockers, heart tables, wheelchairs, frames, linen, office furniture for the doctors and nurse s station and administration offices, and general medical supplies has been collected and packed. The container is on the way to Bosaso now so that the new equipment can go directly into the new wards of the hospital on arrival. With the unrest in Bosaso it is not been a good time for our teams to visit. By sending the furniture and equipment as requested, ADFA has been able to ensure that all the donated funds have been used appropriately, controlled in Australia by the ADFA Management Committee and the Bosaso Hospital receive the best assistance possible.

Dr Abdulaahi discussing the plans for the new wards with the engineer

Dr Graham Forward organising the delivery of the cholera vaccine

Sanofi-Pasteur very generously donated 70 Cholera vaccines needed for the second stage of the Cholera vaccination programme for the staff at the Bosaso Hospital. Dr Graham Forward carried the vaccine with him when he travelled overseas for other commitments in September. Through sheer perseverance and determination Graham Forward found a way to get the vaccine to Dr Abdulaahi at the Bosaso Hospital. On its arrival the vaccine was administered to the hospital staff, who will now be able to treat patients during future outbreaks of cholera.

ETHIOPIA

Dr Graham Forward and Dr Tim Keenan Orthopaedic Surgeons, and Mr Paul Maloney Orthopaedic Technician from SJOGH Murdoch visited the Black Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa from the 14th 27th March 2009. The Black Lion Hospital is the major teaching and referral hospital for the entire population of 75 million people who reside in Ethiopia. As you can imagine the workload and needs are overwhelming.

The Talipes Clinic which was set up by a local doctor, Dr Woubalem is actively supported by ADFA. It is pleasing to report that the training programme for physiotherapists and nurses to apply plasters is now expanding. The CURE Hospital (a private hospital in Addis Ababa) also supports this project by giving plaster supplies. The medical records are being well maintained, which will help future research projects based upon the non operative treatment of Talipes in Ethiopia.

Paul Maloney spent a great deal of time organising instruments and making up sets of instruments and prosthesis for particular surgical procedures. He taught the orthopaedic nurses how to classify, organise, label and assemble a variety of orthopaedic equipment for surgery. As Paul is also a qualified electrician, he was able to repair electrical equipment such as diathermy machines and light sources for operating theatres and tourniquet systems. He taught theatre staff how to maintain and store equipment, and established communication between the operating room and the bioengineering section. Paul has made a good start in setting up and teaching the local staff in the use and care of orthopaedic equipment. He will return to the Black Lion Hospital in a few months to continue the good work and expand the project.

Paul Maloney sorting orthopaedic instruments

Paul Maloney giving a little TLC to one of the children in hospital

Dr Graham Forward consulting a child in a typical Ethiopian hospital bed

Dr Tim Keenan doing ward rounds and teaching local doctors

Dr Graham Forward and Dr Tim Keenan gave advice and guidance for the management of trauma patients, and several teaching seminars were conducted by Dr Forward regarding knee injuries, the managements of post polio weakness and the clinical examination of the hip. Earlier this year ADFA financed a consignment of hemiarthroplasties from India.

The operative approach and technique for implantation of these prostheses was taught to two senior residents by Graham and Tim. They are now deemed competent to proceed with this surgery, and will do so over the next few months. The hip hemiarthroplasty is utilised for a particular form of hip fracture which does not heal up due to the incidence of avascular necrosis. Much time was spent in the operating room by the two volunteer orthopaedic surgeons trying to improve the surgical techniques and skills of the trainees and the consultants.

Dr Tony Jeffries teaching hand surgery

ADFA has sponsored a project to run the operating theatres on a Saturday for 12 weeks to help the backlog of patients requiring surgery. The operating theatres normally run 5 times a week. With the help of ADFA another 10 12 people are operated on each week. As you could imagine, in a country with a population of 75 million there is always a long waiting list. Prior to the commencement of this project, a formal partnership of agreement was written up and signed by ADFA and the Black Lion Hospital. Due to the success and enthusiasm of the initial project, ADFA agreed to sponsor another 12 sessions under the same agreement and ADFA hopes to make this an ongoing project for a longer period. 176 people have now had surgery, people who were unable to work and feed their family are now fit and can work in the community, young children are mobile, happy and pain free, and mothers are able to look after their children, something we take for granted in our country.

A return visit by Dr Tony Jeffries Orthopaedic Surgeon specialising in upper limb, Paul Maloney Orthopaedic Technician and Nurse Victoria Gibson was carried out from the 28th August - 13th September 2009. It has been sometime since there has been an upper limb surgeon working at the Black Lion.

Dr Jeffries took the opportunity to perform and teach many surgical cases. There was a particular case where a lady had her hand very badly crushed in an accident, and when brought to the hospital local staff thought she would have to have the 4 hand amputated. Dr Jeffries worked for 2 1⁄2 hours on the hand until it was viable to save the hand. He arranged follow up care and treatment with a doctor from one of the private hospitals over the following months. The hand will never be the same, but it will certainly have function and be of great use to the patient. It is makes us very proud to have had a good surgeon there to offer the patient such a favourable outcome, when normally it would have been so tragic.

Paul Maloney worked organising orthopaedic equipment, assisted with the arrival, customs and unloading of the sea container sent by ADFA, and taught theatre staff in preparation of surgical equipment. Paul took the leadership role for the team and looked after the logistics. In between time Paul gave some special time to the Children of Addis Ababa.

Victoria Gibson did a fantastic job teaching the nurses sterile technique and to scrub for theatre cases. In particular she took two 1st year nurses under her wing and spent time teaching them all aspects of theatre work. They are the future of the hospital and responded extremely well to Victoria. She also took treats for the children such as balloons and toys. Her warm heart and great work ethic made a very positive impression with the nurses.

Victoria puts a child at ease who is about to undergo surgery

Victoria with one of her star pupils

MADAGASCAR

On the 28th October 2009 a large and diverse team left Perth for Toliara in Madagascar. The team consisted of Dr Graham Forward Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr Digby Cullen Gastroenterologist, Dr Susan Chapman Urologist from Bunbury, Helen Burgan Paediatric Physiotherapist from Adelaide, Catriona Ferrie, Medical representative for Olympus Medical and Kelly Pryde a Perth Nurse, who currently resides in Zimbabwe. The team arrived in Antananarivo where they met up with our resident ADFA representative Tiana Andrianarijoana. Tiana works in conjunction with Christine Tasker who arranges and co-ordinates all the team trips from Perth; and assists the team when working in Madagascar. A great deal of organization goes into getting these teams to their destination, especially when the team members are coming from various locations around the globe.

Helen Burgan treating a baby with Talipes

Dr Sue Chapman was on her first visit to Madagascar. She responded to a request from the local hospital requesting help with urological problems. With the help of Kelly Pryde she was able to set up the cystoscopy equipment and carry out extensive training both at the Clinique St Luc and the General Hospital to allow cystoscopy and TURP to be carried out rather than more invasive open prostatic surgery. This is very suitable surgery for the region and Dr Chapman hopes to follow up with another urology visit next year. Sue donated some excellent urological equipment to the Clinic.

The gastroenterology and endoscopy unit which Dr Digby Cullen started at the General Hospital was again supported by Digby with the assistance of Catriona Ferrie from Olympus. A large amount of modern equipment was donated by Olympus and has been installed and made operational at both hospitals in Toliara. The endoscopy unit was further improved with the installation of a new air conditioner, the upgrading of the electrical system and the plans for a suitable location for washing the endoscope. Apart from training the Toliara endoscopists, a young gastroenterologist was brought down from the capital city Antananarivo for intensive training.

A sea container arrived in Toliara the week prior to the teams arrival and was unloaded, classified and distributed to three locations. Hospital beds, wheelchairs, crutches, anaesthetic, an ultrasound machine and medical equipment were gratefully received. Medical equipment was also distributed to some of the smaller clinics on the outskirts of the city who offer primary medical treatment.

Progress was made on the ablution block and toilet facilities to be constructed at the hospital. The design was processed, the location for the building was identified and an initial contract has been let for construction to commence. We have appointed Marcellin as the local co-ordinator of the project which is expected to be completed by April 2010.

During our visits there are always interesting cases and eventful happenings which the team deals with on a daily basis, many of which tug at the emotions of the team, as they see so much poverty. However there was one particular scene that brought great joy to the team.

A small lady was seen carrying her young daughter on her back, as her daughter has not been able to walk since birth. Helen Burgan saw this woman struggling along, so stopped her in the street and took her to the clinic and gave her a wheel chair for her daughter. Such a simple donation will make a significant difference to this family. The young girl was later seen wheeling herself along with a big smile on her face. The mother was so grateful and happy for this gesture which now gives both she and her daughter some independence. The ADFA team felt very emotional to see how one wheel chair can change the lives of a whole family.

Mother carrying her disabled child since birth

Victoria with one of her star pupils

Victoria with one of her star pupils

HARGEISA

The Faculty of Medicine, UWA and Australian Doctors for Africa are working together on the curriculum and a proposed visit for March 2010 to teach the medical students at the Hargeisa Hospital Medical School. A program for general surgery, paediatrics, GP and general medicine for the 6th year interns has been requested by the Dean Dr Ereg at the Hargeisa Medical School. Voluntary Australian doctors have come together to work on this project.

Sixth year medical students at Hargeisa Hospital Medical School

Dr Rod Thelander and Professor Allbrook teaching medical students

FUNDRAISING

Little Feet Walk

Fundraising walkers on the route around South Perth

This year we had a change of location for our fundraising walk which was a great success. The walk took place along the south side of the Swan River from Mend Street to the Narrows and return. Wesley College very kindly allowed us to use the grounds of the school for the parking, registration, the commencement and conclusion of the event. Several of the student boarders donated their time to direct parking and walkers and to distribute bottled water at the half way mark of the walk. Their participation was much appreciated by all. Wesley College has agreed to allow ADFA to hold the event at the school again next year.

ADFA volunteers ready for registration

The walk raised $14,165.00. As the event had a very short preparation period and there was a recession happening, we think this is a fantastic outcome. Thank you to all the team captains, their walkers and sponsors. We cannot begin to express how much we appreciate your support. Any charity is only as big as the hearts of those who support it.

The name Little Feet Walk came about because of all the little feet in Madagascar, Ethiopia and Somalia that are treated for Talipes by ADFA each year. Funds raised from the walk provide plaster and surgical equipment for our doctors and nurses to treat these patients. In Australia Talipes is detected in babies shortly after birth. They are treated immediately, usually with a serial plastering program and occasionally, with surgical intervention by an orthopaedic surgeon.

There in Australia Talipes is corrected and treatment is completed before our children can remember it. In third world countries, children live with Talipes and end up with severe deformities which can prevent them from walking or living a normal life. ADFA is working with local doctors, nurses and physiotherapists, teaching and treating babies and children through to young adults. The Talipes program will change the lives of these children.

A toddler with untreated Talipes

Dr Graham Forward performing surgical repair of Talipes

An adult with severe untreated Talipes

So when your feet walk, they enable little children overseas to walk, and for this reason we hope to see you and your friends at the Little Feet Walk again next year. Watch your email address and the media for further information on the walk.

Cocktail Party

Due to the large team and the enormous amount of equipment and drugs required for our Madagascan trip in October, it was realised that urgent funds were required to make this happen. The only way the extra equipment could be sourced, packed and transported to Toliara for it to arrive in time for the team to be able to use it in Toliara, was to send it by air DHL, which is an expensive process.

An urgent fund raiser was required!

Dr Cullen and Catriona Ferrie coordinated a very successful event

Dr Digby Cullen and Catriona Ferrie along with the help of the ADFA committee, friends and colleagues held a Cocktail Party and Silent Auction in Claremont. The night was a great success and $13,000 was raised. This was a tremendous effort considering it all came together in about 3 weeks.

All the required equipment and drugs including gastroenterology equipment donated by Olympus Medical was sent by air freight and arrived at the same time as the voluntary medical team. This had a major impact on the success of the overall trip.

It never ceases to amaze us how major obstacles can be Dr Cullen and Catriona Ferrie overcome with the generosity and help of our ADFA family coordinated a very successful event and how things can be turned around with very little fuss. A special thanks to Digby and Catriona for a fantastic job.

EVENTS COMMITTEE

The Management Committee welcomes Jill Goetze, Sami Tadros and Susie Penco to the Events Committee. These people have joined with great enthusiasm, and bring with them new ideas which will help ensure a successful Little Feet Walk, as well as further fundraising initiatives, in 2010.

SPONSORS

Generally we do not like to single out sponsors as everyone who participates or donates to us is invaluable to the success of ADFA and are greatly appreciated by the Management Committee. However we have received support from particular organisations in 2008/09 that have enabled ADFA to take on some quite major projects. We would like to give these organisations a special mention as the work achieved due to their donations has been significant.

The Alcock Brown Neaves Foundation has been a sponsor of ADFA for the last 3 years. They continue to donate financial support to ADFA which has been used for medical aid and our sea container program. The sea container program has provided a huge amount of medical aid and hospital equipment to our three countries. This equipment allows our doctors and nurse to operate on patients who would not normally be able to have surgery due to the lack of equipment.

We are extremely grateful to the Emirates Airlines Foundation who supported ADFA during 2009 by way of 6 air tickets to transport our medical teams to Ethiopia. In addition to this, they paid for 200kgs of extra air weight so that the teams could carry vital medical supplies and medicines. Donations like this enable us to use other donated funds for operations, medical aid and teaching.

The Foundation has contacted us and after reading the reports and outcomes of the trips over the last 12 months, have offered further support to ADFA. We are overwhelmed by their generosity and support and feel forever grateful.

Peter Connor and staff from Snap Printing West Perth continue to provide us with printed stationery in the form of brochures, flyers, posters, enlarging and laminating, etc. They have supported ADFA since its conception and no matter what we ask, are always extremely willing to assist ADFA. Over the 4 years they have made a significant donation in kind.

The SJOGH Foundation donated funds to sponsor a theatre nurse at the Bosaso. Stryker Medical has sponsored Saturday operating at the Black Lion Hospital to help alleviate the long waiting lists which consist of thousands and thousands of people. Running Hospitals is a costly business even in third world regions. By assisting in programs such as these, more operating can be achieved.

Stephen Howell from Sanofi Pasteur Pty Ltd donated the cholera vaccine for the second dose for the staff at the Bosaso Hospital. They packaged it and had it delivered to Dr Graham Forward who then transported it overseas. The vaccine has been administered to the staff at the Bosaso Hospital. This is significant as the hospital can be kept open and treated by the vaccinated staff when ever cholera breaks out in the region.

We also have strong support from many other organisations that are recognised on our sponsors list at the end of this newsletter. We encourage you to support all of these businesses as their generosity is vital in the success of ADFA.

VOLUNTEERS

We have a hard working team of volunteers who continue to support ADFA. Liz Owens, Jenny Owens and Jill Newby who assist with administration work are valued members of the charity. We sincerely thank them for their continued support. We have a whole team of quiet achievers out there collecting medical supplies, delivering and picking up goods, packing, washing and sorting medical supplies ready for transport. Also all those members and people who participate in our fundraising events, and who donate to help make things happen, we say a big thank you. ADFA depends on your help to achieve our goals.

A special thank you goes to all the doctors, nurses, physios and technicians who have given their time to work on our medical missions over the last 12 months. The team members make it sound fun, but it is actually very hard work, long hours worked under difficult conditions and in poverty stricken regions. The teams walk away with a great sense of achievement as they have changed the lives of their fellow human beings and that is a great gift. Unfortunately though, it is just the tip of the iceberg, and the minute they return work in Perth our work starts again. The Management Committee work hard prioritising, fundraising, gathering and collecting, transporting and making the next trip happen. This cannot be achieved without the network of medical staff, family and friends who support ADFA. Thank you to everyone who contributes to the success of ADFA.

AUSAID

Our application to AusAid was lodged in March 2009. Since that time we have been advised by telephone and email that our application has met the requirements and was being processed through the various departments. In the last few weeks we received a letter from the minister Steven Smith saying our application has been accepted and that it was at Treasury waiting to be gazetted. This process is the final stage, however it could take a few months, and then hopefully we will receive confirmation in writing that ADFA has AusAid status. This will also give your donations tax deductable status. This is a major step forward for ADFA. We will be able to apply to AusAid for extra funding of projects and missions, on submission of a program and budget.

Special thanks go to Jenny Owens, Chris Tasker & Jeanne Bell for the hard work and perseverance In putting the AusAid application together and having it approved on the first attempt. Many organisations have to apply several times before their application meets the criteria and is accepted.

MEMBERS

ADFA has been running for 4 years and has conformed to the Charities License Act, the requirements of the ATO and the auditors. On being successful in meeting these requirements we were then able to submit an application to AusAid (see article above). As a result of this application all members will now be classified as Supporters for Life and will no longer be required to pay an annual membership renewal fee.

However, supporters will continue to be given the opportunity to be involved in our projects and will receive a voluntary donation form during the year. No donation is too small, and your help is greatly appreciated. We continue to need and welcome new supporters, so if you have family or friends you think may be interested, please ask them to contact us on 9321 5480 or gforwardNOSPAMiinet.net.au (replace NOSPAM with @)

You will continue to receive our newsletter so that we can keep you updated on our work. Thank you for your support and ongoing interest; you are a vital part of our organisation.

THANK YOU

Sincere thanks go to our sponsors. If you are in a position to support these sponsors in their professional capacity you are also helping ADFA.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our members and readers a very happy New Year and we look forward to keeping you updated with our progress in 2010.

Web hosting services sponsored by Flexihostings.net.au - Last updated 03/02/10