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April 2007 Newsletter 2nd Edition

Welcome to the second edition of our newsletter...

ADFA has been running for 15 months now and our growth and achievements during this time have been very exciting and motivating. The support and interest from the general public has been excellent and our memberships continue to grow. We aim to increase our members to 500 over the next 6 months. The continued support of the doctors, nurses and volunteers in the office, in the field and with fundraising events has been vital to the success of ADFA. Thank you to all those people who support us in our goals. To date, all funds raised have been used fully for medical supplies and medical teams working overseas. Under the leadership of Dr Graham Forward, good working relationships are being made with local hospital staff in Somalia, Madagascar and Ethiopia and we hope that with your support these relationships will continue to grow.

MADAGASCAR

In November 2006 Dr Graham Forward and Dr Michael Tiller, Orthopaedic Surgeons, Dr Mark Salib, Emergency Specialist and Anaesthetist and Nurses Emily Forward and Jan Tiller visited and worked at St Luc Clinique and the Hospital Generale in Tulear (Toliara). Surgery performed by ADFA doctors consisted of open reduction and fixation of severe fractures, repair of club feet (Talipes) and three babies with trigger thumbs. During ward rounds it was noted by our doctors that the general condition of the wards was of a poor standard and cleanliness was of concern. Some of the surgical equipment failed to work properly during surgery and lighting over the operating table was insufficient. There are many ways in which ADFA can assist in improving the standard of medical care in Tulear. Over the next 2 months surgical orthopaedic equipment and medical supplies will be gathered and shipped to Madagascar by sea container mid year. Sending a sea container to Toliara can be a complicated process as items have to be cleared of government import taxes on arrival. It is vital that the process is done correctly so that the hospital receives the medical supplies. A return visit by two orthopaedic surgeons, an anaesthetist, a theatre nurse and a gastroenterologist has been scheduled for November 2007 to consult, operate and teach procedures to staff. They will also demonstrate how the new medical equipment shipped to them is used.

Fracture with external fixation	The ADFA team teaching and consulting on their hospital rounds

TALIPES (PONSETTI) CLINIC

ADFA currently has a new project underway to set up a “Talipes Detection Clinic” at the Akany Fanantenana Clinic in Toliara. A nurse from PMH who specializes in the early detection of talipes (know as club feet) will work at the clinic. If detected as a new born and treated with plasters and then physiotherapy, talipes can be corrected and the child can go on to have a normal life. When talipes is not detected at a young age, the feet become deformed and crippled. Correction is a longer and more difficult process by means of surgery and plasters and physiotherapy. If the aftercare is not carried out correctly the result may not be satisfactory long term. Education and careful explanation to staff and patients is of great importance. By establishing a detection clinic and teaching the local doctors and nurses how to manage talipes in babies this problem should one day be eliminated. Meanwhile the visiting surgeons from ADFA will continue to operate and correct talipes on older children and adults. A visit is scheduled for late July/August by a doctor and two nurses to start work at the clinic. Meanwhile the collection of Plaster of Paris, splints and equipment for the clinic is being sourced ready for the trip.

Adult with untreated talipes	Location of the ADFA Talipes Clinic	A young child in the process of talipes correction by plasters and physio treatment

SOMALIA

A return visit to the Bosaso Hospital, The Edna by invitation of the Eritrean Ambassador were scheduled for 6th March 2007 by Dr Graham Forward, Dr Rod Thelander and Theatre Nurse Mary Watson. On the 4th March Dr Forward received an email from Dr Abdulaahi at the Bosaso Hospital saying they had an outbreak of Cholera and that is was advisable to postpone the visit. At the same time there was political unrest between Ethiopia and Eritrea. As ADFA is a non religious/ non political charity, it was decided for the safety of the team, the visit to those areas would be postponed. Dr Rod Thelander proceeded to Hargeisa as planned.

The trip to Bosaso has been rescheduled for October 2007. Meanwhile the planning for the Australian- Somali Orthopaedic Hospital in Bosaso continues in its early stages. This is a massive project which will require good leadership and lots of funding.

Donated medical supplies, linen and 2 heavy duty washing machines (generously donated by John Barbas of Kleenmaid Osborne Park) were gathered and stored at the MERGD centre in Claremont. Thanks to 13 Apexians and Robert Forward, a busy bee was held on a Saturday morning when the sea container was packed and then shipped to Bosaso due to arrive mid March 2007. The washing machines will have a great impact on the cleanliness and work load at the Bosaso hospital laundry. Until now all laundry including theatre drapes has been done by hand.

HARGEISA

In March 2007 Dr Rod Thelander visited Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland on behalf of ADFA. He stayed at the Edna Adan Maternity Hospital as a guest of the hospital’s founder, Mrs Edna Adan Ishmail. During his stay, he spent time assessing the hospital and its nursing school with a view to determining what assistance ADFA could best offer as support. He also visited the University of Hargeisa Medical School and met with the Dean of the Faculty, Dr Derie Ereg, who established the medical school in 2003. His vision was to train local doctors to help provide much needed medical services for this small country that has been ravaged by civil war.

Dr Thelander also met with Dr Yassin Abdi, Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Hargeisa Government Hospital, on behalf of Mr Graham Forward of ADFA. It is anticipated that communication between Dr Abdi and Mr Forward will result in appropriate assistance being given to Dr Abdi and his orthopaedic department by ADFA.

Dr Thelander feels that ADFA can offer significant support and assistance to each of these institutions in the form of medical supplies, equipment and textbooks in conjunction with the United Nations Development Program. A full report is being compiled on how ADFA can best assist the hospitals in Hargeisa.

A sub committee of ADFA “The Hargeisa Action Committee” led by Sandy Thelander, is now working with Dr Victor Egan of the Business School from Curtin University who send educational and medical books and supplies by sea container to Hargeisa. ADFA have been invited to work in conjunction with Curtin University to send medical supplies to the Edna Adan and the Orthopaedic Hospitals in Hargeisa in their sea container at no cost to ADFA.

ETHIOPIA

Dr Tim Keenan left Perth on the 31st Dec 2006 on reaching Dubai he received news of the passing of an elderly family member. He continued on to Addis Ababa to the Black Lion Hospital to deliver medical supplies and assess their arthroscopic equipment, which previously was damaged. He then had to return to Perth so he brought back some equipment needing repairs. This was done and has been taken back to the hospital by Dr Keenan where there is a long waiting list for arthroscopic and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery. Dr Keenan also spent time at their Club Foot Clinic which is impressive and held three times a week. All patients are treated conservatively following the Ponsetti principles with excellent attendance and follow-up. They have very good result even in children up to the age of 6 – 7 years.

Dr Keenan arrived back in Ethiopia in Gondor on the 10th January. The first day he conducted teaching ward rounds with a number of residents and staff and then saw about 30 patients at the physiotherapy department. Approximately 7 operations were scheduled for the next day, which consisted of polio patients with various hip and knee problems. The following day post operation ward rounds were carried out before catching the plane back to Addis Ababa.

There is a distinct lack of equipment for the repair of fractures. Dr Keenan has emailed a company (SIGN) in the USA who is receptive and hopefully will send medical equipment to the Gondor Hospital along with a training program for the use of this equipment. The visit by Dr Keenan was worthwhile and he has compiled a medical report that will assist ADFA when planning future trips and sending equipment.

BIO-ENGINEER

Another of ADFA’s new projects is to sponsor a bio-engineer to visit the regions ADFA attends, to repair and teach the local staff how to maintain medical equipment and machines. The hospitals do not have the expertise, parts or technicians to maintain equipment. This often means very useful equipment can stand idle once it breaks down. The long term goal is for the bio-engineer to have all equipment in good working order and to teach the local staff how to carry out regular maintenance. Once this program is established the engineer would then visit the regions annually and at other times keep in contact by e-mail so that smaller problems may be dealt with or parts be sent from Australia. The initial visit for the bio-engineer will be in July in co-ordination with a visit to the Black Lion Hospital in Ethiopia by Dr Tim Keenan. Equipment such as image intensifiers, X-ray machines, drills, nails, diathermy and anaesthetic monitors, will have a great impact on the amount and type of orthopaedic surgery achieved if it is kept in good working order and the local staff can maintain them in our absence.

FUNDRAISING

Our fundraising manager Robert Forward works tirelessly organising events along with the help of his volunteers, especially Liz Owens and Carol Temple. The morning tea held at the Boatshed Restaurant in South Perth in November was a very successful and fun morning. Dave Huston was a great MC telling some amusing stories of his friendship with Graham Forward. Those who attended enjoyed meeting Dr Graham Forward and learning about how ADFA was founded. A rehearsal by the skilled pilots performing in the Air Show due to be held on the weekend, was an added bonus for all to watch from this magnificent venue. Our thanks go to Graeme Millar for allowing us to use the Boatshed for the morning tea. The excellent result of $2,500 was raised for medical supplies, and several new members joined ADFA on the day. Thank you to all who attended. The major task of organising a “Lapathon” around Gloucester Park was organised by Robert and his team of volunteers and was held on the 25th February. Advertising by Adcorp and the West Australian generated a great deal of interest and participants. The use of Gloucester Park was donated by the WA Trotting Association and the venue was quite novel and a great place for the Lapathon. Team Captains organised walkers and sponsors and generated lots of enthusiasm. Registration commenced at 7.45am and the walkers took to the track and “lapped” for their money until approximately 10am. The Lapathon was a great success with about 300 + walkers raising a total of $21,000 which is a fantastic result. The Lapathon will be an annual fundraising event and we hope to see you and your friends there next year. We have great support from staff at the various hospitals, pharmacies and medical companies who locate and donate supplies for our sea containers, but it is costly getting the container to the hospitals in need. We are very proud to be able to tell you that all the funds you have donated have gone directly to achieving the work done by ADFA. All positions are filled by volunteers, whether it is administration, fundraising or being part of a medical team. This is a great achievement for a young charity.

Graham Forward and ADFA supporters at the morning tea	A lapathon team ready to take on the challenge!

MEMBERSHIPS

Having a large membership group is very important to a charity. ADFA is currently undergoing the process to achieve tax deductible status for our donors, which can take up to 2 years. One of the criteria is to have a large number of members and for this reason we are having a membership drive. We encourage you to continue your annual membership and ask family and friends if they would like to join. A regular question has been – “what do I get for my membership”? Most importantly is that you will know that you are helping someone less fortunate than yourself and that you are part of an organisation doing life changing work in third world regions. You will receive newsletters by email or post, notification of upcoming events or fundraising activities and are also invited to attend information evenings and the AGM. There are no material rewards for being a member of ADFA and because of this we are able to use all funds directly for the cause. Without our members we could not achieve what we do. You are a valuable cog in the wheel.

FUNDRAISING

Andrea Klek has taken maternity leave. Beautiful little “Zoe Marie” arrived early on 10th March. Congratulations and best wishes to Andrea and Tony on the arrival of your beautiful daughter. We look forward to seeing Andrea back when she is ready. We welcome Linda Hale who will be helping to organise travel arrangements and work on projects aimed at increasing ADFA sponsors. Jeanne Bell is on sick leave (even though she continues to help us) and Anna Ladyman has stepped in to help in Jeanne’s absence. We wish Jeanne a speedy recovery and look forward to her positive and constructive input again soon. There was a large group of people who rallied hard to get sponsors and donors for the Lapathon. Your time and perseverance was terrific. A sincere thank you to everyone who has contributed to ADFA, whether it is through collecting supplies, working on fund raising events, assisting with administration or spreading the word about our work.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in helping ADFA to improve the lives of children in third world regions. We will keep you informed of our progress via newsletter or email and up to date information is always available on our website www.ausdocafrica.org

Click here for the October 2006 newsletter

Last updated 25/04/08