On behalf of District 9930 Rotarians, Te Awamutu Rotary supported by District 9930, together with the Rotary Club of Thimphu (Bhutan), are seeking a Global Grant for an ‘Interplast Australia and New Zealand’ Medical Team to not only ‘repair bodies and rebuild lives’ mainly hand reconstruction and therapy, but train and mentor local medical staff in Bhutan in October 2019.With paperwork in hand, we are now seeking US$12,000 offshore District Designated Funds as required in order to submit a Global Grant for the Rotary Foundation approval.
The project will contribute to improving quality access to plastic and reconstructive surgery and hand therapy services in Bhutan for the most marginalised and vulnerable individuals. The project will see a team of fully qualified volunteer surgeons, hand therapists, anaesthetists and nurses spend two weeks in Thimphu, Bhutan at JDWN Referral Hospital.
Importantly, the objective of the program is to build the capacity of local surgical teams and hand therapists, through in-theatre and clinical mentoring; ultimately to develop sustainable local systems. The project will also allow further mentoring and training of the identified plastics trainee at JDWNRH.
Primarily, the project will:
- Ensure approximately 50+ individuals receive life-changing surgery when they would otherwise not have access to such service
- Provide in-theatre and peri-operative training to approximately 20 medical professionals within Bhutan
- Continue to support Dr Sonam Jamtsho with his specialist plastic and reconstructive surgical training; ensuring the sustainability of patient outcomes following the finalisation of the project and departure of the Interplast team
- Assist with the development of improved systems for enhanced patient care beyond the life of the project.
Following the identification of needs by local Rotarians, in partnership with medical professionals from Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH), and, at the request from the Bhutan Ministry of Health, the Rotary Club of Thimphu have sort assistance from District 9930 Rotarians and Interplast for this program. Interplast Australia & New Zealand will be the primary organisation tasked with the implementation and monitoring of project objectives.
Interplast is an international non-government organisation that has been providing reconstructive surgery and allied health services to developing countries in the Asia Pacific region since 1983. They are supported by Rotary International and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in their work.
Thimphu Rotary will advertise the programme, find and assist with getting patients to the hospital. Representatives will visit the hospital and meet with case study patients, follow up with patients after patients’ procedures and after they return home, then advise by the report. Your 9930 District representative will also be in attendance to assist with the project implementation and evaluation and reporting as required.
To enable this to go ahead, thanks must go to all those who have supported this programme, individual Rotarians, Rotary Clubs and District personnel. It is heartening that almost the whole district has been involved. Rotarians you can be very proud of what we are achieving together – truly inspirational. Special thanks to Graham Jull for his support during his term as District Governor.
For booking talks about Myanmar project or more information about this project or Interplast please contact your district chair Elizabeth Wright on 027 223 8921 or eliz.j.wright@gmail.com
Interplast District Chair Elizabeth Wright is happy to talk to Rotarians about her experiences in Myanmar with an Interplast Medical Team also funded by a generous donor in 9930 |
