Guest Speaker

Today PDG Harold Sharp OAM gave us a talk on ROMAC.

One of the advantages of electronic meetings is that anyone from any part of the world can join in. Harold and Gina were in their living room on the North Coast and presented a very informative video and talk on just what ROMAC does and how it operates.

Rotary Oceania Medical Aide for Children brings children in dire straits living in the Pacific regions to Australia for specialist medical care. From hideous burns, to conjoined twins the organisation provides lifesaving care that is otherwise just unavailable.

ROMAC works with around 40 or50 cases each year. While the doctors and nurses usually work for free. the operations can still run into several thousand dollars. Recently a case in New Zealand ran to $70000 while cancer operations can cost $200000.

ICU in hospitals costs around $6000 per day. It should be said that hospitals and staff are extremely generous, and pull in behind the ROMAC volunteers. It is one of the best Rotary operations in the World.

When the presentation was opened up to questions, we learned that cases are closely evaluated as to the chance of success. There have been cases where a child has not had the strength to complete the journey and has unfortunately died in transit. As a result the paediatricians involved are very cautious.

Harold promised to send a link where we can donate to this worthy cause.

PP John Gray commented on meeting the twins shown here at a conference in Griffith, and how much that story moved him.