Annual Report 2015/16

Medical Project 2015/16– Beth Philipps

 

 

The Medical Project has altered a little over the years and has now become almost two distinct areas – the Overseas and the Local.

We continue to collect equipment from the same sources and store it at Hurrell Way in the two sheds that we rent from the City of Rockingham. It is sorted there by ex theatre nurse, Jacqui Smith, her husband, Harry, Peter & I, and either stored for future use locally or packed to be sent overseas.

 

Most of the equipment sent overseas is now sent by sea container to Timor Leste, where former Curtin-Bentley Rotary member, Peter Snell, receives and distributes it. Timor Leste is very poor and is most appreciative of any donations we make. Unfortunately, it is not on a regular shipping route, so shipping is not cheap. Our club donated $3000 towards the cost of shipping a container to Timor Leste this year.  That container will probably stay in Timor Leste to become part of a ware-house.

 

We are continually recommended to the local population by the chemists and doctors surgeries and over the year we make loans of crutches, walking frames, wheelchairs, shower chairs & stools, over toilet seats, high backed chairs, commodes, walkers and walking sticks to appreciative patients. Ì keep a spreadsheet of what is loaned out.

 

We have largely stopped providing hospital beds to private houses because they are very awkward and heavy to move and my workforce is getting older. I am hoping to sell one that was donated to us privately and I will send the others that we have to Timor Leste. We did sell a gopher to a country patient in January and we have purchased two new batteries for a power wheelchair that we would like to sell also.

 

I spoke to the Rockingham Probus Club and at our Information Night about the Medical Project and it is amazing how quickly the word gets around that there is medical equipment available free!