NEWSLETTER
Bản Tin Số 17
Issue 17. July - December 2017
EDITOR’S WORDS Welcome to AHHA Newsletter Issue 17, our biggest ever! In this edition you’ll read about chairman’s message, 2017 annual field trip report to Cambodia and Vietnam with Vietnamese & Khmer translation, Hon Chris Hayes MP‘s parliamentary speech about AHHA’s impactful work, a grateful young patient – Hak’s case, many stories shared by first timers and student volunteers of their first field trip reflection, our profiled volunteers – Dr Troy Lim Joon (surgeon) and Dr Mai Duong (dentist), the life saving and cost effective water filter project for the poor, latest news and updates, AHHA’s tireless efforts in fundraising activities, happy snaps of Sydney & Melbourne annual fundraising dinners and 2017 field trip, and much more ... My special thanks to all the wonderful contributors to this issue especially Mr Ted Mlynarz, the first and old timers and all the photographers as your contribution are essential to the newsletter’s success. With the festive season just around the corner, on behalf of the AHHA MC, I wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.
Best, Stephanie Wong
Photo Courtesy: Mr Loc Cung Dr Andrew Hung Duong Dr Kevin Foo Dr Daniel Kim Dr Tam Tran Mr Ted Mlynarz Mr Van Tay Nguyen Ms Anh Kieu Ms Stephanie Wong
2 | Australian Health Humanitarian Aid
I am constantly amazed at what AHHA can achieve, despite the fact that our organisation does not have a single paid staff member. All the funds AHHA raises, goes towards its charity work. It is the will, commitment and generosity of hundreds of our dedicated volunteers and donors who simply want to improve the lives of others and to keep the organisation continuing and growing. The services AHHA provides annually to the underprivileged range from free cataract surgery, free dental procedures, medical and dental training, humanitarian aid, medicine and scholarship require lots from funding. At this stage, we have not received any government funding or grants. AHHA’s funding completely comes from the Australian public and our volunteers. Our major fundraising is the annual dinner at Crystal Palace restaurant in Sydney. Fortunately, this year on 26-27 May, we had two functions on two consecutive nights in Sydney and Melbourne respectively. We were delighted to have our special guest HRH Prince Tesso Sisowath kindly accept our invitation and not only attended the Sydney and Melbourne functions but brought with him two special Apsara Crowns for our auctions. It was a great success with over 600 guests attending in Sydney and over 350 guests in Melbourne. The guests not only generously donated but also enjoyed the entertainment by local
HIGHLIGHTS
Message from the Chairman Writer Dr William Trinh
Cambodian dancers and our multi talented volunteers. I would like to especially acknowledge Dr Hien Tran who was in charge of the Sydney Annual Dinner, Dr Juliana Chong in charge of the inaugural Melbourne Annual Dinner to ensure everything going smoothly, Sydney committee members, Melbourne committee members, the MCs, and many other volunteers to make sure tickets were sold, prizes collected and guests were well looked after. In August, we had a record number of volunteers, over 120, who travelled to Phnom Penh and Vietnam on the field trip. Overall, we were able to achieve what we planned for the year. In particular, we were able to follow up with a few patients who had cataract surgeries last year by the AHHA team and we are really delighted to know how the cataract surgery has improved their sight and lives. Please read the details of the field trip report by Mr Ted Mlynarz in the newsletter. AHHA constantly looks at new ways to promote its charity work to the community. In September, with the assistance
of our humanitarian Aid project manager Ms Thuy Nguyen, a moving article written and subsequently published in a major Vietnamese Newspaper in Sydney by Catholic nun Sister Maria Thu about the living conditions of the fishing village in Tonle Sap lake, Siem Reap, Cambodia and how AHHA got involved and assisted the village. On October 6, I had the honour to be interviewed on Sydney SBS radio in Vietnamese about the wonderful work of AHHA and on October 16, Mr Chris Hayes, the federal MP for Fowler, gave a speech in the parliament and subsequently on his Facebook about the achievement of AHHA’s recent medical mission. We were very grateful for the support Mr Chris Hayes gave to AHHA. If you are interested, you can listen to the interview and the speech AHHA Facebook and our website. With Christmas and new year on the way, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for your contribution to the success of AHHA and wish you and your family a happy and safe holiday season.
Newsletter • Issue 17 • July - December 2017 | 3
2017 Field Trip Writer Mr Ted Mlynarz & Dr William Trinh
“You may not be a person of importance, but because you are a person, you are important to us” Poverty and suffering exist in all parts of the world. Organisations such as Australian Health Humanitarian Aid (AHHA) provide some relief to those who suffer. Following months of planning, organising and fundraising, on 12 August 2017 (week 1) around 90 AHHA volunteers arrived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia to commence a hectic week and a half of operations to relieve pain and suffering to patients who, due to poverty and remoteness, would not have the opportunity to receive medical or dental attention or treatment. Screening and organising in Cambodia had been carried out for several months by AHHA’s Cambodian partners, the Khmer Sight Foundation (KSF) and its volunteers, selecting patients from outlying villages and provinces for treatment. These consisted of the elderly who suffered from blindness due to cataract conditions and the young, orphaned and special needs children to be treated for dental and medical conditions. Upon approaching by air into Phnom Penh, major flooding due to severe monsoonal conditions, was evident. This made it difficult and at time impossible for patients to be transported from outlying areas for treatment. As a result, the number of patients available for cataract operations was lower than expected taking into considering the number that had been screened prior to AHHA’s arrival. There was no rest for the AHHA volunteers. Arriving in Phnom Penh late on the 12th of August, it was straight to the hotel, a late 4 | Australian Health Humanitarian Aid
HIGHLIGHTS supper and off to bed for an early wake-up call on Sunday for the teams to set up the operating theatres and dental facilities to commence work the next day. Early wake-up calls (5.30 am) were the standard for the rest of the field trip. As the economy of Cambodia improves, so does the medical system. However, it is a very slow process and the poor continue to suffer mainly due to their remoteness and lack of transport and resources to travel to major centres for medical treatment. The Eye and Medical team was located at the Khmer Soviet Friendship Hospital while the dental team was based at the University of Puthisastra Dental Clinic in Phnom Penh. Upon completion of establishing the cataract operating theatres and the dental clinics on Sunday 13th August, volunteers travelled to Chompa village (aka Wat Chompa), one of many remote and crowded villages along the Mekong River in Cambodia. On first impression they resembled refugee camps, the villagers are stateless and do not possess the necessary documentation to be recognised as citizens of either Cambodia or Vietnam. Due to lack of land, houses are built very close to each other and many villagers live in floating houses on the river. Medical and Dental treatment was provided to the villagers and children as well as screening for cataract conditions; some of these villagers were transported to Phnom Penh to receive medical attention and cataract treatment. Because of the success of the Ophthalmology and Dental seminars during the 2016 field trip, both teams again conducted similar seminars providing information on the latest medical and dental procedures and information to the local medical and dental professionals. These seminars again proved popular and were enthusiastically attended. Local University Medical and Dental students will benefit from these seminars. With every AHHA field trip over the years, apart from medical, dental and cataract treatment, humanitarian help is also provided in an effort to improve the living conditions of the poor and disadvantaged. Due to severe flooding during monsoonal downpours, fresh, clean water has been difficult to come by. During this field trip, AHHA distributed a total of 600 water filters (with food parcels Newsletter • Issue 17 • July - December 2017 | 5
and some financial donations) in three locations in Cambodia. In Vietnam, over 1170 filters were distributed in two villages in Vinh Long (Mekong Delta) with the remaining filters, and a small financial donation, left with local temples for distribution to three remote locations where access to AHHA volunteers is limited. The filters provide around 10 litres of clean water, suitable for human consumption, at a time and are reputed to last around 10 years subject to care and regular cleaning of the components. The success and results achieved during the 2017 Field Trip could not have been achieved without the generosity and assistance from AHHA’s sponsors, volunteers, donors and service providers. Again, Alcon Australia with providing the necessary equipment and lenses for the cataract operations, Hai Son Shipping & Transport Pty Ltd for again arranging the shipping of equipment, medication and supplies to Cambodia.
As the economy of Cambodia improves, so does the medical system. However, it is a very slow process and the poor continue to suffer mainly due to their remoteness and lack of transport and resources to travel to major centres for medical treatment. To all the AHHA volunteers who were involved in activities throughout the year, whether it was attending regular meetings, fundraising events, packing activities and assisting where necessary, the field trip would not be possible without you. Mention should be made of the support and assistance provided by the Khmer Sight Foundation in Cambodia and its volunteers. Their hard work, enthusiasm, engagement and willingness to assist wherever possible greatly contributed to the success of the mission. As small note to finish. A young Cambodian medical student volunteer was very interested in the medical instruments being used by an AHHA doctor. In Australian universities, training and familiarisation in the use of these instruments is provided almost immediately, the young student was very interested and inquisitive. Noticed by the AHHA doctor, the student was asked whether he had used these or had access to them at the university, the answer was negative. This surprised the doctor and as a result, upon completion of the field trip, the doctor presented his entire medical kit to the student who was overwhelmed with the gift. “All his birthdays had come at once�.
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Cambodia Field Trip Results CATARACT Patients Screened. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 615 Surgeries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322 Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 354
DENTAL Patients Screened. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 607 Patients Treated. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 419 Fillings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 982 Extractions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .380
HUMANITARIAN Water Filters Cambodia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 600 Vietnam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1176 Note: Food parcels and financial donations included
Chuyến Đi Thiện Nguyện Hải Ngoại Năm 2017
HIGHLIGHTS
Bài tường trình của Mr Ted Mlynarz & Dr William Trinh Dịch bởi Bác Sĩ Tâm Trần
“Quý vị có thể không phải là người quan trọng, nhưng quý vị là một con người nên quý vị quan trọng đối với chúng tôi” Nghèo khó và đau khổ vẫn còn tồn tại ở mọi nơi trên thế giới. Tổ chức Australian Health Humanitarian Aid (AHHA) cùng phối hợp với Hội Rotary của Liverpool West, chân thành giúp đỡ xoa dịu phần nào nổi thống khố của họ, giúp người mù hồi phục thị lực để họ có thể nhìn thấy lại người thân, để họ có cuộc sống độc lập và hửu dụng cho cộng đồng của họ và chữa trị bịnh răng cho trẻ mồ côi, đặc biệt là trẻ khuyết tật để chúng có thể vui cười, ngủ ngon và phát triển khỏe mạnh. Sau nhiều tháng lên kế hoạch, tổ chức và gây quỹ. Vào ngày 12 tháng 8 năm 2017, 120 thiện nguyện viên của AHHA bao gồm bác sĩ, y tá, nha sĩ, bác sĩ nhãn khoa, bác sĩ chỉnh hình, dược sĩ và nhiều thiện nguyện viên khác đến Phnom Penh, Campuchia để bắt đầu một tuần lễ rưởi làm công tác chữa trị cho những bệnh nhân nghèo và người sống ở các vùng xa nơi không có cơ hội đễ được điều trị y khoa hoặc
nha khoa. Công tác sàng lọc và kiểm tra bịnh nhân tại Campuchia đã được tiến hành trong nhiều tháng trước do các đối tác của AHHA ở Campuchia là Quỹ Khmer Sight (Khmer Sight Foundation KSF) và các tình nguyện viên của họ, họ lựa chọn bệnh nhân từ các làng mạc và từ các tỉnh xa đem về để điều trị. Những người này bao gồm những người cao tuổi bị mù do đục thủy tinh thể và những trẻ em, trẻ mồ côi và những trẻ em có nhu cầu đặc biệt cần được điều trị nha khoa và y khoa. Có lúc phải chuyển bịnh nhân bằng đường hàng không vào Phnom Penh, vì lũ lụt nặng do gió mùa nghiêm trọng. Điều này làm cho việc vận chuyển bệnh nhân từ các khu vực ngoại vi trở nên khó khăn và không kịp thời gian điều trị. Kết quả là số bệnh nhân có mặt để được mỗ cườm thấp hơn so với số lượng đã được sàng lọc trước dự kiến sẽ được AHHA mỗ cườm. Không có thời gian nghĩ ngơi cho các thiện nguyện viên AHHA. Đến Phnom Penh trễ vào chiều Thứ bảy12 tháng 8, đi thẳng đến khách sạn, ăn tối muộn và đi ngủ vội để được gọi thức dậy sớm
sáng ngày Chủ nhật để các đoàn viên kịp lo sắp xếp phòng mỗ và phòng khám nha khoa cần có cho công tác bắt đầu ngày tiếp theo. Gọi thức dậy sớm (5.30 sáng) là tiêu chuẩn hằng ngày cho suốt chuyến đi thiện nguyện. Khi nền kinh tế Campuchia được cải thiện, thì hệ thống y tế cũng tiến theo. Tuy nhiên, đây là một quá trình rất chậm và người nghèo tiếp tục bị ảnh hưởng chủ yếu là những người ở các vùng xa và do thiếu phương tiện giao thông và họ không đủ tiền để đi đến các trung tâm y tế lớn. Toán mỗ mắt và toán Y khoa đã được đặt tại Bệnh viện Hữu nghị Liên Xô Khmer, trong khi nhóm Nha khoa được đặt tại bịnh viện Nha khoa của Đại học Puthisastra ở Phnom Penh. Sau khi thu xếp xong phòng giải phẫu và phòng khám răng trong ngày chủ nhật 13 tháng 8, thời gian còn lại các thiện nguyện viên đến làng Chompa (aka Wat Chompa), một trong nhiều ngôi làng xa xôi và đông đúc dọc theo sông Mekong ở Campuchia. Ấn tượng đầu tiên là làng giống như những trại tị nạn, dân làng là người không quốc tịch vì họ không có tài liệu cần thiết
Newsletter • Issue 17 • July - December 2017 | 7
để được công nhận là công dân của Campuchia hay của Việt Nam. Do thiếu đất, các ngôi nhà được xây dựng chen chúc khích nhau và nhiều người dân sống trong những nhà nổi trên sông. Toán Y khoa và Nha khoa tiến hành ngay công việc chữa trị và cấp thuốc cho dân làng và trẻ em đồng thời sàng lọc tìm bệnh mắt cườm, một số người trong làng đã được vận chuyển đến Phnom Penh để được tiếp tục chăm sóc y tế và mỗ bệnh mắt cườm. Truyền-giao kiến-thức cũng là một trong những mục tiêu quan trọng của chuyến đi hải ngoại của AHHA. Các bác sĩ địa phương và sinh viên đã cùng làm việc chung với các thiện nguyện viên của chúng tôi trong các phòng mỗ cũng như trong các phòng chữa bịnh để học hỏi những kỹ thuật mới và chia sẻ kinh nghiệm để họ sẽ cải thiện hiệu quả chăm sóc bệnh nhân. Dựa vào thành quả của các buổi hội thảo Nhãn khoa và Nha khoa trong chuyến đi năm 2016, năm nay cả hai nhóm lại tổ chức những buổi hội thảo tương tự, cung cấp thông tin cập nhật về kỹ thuật y khoa và nha khoa mới nhất cho các chuyên gia y tế và nha khoa địa phương. Các cuộc hội thảo này một lần nữa đã trở nên phổ biến và được tham dự nhiệt tình. Các sinh viên y khoa và sinh viên Đại học Địa phương sẽ được hưởng lợi từ các hội thảo này.
Mỗi chuyến đi hãi ngoại của AHHA trong những năm qua, ngoài việc điều trị y tế, nha khoa và mỗ cườm, thì trợ giúp nhân đạo luôn luôn đi song hành nhằm nỗ lực cải thiện điều kiện sống cho người nghèo và người thiếu kém. Lũ lụt nghiêm trọng do những đợt mưa lũ gió mùa, làm cho việc tìm nước sạch, nước uống rất khó khăn. Trong chuyến đi này, AHHA đã phân phối tổng cộng 600 bộ lọc nước ( tặng kèm với phẫm vật và một số nhỏ tài trợ) tại ba địa điểm ở Campuchia. Tại Việt Nam, hơn 1170 bộ lọc nước đã được phân phối tại hai thôn ở Vĩnh Long (ĐồngBằngSôngCữuLong), và những bộ lọc nước còn lại cộng thêm một tài khoản nhỏ đã đễ lại cho các ngôi chùa địa phương để nhờ phân phối đến ba địa điểm ở vùng xa xôi, nơi mà các thiện nguyện viên AHHA khó tiếp cận tới được. Đây là bộ lọc nước cung cấp mỗi lần khoảng 10 lít nước sạch, nước uống cho con người tiêu dùng khi cần và có thể dùng dài lâu khoảng 10 năm nếu được chăm sóc và lao sạch thường xuyên các bộ phận lọc. Thành quả đạt được trong Chuyến đi hải ngoại năm 2017 không thể đạt được nếu không có sự hào phóng và sự trợ giúp từ các nhà tài trợ, các tình nguyện viên, các nhà bảo trợ và các nhà cung cấp dịch vụ cho AHHA. Một lần nữa, Alcon Australia đã cung cấp các thiết bị và lăng kính mắt cần thiết cho công việc mỗ cườm, Hải Sơn Shipping & Transport Pty Ltd đã sắp xếp vận chuyển thiết bị, thuốc men và vật dụng đến Campuchia. Đối với tất cả các tình nguyện viên AHHA là những người đã tham gia vào các hoạt động trong suốt cả năm, kể cả các sinh hoạt trong những buổi họp thường xuyên, hoạt động gây quỹ, các hoạt động lựa thuốc đóng gói cũng như tiếp tay làm mọi việc cần làm,
không có các anh thì chuyến đi thiện nguyện sẽ không thành. Cũng cần đề cập đến các hỗ trợ của Hội Khmer Sight tại Campuchia. Các tình nguyện viên của hội đã làm việc hăng sai, nhiệt tình, tận tình hỗ trợ bất cứ mọi công tác mà AHHA nhờ đến, họ góp phần rất lớn vào sự thành công của chuyến đi. Một lưu ý nhỏ để kết thúc bài nầy, có một sinh viên y khoa Campuchia là 1 tình nguyện viên trẻ, em rất quan tâm chú ý đến các dụng cụ y khoa mà bác sĩ AHHA đang sử dụng. Ở các trường đại học Úc, sinh viên được huấn luyện và làm quen với việc sử dụng các dụng cụ y khoa gần như ngay từ đầu, sinh viên trẻ Campuchia rất quan tâm và tò mò về dụng cụ y khoa. Các bác sĩ AHHA có nhận thấy điều nầy, em sinh viên đã được hỏi liệu em đã từng sử dụng hoặc đã tiếp cận với những dụng cụ y khoa ở trường đại học không, câu trả lời là không có. Điều này khiến bác sĩ AHHA ngạc nhiên và kết quả là sau khi hoàn thành chuyến công tác, bác sĩ đã trình bày toàn bộ bộ dụng cụ y khoa của ông cho em sinh viên xem, em bị choáng ngợp với món quà tặng. “Quá may mắn nhận được nhiều quà quá”.
Kết Quả Cambodia Field Trip MỖ MẮT CƯỜM Bệnh nhân sơ chuẩn. . . . . . . . . . 615 Giải phẫu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322 Ca khác. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Tổng cộng . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 354
RĂNG Bệnh nhân sơ chuẩn. . . . . . . . . . 607 Bệnh nhân được chữa . . . . . . 419 Trám. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 982 Nhổ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380
Chương trình nhân đạo Máy lọc nước Cambodia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 600 Vietnam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1176 Ghi chú: bao gồm cứu trợ thực phẩm và hiện kim.
8 | Australian Health Humanitarian Aid
HIGHLIGHTS
Writer Mr Ted Mlynarz & Dr William Trinh
“ អ្នកអាចមិនមែនជាមនុស្សសំខាន់ តែជាមនុស្សមួយរូប អ្នកសំខាន់ណាស់សម្រាប់យ�ើង ” ភាពក្រីក្រ និងទុកវ្ខ េទនាក�ើតឡ�ើងនៅគ្រប់ទីកន្លែ ងទូទាំងពិភពលោក។ ស្ថាប័នមួយចំនួនដូចជាជំនួ យសប្បុរសធម៌របស់ប្រជាជនអូស្ត្រាលីសម្រាប់ផ្នែ កសុខភាព Australian Health Humanitarian Aid (AHHA) ដោយមានកិច ្ចសហការជាមួយ Rotary Club of Liverpool West បានរួមចំនែក ផ្តល់ភាពធូរស្រាលជូនអ្នកជម្ងឺដែ លបាត់បង់គំឃ�ើញ ដោយជួយឲ្យពួកគេអាច ម�ើលឃ�ើញឡ�ើង វិញជាថ្មីមង ្ត ទ�ៀត។ ដូច្នេះ ពួ កគេអាចម�ើលឃ�ើញមនុស្សជាទីស្រឡាញ់របស់ ខ្ន លួ និងមានលទ្ធភាពធ្វើការងារនៅក្នុងសហគ មន៍ប្រកបដោយប្រសិទភា ្ធ ព និងឯករាជ្យភាព។ មិនត្រឹមតែប៉ុណ្ណោះ យ�ើងព្យាបាល ធ្មេញជូនកុមារកំព្រា ជាពិសេសកុមារពិការ ដ�ើម្បីឲ្យពួកគេអាចញញឹមបាន គេងលក់សក ្ក ់សល ្ក ់ និងលូតលាស់បានល។្អ អស់រយៈកាលជាច្រើនខែ នៃការធ្វើគម្រោង ការរ�ៀបចំ និងរៃអង្គាសជំនួយសប្បុរសធម៌ នៅថ្ងៃទី ១២ ខែសីហា ឆ្នាំ២១០៧ ក្រុមអ្នកស្ម័គ្រចិតA ្ត HHAចំនួន 120នាក់ រួមមានវេជ ្ជបណ្ ឌិត គិលានុបដ្ឋាកយិការ
Translators Lynmony Puth & Huot Chheng ទន្តបណ្ ឌិត អ្នកឯកទេសផ្នែកចក្ខុរោគ ឱសថការី និង អ្នកស្ម័គចិត្តដែលមិនមែនជាគ្រូពេទ្យ បានមកដល់ទីក្រុងភ្នំពេញ នៃប្រទេសកម្ជា ពុ ដ�ើម្បី បីចាប់ផ្តើមសប្តា ហ៍ដ៏មមាញឹកមួយក្នុងការ ព្យាបាលជូនអ្នកជម្ងឺទីទាល់ក្រ ដែលមិនមានលទ្ធ ភាពស្វែងរកការព្យាបាលដោយខ្ន លួ ឯងបាន។ ការចុះពិនិត្យអ្នកជម្ងឺត្រូវបានធ្វើឡ�ើង ជាច្រើនខែមុនដោយ មូលនិធិចក្ខុខ្មែរ ដែលជាដៃគូររបស់ AHHA នៅកម្ជា ពុ ដោយអ្នកស្ម័គ្រចិតរ្ត បស់មូលនិធិ បានជួយស្វែករក អ្នកជម្ងឺដែលរស់នៅទីជនបទដាច់ស្រយាល ដ�ើម្បី ឲ្យពួកគេទទួលបានការព្យាបាល។ អ្នកជម្ងឺទាំងនេះ មានរួមបញ្ចូលទាំងមនុស្សចាស់ជរា ដែលមានបញ្ហាភ្នែក ដោយសារតែជម្ងឺឡ�ើងបាយភ្នែក និងក្មេង កំព្រាដែលត្រូវការការព្យាបាលមាត់ធ្មេញ និងបញ្ហាសុខភាពផ្សេងទ�ៀត។ គ្រាដែលយ�ើងបានមកដល់រាជ ធានីភ្នំពេញ ឥទ្ធិពលខ្យល់មូសុង បាននាំយកមកនូវទឹកជំនន់ដ៏ធំមួយ។ ការនេះបានផ្តល់នូវផលលំបាក និង ពេលខ្លះអ្ន កជម្ងឺរបស់យ�ើងមិនអាចធ្វើដំណ�ើរពីទីដាច់ស្រ
យាល ឡ�ើងមកទទួលការព្យាបាលបានឡ�ើយ។ ជាលទ្ធផល ចំនួនអ្នកជម្ងឺដែលត្រូវធ្ើកា វ រវះកាត់ភ្នែ កឡ�ើងបាយ មានចំនួនទាបជាង ចំនួនដែលរំពឹងទុ កដែលបានមកពីការពិនិត្យ មុនការមកដល់របស់ AHHA។ អ្នកស្ម័គ្រចិតរ្ត បស់ AHHA ការដោយឥតបានសម្រាកសោះឡ�ើយ។ យ�ើងមកដល់ភ្នំពេញនៅថ្ងៃទី ១២ ខែ សីហា ឆ្នាំ២០១៧ រួចចាកចេញទៅកាន់សណ្ឋាគារ។ យ�ើងទទួលទានអាហារពេលល្ងា ចយឺត ពេលបន្តិច រួចសម្រាកយកកម្លា ង ំ ង�ើបពីព្រលឹមនៅថ្ងៃអាទិត្យ ដ�ើម្បីធ្វើការរ�ៀបចំបន្ទប់វះកាត់ និងគ្រឿងបរិក្ខា រ ផ្នែកទន្តសាស្រ្ត សម្រាប់ចាប់ផ្តើមការងារនៅថ្ងៃប ន្ទា ប់។ ភ្ញាក់ពីដំណេកម៉ោ ង៥ និង៣០នាទីព្រឹក គឺ ជាស្តង់ដាសម្រាប់ដំណ�ើរទស្សនកិច ្ចនេះ។ សេវាថែទាំសុខភាពមានភាពប្រស�ើរឡ�ើង ជាងមុន ស្របទៅតាមកំន�ើនសេដ្ឋកិច ្ចរបស់ ប្ទេសកម្ជា ពុ ។ ទោះបីជាយ៉ា ងណាក៏ដោយ ប្រតិបត្តិការមានភាពយឺតយ៉ាវ អ្នកក្រីក្រនៅ តែបន្តខ ្វះការថែទាំដិតដល់ ត្បិតពួកគេរស់នៅ ឆ្ងាយពីទីប្រជុំជន ខ្វះខាតមធ្យោបាយធ្វើដំណ�ើរ និងធនធាន ដ�ើម្បីធ្វើដំណ�ើរទៅកាន់ទីប្រជុំជនធំៗ ដ�ើម្បីទទួលបានការព្យាបាល។
Newsletter • Issue 17 • July - December 2017 | 9
ក្រុមគ្រូពេទ្យ ភ្នែក និង ជម្ងឺទូទៅ បានធ្វើការនៅ មន្ទីរពេទ្យមិតភា ្ត ពខ្មែរសូវ�ៀត ខណៈដែល ក្រុមគ្រូពេទ្យធ្មេញធ្វើការនៅ គ្លីនិកធ្មេញ នៃសាកលវិទ្យាល័យពុទ្ធិសាស្រ្ត ក្នុងទីក្រុងភ្នំពេញ។ បន្ទា ប់ពីបានបញ្ចប់ការរ�ៀបចំបន្ទប់វះកាត់ភ្នែ កឡ�ើងបាយ និងគ្លីនិកធ្មេញ នៅថ្ងៃអាទិត្យទី ១៣ ខែសីហា ក្រុមស្ម័គ្រចិតបា ្ត ន ធ្វើដំណ�ើរឆ្ពោះទៅកាន់ភូមិចំប៉ា (វត្តចំប៉ា ) ដែលជាភូមិដាច់ស្រយាលមួយ តែមានប្រជាជនរ ស់នៅកកកុញនៅតាមដងទន្លេ មេកុង។ ពេលឃ�ើញពួកគេដំបូង ប្រជាជនទាំងនោះហាក់ដូចជា កំពុងរស់នៅក្នុងជំរុំជនភ�ៀសខ្ន លួ គ្មា នរដ្ឋរស់នៅ ហ�ើយមិនមានឯកសារបញ្ជាក់អត្តសញ្ញាណ ជាក់លាក់ណាមួយ ថាពួកគេជាប្រជាជនខ្មែរ ឬជាប្រជាជនវ�ៀតណាម។ ដោយសារខ្វះដីសម្រាប់តាង ំ ទីលំនៅ ផ្ទះនីមួយ ៗត្រូវបានសាងសង់ក�ៀកៗគ្នា ហ�ើយប្រជាជន ជាច្រើនរស់នៅល�ើផ្ទះបណ្តែ តទឹកល�ើទន្លេ។ ក្រុមគ្រូពេទ្យធ្មេញ និងជម្ងឺទូទៅបានពិនិត្យព្យា លបាលអ្នកភូមិ ទន្ទឹមនឹងការពិនិត្យភ្នែកស្វែងរក អ្នកមានជម្ងឺភ្នែកឡ�ើងបាយ។ អ្នកភូមិមួយចំនួន ត្រូវបាននាំមកភ្នំពេញ ដ�ើម្បីធ្វើការព្យាបាលជម្ងឺ និងវះកាត់ភ្នែកឡ�ើងបាយ។ ការផ្ទេរចំណេះដឹង ក៏ជាគោលដៅសំខាន់មួយផងដែរ សម្រាប់ទស្សនកិច ្ចរបស់ AHHA។ វេជ ្ជបណ្ ឌិត និងនិស្សិតក្នុងស្រុក បាន ធ្វើការជាមួយអ្នកស្ម័គ្រចិតរ្ត បស់យ�ើង នៅក្នុងបន្ទប់វះកាត់ ក៏ដូចជាបន្ទប់ពិគ្រោះជម្ងឺ ដ�ើម្បីរ�ៀនសូត្រពីបច្ចេកទេសថ្មីៗ និង ចែករំលែកបទពិសោធន៍គ្នាទៅវិញទៅ មក ដ�ើម្បីបង្កើនប្រសិទភា ្ធ ពការងារ និងការថែទាំអ ្នកជម្ងឺ។ ដោយសារតែភាពជោគ ជ័យរបស់សិក្ខាសាលាស្តីអំពីសុខភាពមាត់ធ្មេញ និងភ្នែក កាលពីឆ្នាំ២០១៦ ក្រុមទាំងសងខាង បានរ�ៀបចំសិក្ខាសាលាស្រដ�ៀងគ្នានេះសា រជាថ្មី ក្នុងគោលបំណងផ្តល់ពត៌មានស្តីអំពី បច្ចេកទេសថ្មីៗ នៅក្នុងផ្នែកវេជ ្ជសាស្រ្ត និងមាត់ធ្មេញ ជូនអ្នកឯកទេសផ្នែកវេជ ្ជសាស្រ្ត និងមាត់ធ្មេញនៅក្នុងស្រុក។ ជាថ្មីមង ្ត ទ�ៀត សិក្ខាសាលាបានទទួលជោគជ័យ ដោយទទួលបា នការចូលរួមយ៉ា ងច្រើនកុះករ។ និស្សិតដែលសិ ក្ សាផ្នែកវេជ ្ជសាស្រ្តនិងទន្តសាស្រ្ត បានទទួលផលប្រ យោជន៍ពីសិក្ខាសាលាល�ើកនេះ។ រ�ៀងរាល់ទស្សនកិច ្ចរបស់AHHA ក្នុងរយៈពេលប៉ុន្មា នឆ្នាំមកនេះ ក្រៅអំពីការងារផ្នែកវេជ ្ជសាស្រ្ត ទន្តសាស្រ្ត និងការព្យាបាលភ្នែកឡ�ើងបាយ ជំនួយ សប្បុរសធម៌ក៏ត្រូវបានផ្តល់ជូនផងដែរ ដ�ើម្បីល�ើកកម្ពស់ជីវភាពរស់នៅរបស់ ប្រជាជនក្រីក្រ។ ឥទ្ធិពលខ្យល់មូសុង បាននាំយកព្យុះភ្លៀងមកជាមួយ ដែលធ្វើឲ្យប៉ពា ល់ដល់ប្រភពទឹកស្អាត។ ក្នុងទស្សនកិច ្ចល�ើកនេះ AHHA បានចែកចាយធុងចម្រោះទឹកចំនួន៦០០ ធុង (រួមជាមួយនឹងគ្រឿងឧបភោគបរិភោគ និងថវិការមួយចំនួន) នៅក្នុងតំបន់ចំនួនបីក្នុ ងប្រទេសកម្ជា ពុ ។ ក្នុងប្រទេសវ�ៀតណាម ធុងចម្រោះច្រើនជាង ១១៧០ ធុង ត្រូវបាន
10 | Australian Health Humanitarian Aid
ី ឡុង ចែកចាយទៅកាន់ភូមិចំនួនពីរ នៅ វញ ធុងចម្រោះដែលនៅសល់ និងថវិការមួយចំនួនត្រូវ បានរក្សាទុក នៅវត្តអារាមក្នុងតំបន់ដាច់ស្រយាល ចំនួនបី ដែលមិនអាចមកទទួលពី AHHA ដោយផ្ទាល់។ ធុងចម្រោះមានសមត្ថភាពផ្តល់ជូនទឹកស្អាតចំនួន ១០លីត្រ ដែលសមស្របសម្រាប់ប្រើប្រាស់ក្នុង មួយល�ើក និងអាចមានអាយុកាលរហូតដល់ទៅ ១០ឆ្នាំ ប្រសិនប�ើវាត្រូវបានថែទាំ និងសម្អា តឲ្យបានដិតដល់។ ជោគជ័យ និងលទ្ធផលដែលទទួលបានពីការធ្វើទ ស្សនកិច ្ចឆ្នាំ២០១៧ នឹងមិនអាចសម្រេចទៅបាន ដោយគ្មា នការជួយជ្រោមជ្រែងពីអ ្នក ឧបត្ថម្ភ ក្រុមអ្នកស្ម័គ្រចិត្ត ម្ចា ស់ជំនួយ និងអ្នកផ្តល់សេវារបស់ AHHA។ ជាថ្មីមង ្ត ទ�ៀត សូមអរគុណចំពោះ Alcon Australia បានផ្តល់គ្រឿងបរិក្ខា រសំខាន់ៗ ហ�ើយនិង Lenses សម្រាប់ការវះកាត់ភ្នែកឡ�ើងបាយ, Hai Son Shipping & Transport Pty Ltd បានជួយរ�ៀបចំ ដឹកជញ្ជូន និងផ្គត់ផ្គង់គ្រឿងបរិក្ខា រពេទ្យមកប្រទេសកម្ជា ពុ ។ ជូនចំពោះក្រុមអ្នកស្ម័គ្រចិតទា ្ត ំងអស់របស់ AHHA ដែលបានចូលរួមគ្រប់សកម្មភាពទាំង ឡាយ ពេញមួយឆ្នាំមកនេះ ទាំងការមកចូល រួមការប្រជុំជាប្រចាំ ចូលរួមកម្មវិធីរៃអង្គាស និងសកម្មភាពសំខាន់ៗផ្សេងៗទ�ៀត ដំណ�ើរទស្សន កិច ្ចមួយនេះមិនអាចដំណ�ើរការទៅរួចដោយគ្មា នវ ត្តមានរបស់អ ្នកទាំងអស់គ្នាឡ�ើយ។ យ�ើងក៏មិនភ្លេចដែរអំពីជំនួយ និងការគាំទ្រ របស់មូលនិធិចក្ខុខ្មែរ និងក្រុមស្ម័គ្រចិត្តក្នុង ប្ ទេសកម្ជា ពុ ។ កិច ្ចខិតខំប្រឹងប្រែង ទឹកចិត្ត ការចូលរួម និងឆន្ទៈជួយសង្គមរបស់ពួកគេ បានរួមចំណែកយ៉ា ងធំធេង សម្រាប់ភាពជោគជ័យនៃបេសកម្មនេះ។ ជាចុងក្រោយ ក្រុមនិស្សិតវេជ ្ជសាស្រ្តស្ម័គ្រចិត្តវ័យ ក្មេងរបស់កម្ជា ពុ មានការចាប់អារម្មណ៍យ៉ា ងខ្លា ំង ចំពោះគ្រឿងបរិក្ខា រវេជ ្ជសាស្រ្ត ដែលត្ រូវបានប្រើប្រាស់ដោយវេជ ្ជបណ្ ឌិតរបស់ AHHA។ នៅក្នុងសាកលវិទ្យាល័យអូស្ត្រាលី ការបណ្តុះបណ្តា ល និងការផ្តល់ការ យល់
ដឹងអំពីរប�ៀបប្រើប្រាស់នៃឧបករ ណ៍ទាំងនេះ ត្រូវបានផ្តល់ជូនភ្លា មៗ។ ជាការកត់សម្គាល់របស់វេជ ្ជបណ្ ឌិត AHHA និស្សិតត្រូវបានចោទសួរ ថាត�ើពួកគេធ្លា ប់បានប៉ះពាល់ ឬប្រើប្រាស់ឧ បករណ៍ទាំងនេះដែរឬទេនៅក្នុងសាកលវិទ្យា ល័យ? ចម្លើយគឺ ទេ។ ចម្លើយនេះ បានធ្វើឲ្យ វេជ ្ជបណ្ ឌិតមានការភ្ញាក់ផ្អើល ហ�ើយជាលទ្ធផល បន្ទា ប់ពីបញ្ចប់ទស្សនកិច ្ច វេជ ្ជបណ្ ឌិតបានប្រ គល់នូវសម្ភា រៈវេជ ្ជសាស្រ្តទាំងអស់របស់គាត់ ជូននិស្សិតជាកាដូ “សេចក្តីប្រាថ្នា របស់គាត់ បានក្លា យជាការពិត”។ ខាងក្រោមនេះ គឺជាសមិទផ ្ធ លដែលយ�ើងទទួលបា នក្នុងដំណ�ើរទស្សនកិច ្ចឆ្នាំ២០១៧
Cambodia Field Trip Results 2017 ក្រុមគ្រូពេទ្យភ្នែក
ចំនួនអ្នកជម្ងឺដែលបានពិនិត្យ . . . . . . . .615 ការវះកាត់ភ្នែក. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .322 Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .354
ក្រុមគ្រូពេទ្យមាត់ធ្មេញ
បានពិនិត្យអ្នកជម្ងឺចំនួន. . . . . . . . ៦០៧នាក់ បានព្យាបាលចំនួន. . . . . . . . . . . . ៤១៩នាក់ ការព្យាបាលធ្មេញ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1362
ក្រុមជំនួយមនុស្សធម៌
ធុងចម្រោះទឹក កម្ជា ពុ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .600 វ�ៀតណាម. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1176 បញ្ជាក់៖ កញ្ចប់គ្រឿងឧបភោគបរិភោគ និងថវិការ ត្រូវបានរួមបញ្ចូល
HIGHLIGHTS
Chris Hayes MP Federal Member for Fowler Parliamentary Speech 16th October 2017 Mr HAYES (Fowler — Chief Opposition Whip) (19:40): In the words of Nelson Mandela: Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. Mandela’s words capture the spirit of a remarkable organisation in my electorate called the Australian Health Humanitarian Aid, which goes by the acronym AHHA. AHHA is made up of a team of dedicated doctors, optometrists, dentists and volunteers who work in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Liverpool West and regularly visit Vietnam and Cambodia to treat the poor and those who are unable to obtain medical assistance. Following extensive planning and fundraising,in August this year a team of 120 AHHA volunteers travelled to Phnom Penh to perform medical procedures for disadvantaged people in various villages throughout Cambodia. With the help of their incountry partners, the Khmer Sight Foundation, treatment was provided to hundreds of patients who, due to poverty or remoteness, had not been able to receive appropriate medical or dental attention. Screening in Cambodia had been carried out in advance, with those patients selected being mainly the elderly, orphans, and children with special needs. The AHHA team faced a new and rather unforeseen setback in the form
of major flooding and monsoonal conditions. While this made it difficult for patients to be transferred from outlying areas, the AHHA team remained optimistic, committed and worked tirelessly to provide the much-needed assistance. The eye and dental teams operated from the local hospital and university. Patients came from far and wide. Waiting rooms were full of patient being prepared for eye surgery or dental procedures. The AHHA team also travelled to remote villages to provide medical examinations and treatment. The remote villages were mainly occupied by stateless people, who are not recognised by either the Cambodian or the Vietnamese governments. The conditions in these villages were dire and resembled, as we would perceive them, refugee camps. In addition to the medical and dental treatment, special humanitarian assistance was also rendered. It has always been a key aspect and main motivation of the AHHA’s field trips over many years to be able to improve the living conditions of the poor and disadvantaged. Knowledge transfer was also a significant part of the focus of the 2017 AHHA field trip. Local doctors and students worked alongside AHHA volunteers in surgical theatres, as well as in consulting rooms, learning how to use new medical technologies and procedures and gaining handson experience to improve patient outcomes and care. Seminars were conducted by the AHHA team, where
they provided information on the latest medical and dental procedures to university students and members of the local medical profession. It is hoped that the benefits gained by the university students and local professionals from these seminars will be passed on to their colleagues and applied in the future treatment of patients. Due to the dedicated AHHA volunteers and the Rotary Club of Liverpool West, many Cambodians now have a new lease on life and a real future. They can once more be an active and productive member of their local villages and communities, but, more importantly, they have regained their sense of self-esteem. During the 2017 mission, AHHA provided 354 eye surgeries, 1,362 dental procedures and 800 GP consultations, and distributed 200 prescription glasses and over a thousand sunglasses. The humanitarian aid team have also provided 600 water filters in Cambodia and 1,176 water filters in Vietnam in addition to the distribution of food parcels and financial donations. Although we are not immune to health issues here in Australia, most of us are fortunate to have the information and resources that allow for early detection and effective treatment. Many people around the world are less fortunate. I thank Dr William Trinh and his dedicated team. They are truly making a difference for the better in our world.
Newsletter • Issue 17 • July - December 2017 | 11
12 | Australian Health Humanitarian Aid
COVER STORY
No more discomfort Writer Mr Ted Mlynarz
Eye problems can vary, Australian Health Humanitarian Aid (AHHA) has concentrated its efforts on cataracts. Every now and then other problems are encountered and these are examined and if possible, rectified. On the 20th August 2107, a young girl named Hak Chanmithona, aged 12 years from Phnom Penh presented herself at the hospital with a growth from an infection in the eye which caused irritation and itchiness. If not attended to the surgeon advised that the irritation could last forever. The growth (cyst) was not regarded a serious, however, would be uncomfortable for a long time. The remedy was to remove the growth, that is all that was required. Following preparation, Hak was on the operating bed and within a few minutes the operation was complete. Hak will now be able to have a life without the irritation. Most eye (cataract) operations are conducted on older people, when a child or younger person arrives for an eye operation the interest of theatre staff is heightened and upon completion a collective sigh of relief was experienced when volunteer surgeon, Dr Troy Lim Joon, announced that it was over and all will be fine. The care and skill of the surgeons and all theatre volunteers is vital to the success of AHHA field trips. Hak will now continue her childhood without constant eye irritation.
Newsletter • Issue 17 • July - December 2017 | 13
Một chút gì để nhớ Writer Sr Maria Le Thi Hong Thu
khắc Giữa những ngày hè oi bức, nắng nóng hiện nghiêt của vùng trời Campuchia, lại xuất cùng sĩ, bác g nhữn của vàng những tấm lòng những tình nguyện viên trẻ của đoàn AHHA trời đầu đội trời, chân đạp nước, từ Phương với Úc Châu xa xôi, đã không ngần ngại đến ng Phươ tha đang Nam Việt bà con đồng bào vả vất đang i, ngườ cầu thực nơi đất khách quê ap. dầm mưa dãi nắng trên Biển Hồ Toles
, lại Cuộc sống khó khăn, vật chất thiếu thốn rồi bệnh tất cứ đeo bám mỗi ngày. Nhưng , những tấm lòng vàng đã đến thăm viếng chú, cô bà, ông trăm mang ánh sáng cho hàng ăn, vì hoàn cảnh khó khăn, cơm không đủ áo không đủ mặc, đành cam chịu sống trong bóng tối.
g Niềm vui hạnh phúc đã rạng ngời trên nhữn mảnh g nhữn của còm khuôn mặt hắt hiu gầy
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đời mãi chấp nhận cho số phận đẩy đưa. “Một miếng khi đói bằng một gói khi no” chị, Rất chân thành cảm ơn các cô chú, anh đoàn quý y bác sĩ và các thiện nguyện viên của thời từ thiện AHHA đã đến từ Úc Châu. Tuy xa chị anh quý cho làm gian, không gian đã tim trái g nhưn cách chúng tôi trong ngôn từ, cảm của quý vị đã cùng chung nhịp đập để của thông và chia sẻ những nỗi niềm khổ đau bà con nơi đây. anh Ôi thật gần gủi biết bao tình người, và tình vị quý chân Tiễn em đòng bào dòng máu Việt. ngậm cứ lên đường trở về mà lòng chúng tôi đến, ngùi mãi, mong cho một mùa hè mới lại áo chiếc g nhữn thấy nhìn để được tiếp tục . vang lòng tấm vàng xuất hiện – mang cả một
OPINION
A message from Sister Thu Translator Mr Loc Cung
In the midst of the sultry, harsh summ er heat in Cambodia, there appeared a grou p of AHHA (Australian Health & Humanitarian Aid) medical doctors, dentists, health profession als and young volunteers, with golden hear ts, they did not hesitate to come to the assistance of their Vietnamese compatriots who had been trapped in a foreign land, struggling in their hardship on the floating villages of the Great Lake Tonle-Sap. Amongst them, many men and wom en, mostly elderly, endure lives in darkness due to stricken poverty and frequent illness. But then the AHHA golden hearts have come to visit them, bringing light into their darkness.
The joy and happiness …are shined on their bony skinny faces of those who used to accep t grave destiny.
“A bite in hunger is more than a plate when full” We sincerely thank all the volunteers, medi cal doctors, and health professionals in the AHHA team. Despite the difference in languages , your heart beats have synchronized with those of the patients in order to sympathiz e with them and to share their suffering. Oh how wonderful is human love, with the Vietnamese fraternity blood! We farewelled you but our hearts were filled with sorro w, wishing another summer would come soon so we can once again welcome the grou p of people wearing the yellow shirts – with the hearts of gold!
Newsletter • Issue 17 • July - December 2017 | 15
Free water filter distribution to the poor Writer Ms Thuy Nguyen & Ms Stephanie Wong
Polluted water isn’t just dirty – it’s deadly. Efforts in improving access to safe drinking water not only boost overall health but ultimately save human lives. Many of the water related ailments are easily preventable. AHHA’s free Water Filter Project started in December 2016. It’s one of the most cost effective and practical way to help the poor access to continue supply of purified water, we have now included the Water Filters Project part of our ongoing humanitarian work scope. Each portable water filter unit is comprised of a tiny “U” shaped micro tubes that allow water to enter into their core through tiny micro pores. The PointOne Filter pores are so small (0.1 micron absolute) that no bacteria, protozoa, or cysts like E.Coli, Cholera and Typhoid can get through. Each filter is certified for ABSOLUTE microns. That means there will be no pore size larger than 0.1 microns in the biological filter. Simply put, it is impossible for bacteria to pass through the 0.1 micron filter. One unit can filter up to 100,000 liters of water, on top of that cleaning & maintenance process is very simple which makes this portable water filter a valuable gift to the community. During our 2017 mission the AHHA team distributed a total of 600 water filters in Cambodia in 3 locations – 245 in Chompa Village 90 in Deylth-Kian District 255 to the people in Kampong Chenang Apart from water filter unit each family also received food parcel valued about $10 and 20,000 Riels (US$5). In Vietnam a total of 1,176 water filters were distributed to 5 locations in the south of Vietnam. Each family received 1 water filter unit plus 100,000 VND (~AU$5). Water-poor communities are typically economically poor as well, their residents trapped in an ongoing cycle of poverty. Our goal is to provide humanitarian services to relieve human suffering and improve the quality of life of those in need. The Water Filter Project is part of AHHA’s ongoing project. Please help us to help others.
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Chương Trình Trao Tặng Dụng Cụ Lọc Nước Cho Đồng Bào Nghèo Translator Ms Thuy Nguyen
Vấn đề nguồn nước ô nhiễm ngày càng trở nên một đại vấn nạn gây cản trở cho sự sinh hoạt và sống còn của người dân. Nguồn nước bị ô nhiễm không chỉ đơn thuần là nguồn nước bẩn mà còn là đầu mối của vô số bệnh tật và là nguyên nhân gây tử vong cho con người. Vì thế các nỗ lực cải thiện và cung cấp nguồn nước sạch đã và đang áp dụng nhằm bảo đảm sức khỏe và ngăn ngừa bệnh tật. Chương trình trao tặng dụng cụ lọc nước được đoàn AHHA bắt đầu từ tháng 12 năm 2016. Đây là phương pháp tuy đơn giản, chi phí thấp nhưng lại hữu hiệu nhất để mỗi gia đình có thể tiếp cận được nguồn nước sạch. Từ điểm mốc này, dụng cụ lọc nước đã trở thành một trong những tặng vật của đoàn AHHA đến đồng bào nghèo trong các chuyến công tác từ thiện. Cấu trúc của màng lọc nước gồm nhiều lỗ xoắn, quay quanh trục hình chữ u. Màng lọc có kích thước 0.1micron, một lỗ hỗng cực nhỏ nhằm ngăn chận các vi khuẩn, ký sinh trùng hay những vi sinh vật gây nên bệnh dịch tả hay thương hàn không cho chúng lọt qua. Mỗi dụng cụ có thể lọc khoảng 100 ngàn lít nước. Cách sử dụng, rửa dụng cụ và bảo quản rất đơn giản nên dụng cụ lọc nước đã trở thành một món quà quý giá cho đồng bào nghèo nhất là những ai sống trong vùng có nguồn nước bị ô nhiễm. Trong đợt công tác từ thiện tháng 8 năm 2017 vừa qua, 600 dụng cụ lọc nước đã được trao tặng cho ba ngôi làng ở Campuchia. Mỗi gia đình cũng được tặng $5 cùng một số nhu yếu phẩm. Tại Việt Nam, 1176 dụng cụ lọc nước đã trao tặng cho đồng bào nghèo tại 5 xã ở miền tây,ngoài ra mỗi hộ lại được tặng thêm tiền mặt ($5) . Chương trình trao tặng dụng cụ lọc nước hiện nay đã trở thành một trong những chương trình thường trực của đoàn dành cho những vùng có nguồn nước bị nhiễm ô, nơi mà cuộc sống của những người dân bị ảnh hưởng và bế tắc bởi vòng đói khổ và bệnh tật. Với tấm lòng nhân ái, tương thân tương trợ và với khả năng của mình, đoàn AHHA sẳn sàng mở rộng vòng tay ngõ hầu có thể phần nào giúp đỡ, cải thiện và xoa dịu được phần nào những khó khăn trong cuộc sống của những người cùng khổ. Chúng tôi thiết tha kêu gọi quý vị hãy mở rộng tấm lòng và cùng đồng hành với chúng tôi.
Newsletter • Issue 17 • July - December 2017 | 17
“Michael, you’ve been voted as the new Logistics Manager”, those few words seemed innocent enough but lead to a few months of headaches, anxiety, sleepless nights, and moments of joy. As a first time Logistics manager for AHHA, I hadn’t realised the breadth of the role nor the challenges I’d face. However, with thoughts of the wonderful work that AHHA does for the underprivileged of Vietnam and Cambodia, I accepted the challenge with my usual attitude, “give or take 10%” and “go with the flow”. From day one of accepting the position, 8 months before the trip, I started collecting suggestions and inputs from past volunteers and logistics managers; filing them away in the “may be useful” part of my brain. Four months out from the trip, Logistics started kicking in. We had almost 1,200 kg of supplies to transport and over 120 volunteers from Australia (our biggest group in 15 years). First task at hand was working with other admin staff and our travel agent to organise booking of the flights and hotels for both Cambodia and Vietnam. This year we decided to try out brand new hotels in both locations, little did we know this would cause the first headaches about two months later….more to come. Three months out, we packed over 800kgs and pre-shipped one container load to Phnom Penh containing medical supplies and equipment, including 3 new microscopes. This went smoothly enough, because they were shipped straight to our partner charity in Phnom Penh. Two months out, work commenced with many late nights, putting together the volunteer briefing documents (since there were many new volunteers) and volunteer forms. Then the room allocations for each night of the trip (over 10 nights). How hard are room allocations, you say….. Volunteers arrived on different days, some only work one week, others two, some required extra days, some
18 | Australian Health Humanitarian Aid
Volunteer Stories:
Logistics Manager Perspective
Writer Mr Michael Man Tran
arrived early, etc. Therefore we had to work on allocations day-by-day. Determining who shared with whom, when to shuffle people to maximise room usage and minimise costs, were major preliminary challenges. After two months of refining, changing and accommodating various wishes, I’d thought we had it in the bag, but then problems started surfacing. Problems? What problems, you say. Well there were mistakes with volunteer names, itineraries, etc. A few volunteers hadn’t checked their e-tickets when issued, until we started spotting the problems in our allocations. Five weeks out from our trip, a major problem arose. We had sent the “final” room allocations for each night of our stay over to our partner charity and hotel, when it turned out we required more TWIN share rooms than the hotel had anticipated (we had given them a rough estimate 4 months before). Now a major scramble was undertaken to find alternative hotels. Plan A, plan B, plan C were explored in earnest, splitting into two hotels was even considered. Because of the
lateness of the change, and urgency of booking, finding an alternative hotel was a nightmare. Eventually we managed to secure a new hotel two weeks from departure and one hour before the final volunteer meeting. Crisis averted, we were able to sleep again. Thanks to modern technology, we were able to arrange all this using many Viber messages, Whatsapp and emails. At one stage, I was on ten different chat groups! (Bus, Media, Management, Logistics, Food…etc.) On the day of departure from Sydney, the main Sydney team had 55 volunteers and 600kg of extra boxes of medical supplies to take with us. Arriving at the airport at 4:30am, we had to move nearly 60 boxes to the check in counter. Unfortunately group check-in wasn’t possible with Singapore airlines, they insisted we line up. After much debate, check-in started, and then airline staff realised the enormity of the task, so they decided to do group check-in after all. Once all luggages and volunteers were checked in, I was able to breath a sign of relief and relaxed for the rest of the
OUR VOLUNTEERS
flight.
lobby phone.
Arriving in Phnom Penh, we were greeted by our partner charity, who helped with Immigration. Unfortunately, we were stuck so long, that our boxes were unloaded without us, taking up too much room in the airport. We hurriedly moved as many volunteers through immigration as possible to collect the boxes before we lose them. I was the last to leave the immigration, that’s when the next problem came up, “Michael, we have 61 boxes”…. “Hold-on” I said, I have records of only 59. Quickly stopping everyone from leaving the airport, twice I recounted the boxes, coming to a total of 61! Still puzzled I could feel the stress levels rising again, then a volunteer told me a couple of boxes were brought by our interstate volunteers who joined at the airport…. Phew.
“Ehh, Michael, that will be a problem...I only have one bed”... Was the one thing I hadn’t expected or needed to hear. For the next hour, frantic discussions with the hotel reception staff, they realised their error, and asked if they could add a roll-out bed just for the one night. I agreed, and waited another 10 minutes, then went to double check. They had put in a roll-out bed but no mattress, and was putting a quilt down only! “Heh mate, no one can sleep on that!, Not you, not me, and definitely not a surgeon who’s expected to operate the next day”, I told them. More talks with the hotel manager later, they eventually “Found” another Twin room for me! Could have saved over 1.5 hours of stress if they did that in the first place. So eventually I plodded off to bed at 12:30am.
Checkin at the hotel was just as hectic, because the hotel had not done any pre-allocations of rooms. Working in Phnom Penh, there were many challenges, especially because of the language barrier and also because of different work methodologies.
On another evening, I had 87 volunteers for dinner. So I booked 100 seats at a restaurant, catering for local volunteers too. The restaurant manager told me that was no problem and we will be split over two levels,
easy enough right?... Noooo! After all volunteers arrived, I was told that there were about 20 without seats, “How??”, you ask. I asked the same question of the restaurant manager. “You must have more than 100”, he told me! By then, tired, hungry and stressed, my fuse was reasonably short. “Heh mate, there is no way. I know exactly my numbers per day!” As we were standing there “debating” who’s accurate, one of our volunteers came up and said they found some extra private function rooms, that were behind black doors in the dim lights. I wished the manager could have told us this in the first place… once again, lesson learnt. Overall, this has been a massive learning curve for a first time Logistics Manager. There were many more anecdotal stories, but we’ll save those for another day. Would I do it again?... Definitely.
On the first day of working at the Khmer Soviet hospital, we had three buses shipping all of the volunteers. On arrival at the hospital, the buses parked at the front, and I told the drivers to wait there for us for the whole day. At 6pm as we were leaving after a long day, the unthinkable happened... there were no buses waiting for us. With tired and hungry volunteers, we had to do some more 3rd party translations and communicating with bus company before they informed us the buses were out back, lesson learnt. On the Wednesday transition between week 1 and week 2 volunteers, there were a large number of volunteers arriving. As I was relaxing with a beer at 11pm, I remembered that there was a surgeon arriving at midnight and he would be sharing with another surgeon for one night. So thinking I should warn the week 1 surgeon before going to bed, I called from the
Newsletter • Issue 17 • July - December 2017 | 19
Volunteer Stories: Lyzar This is my first year joining the AHHA family and my first field trip. I was introduced to AHHA by a dear friend Anh Kieu, who in previous years has tried to persuade me to participate in numerous AHHA events. A few years elapsed and many excuses later I became a volunteer! 2017 was the year of more giving back to the community and being more charitable. I remember my first AHHA fundraising BBQ in Cabramatta, I was welcomed with opened arms and friendly smiles. I was impressed by the family vibe and how generous the community was with donations. I knew that I had joined the right organisation, charity and family. Fast forward to August 2017, although I was dreading the 5am wake up calls, I was excited because I had not been back to Cambodia since 2011. Upon arrival at Phnom Penh airport I felt the
20 | Australian Health Humanitarian Aid
Sun
nostalgia of the smells, the humidity and the sounds of traffic…lots of traffic! Now where do I start about the first day of the mission. When I volunteered for this mission I thought I could be of ‘some help’ coming from a pharmacy background. Although I had never dealt with optometry and ophthalmology, I can take blood pressure and blood glucose readings and be of use to the GP team. I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to do that and so much more! On the first day the local students who were translators for AHHA were not all able to attend, so impromptu I was made a translator for the GPs. I was thrown in the deep end to quickly pick up Khmer medical terms which was challenging but I was so grateful for it and so were the GPs! I remember speaking to my mother back at home
on the 2nd night, showing off what new terms I had learnt in Khmer which even she did not know. It was such a great learning experience not only in linguistics but medically. I could not believe how many people suffered from hypertension, diabetes and reflux and a lot of them were undiagnosed or did not have the money to continue buying their medication. So it was great that we had medicines and vitamins donated from various sponsors and donors across different industries. I felt needed, charitable and appreciated, something that is not always felt working back at home in a community pharmacy. I was able to share my knowledge and offer advice on simple things about lifestyle modifications to prevent or slow down the progression of diabetes and hypertension, how to take medications and why they should
OUR VOLUNTEERS
be compliant. These issues back in Australia can be quickly ‘googled’ because of our literacy or could be seen by a health practitioner but the patients we saw did not even know they had any medical conditions because they were were uneducated and could not afford to see a medical practitioner. I was fortunate enough to be offered to opportunity to observe a cataract surgery being performed. Coming from no surgical experience and little hospital experience this was definitely an eye opening experience. Excuse the pun. I got to dress in a surgical gown, observe the anaesthesia being injected around the patients’ eye and had the process of a cataract removal be intriguingly explained and performed at the same time. Talk about amazing multi tasking skills Dr Kevin Foo!
The highlight and most memorable part of the trip was the encounter with one particular patient. An elderly Khmer lady with these huge purple Coach snake print sunglasses caught my eye. She was sitting on a bench waiting to be picked up by her daughter. Upon conversing with her I learnt she lived about 4 hours away with just her husband. I asked to take a photo with her and asked why was she not smiling, was she in pain? The photo attached shows you why she wasn’t smiling- she didn’t have any teeth. We had a chuckle about that and as she was leaving I handed her one of “AHHA’s goodie bags” which consisted of lubricating eye drops, paracetamol and fish oil supplements. She was so grateful that she got down onto the floor to express her gratitude and offer me a blessing and well wishes. At this point I was also kneeling on
the ground and was in tears. In my upbringing the namaskara or namaste gesture is reserved for prayers and greetings to older people as a sign of respect. I was so overwhelmed with emotion to see someone old enough to be my grandmother pay that much respect and appreciation to me. Did I mention I also discovered a new skill I had of opening up coconuts? From being a part of the GP team, being a translator, participating in post ops and chopping open coconuts: on reflection it was quite an accomplishment for my first trip! What better way to have been able to give back to the people of my ancestry than give the gift of sight and knowledge. I look forward to participating in many more AHHA events and staying a part of the AHHA family for years to come.
Newsletter • Issue 17 • July - December 2017 | 21
Volunteer Reflection:
Ku Ngov
We always knew that we wanted to do charity work and even more so to do charity work in Cambodia, a country where our parents were born, a country driven by poverty. When the opportunity came to join AHHA, we didn’t hesitate to join. My sister Siv and I went on the Field Trip in August together and it was nothing short of amazing. Siv was in the Dental Team and I was in the Eye Team. As part of the Admin team I got to meet everyone who registered for check up. People came from all over the country, the old, the young, and from all walks of life but the one thing I noticed they had in common was that scared uncertain look on their face and some refusing surgery even before being diagnosed. Amongst the many memorable experiences in Cambodia, the one that stood out was interpreting at the Post Op check up. I held my breath as Dr William Trinh pulled off the eye pad off an elderly lady not knowing if the surgery has made a difference and that moment when she smiles and tells us that she can see clearly. I cannot forget her gratification and how she could not stop thanking the AHHA team. That moment will be forever embedded in my mind. For all the patients that received surgery, the gift of sight will not only impact their quality of life but the lives of their family. That scared uncertain look I first saw at registration turned into gratification and happy smiles. Thank you AHHA for giving me the opportunity to contribute to such a well organised, fun loving and humble team and to each and everyone who worked tirelessly to make the Field Trip possible. I am so proud to have worked amongst a group of kind hearted and selfless people who carried themselves with such professionalism.
Volunteer Stories:
Siv Ngov Conversations which inspire A simple conversation can have a powerful impact when you least expect it. I teach at Harcourt Public School and have a wonderful Kindergarten class who I am proud to call “The Green Team”. When I found out I was going on this field trip, I was talking to a colleague about where I was going and what I was doing. To my surprise, not long after that conversation I was informed by the school social committee that they were planning to organise an end of term staff night out to raise money to support my charity trip. From that one conversation, $605 was raised by the staff of Harcourt Public School and donated to AHHA for the 2017 Cambodia and Vietnam health and humanitarian field trip. On the week leading up to the field trip, I informed my class where I was going and what I was going to be doing on the field trip. To my surprise, the next day I was approached by a parent of one of my students. The
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OUR VOLUNTEERS
Volunteer Reflection:
Angelina Tran Throughout the times I had volunteered with AHHA in Cambodia, I have become acutely aware of the extremely entitled life that I lead as a teenager in Australia. Being provided with countless options; to disregard the blessings I have undeservedly been given through my parent’s hardship, and viewing myself as suffering in petty situations, was quite easy. However, this year’s field trip has greatly altered my perception by reaffirming the realisation of how fortunate I was.
parent asked me whether I was really going overseas to help other people. When I replied yes his daughter did inform him correctly, the parent then asked me if he could make a donation while handing me an envelope. In the envelope was a $200 donation with his 5 year old daughters name and a smile. It’s amazing how much impact one conversation can have with a 5 year old. It astounds me how powerful a conversation can be and how willing people are to open up their hearts to help others. I couldn’t wait to go on this charity trip as I couldn’t wait to see the amazing work of the AHHA team. The field trip was definitely an eye opener and the experience was beyond my expectations. But, it wasn’t until working with AHHA this whole year that I realised the amazing work already began way before going on the field trip. The amount of work and preparation that had been done in Australia that goes into making a field trip happen and after is only possible due to the dedication of the AHHA team. I thank AHHA for giving me this opportunity to be part of such an inspirational family who continues to give their time and money to others. It’s inspiring to be around such whole hearted people who year after year continue to change the lives of so many.
This year, I volunteered as a vision checker (VA); providing me an unfiltered perspective as hundreds of patients of varying ages walked in and out; the adversity and poverty they faced shown through the darkened skin from sun exposure and deepened wrinkles. The assigned job consisted of testing patient’s vision by blocking the sight of one of the patient’s eye – I still remember the clear confusion on patient’s faces as they watched hands wave in random directions at a laminated A4 chart.
Only in a matter of three days, the trip had given me the opportunity to meet amazing individuals who have greatly inspired me through the positivity radiating in each brilliant smile, as well as endearing enthusiasm during the vision checks. The privileges at my disposal were most definitely placed into perspective upon meeting a large group of teenage girls recently rescued from a Cambodian brothel. Throughout my entire life so far, the importance of education had been an integral value influencing my worldly perceptions, resulting in great shock as I witnessed many girls my age or younger being prevented from receiving these basic human rights of learning and healthcare. To think that “this could be me” is a terrifying thought which often recurs when I reflect on these memories, especially when imagining the stark differences in my life undergoing the same shortcomings. Beyond these circumstances, however, I had met beautiful people who share the same emotions of joy after a vision check, and nervousness before a cataract operation. These invaluable experiences I have gained are enriched by moments of a grandmother filled with elation as she bows saying “arkoun” (thank you) as well as the bubbly laughter of young children playing despite having cataracts. This year’s AHHA Cambodia field trip has allowed for me to form everlasting friendships and unforgettable memories with several youth volunteers, whose charitable aspirations continue to spur and encourage me. And if anyone had asked me, “Would you do this all over again?”, I would in a heartbeat.
Newsletter • Issue 17 • July - December 2017 | 23
money. She usually scavenged for food, but a toothache and intense pain forced her to stop working so she was absolutely starving. The dental team banded together to buy this woman a week’s worth of instant noodles, and when she started crying it became clear to me that a little empathy and compassion can go such a long way.
Volunteer Reflection:
Alexandria Cung
Hidden Joy in Cambodia Cambodia is a third world country. Not everybody there has access to basic life necessities, and a lot of people suffer through the indignity of being second-class citizens in their own home. Failing the lottery of birth has guaranteed that many will never get any help or support from the government, or the outside world. For me, it’s important to remember that every single patient that we treated over there was an individual person, different to anybody else. But the thing that connected all of them was their unlucky situation in life. Every single person was in need. I went on the 2017 AHHA Field Trip to Phnom Peng, Cambodia. I’d never been before – to Cambodia or on an AHHA trip – but I’ve always dreamed of going. AHHA has, is and always will be a larger-than-life organisation to me. It was a place where kindhearted adults came together to help the unfortunate out of the goodness of their hearts. No matter how young and small you are, it’s impossible to not recognise the admirable nature of the work our ophthalmologists, doctors, dentists, optometrists, admin team and support staff have done and
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continue to do. And so for years and years I’ve wished that I could be part of such a worthwhile organisation, but before now the opportunity had never come up. Still, I can’t remember not wanting to come and help on the field trips every year. I can only say that the real thing has exceeded all of my thoughts and dreams. The depth of emotion and meaning that I found in Phnom Peng wasn’t unexpected, but I found it unequivocally moving to experience it myself. The magnitude of the group and the reach of impact in this small, developing country was nothing short of incredible. But the most amazing thing was the gratitude and joy we inspired in every single adult and child. To see the most vulnerable people in society so happy is something that I’ll never forget. The first time this really struck me was when I talked to an elderly Vietnamese woman living in Stung Meanchey. Stung Meanchey is a 100 acre rubbish dump, the largest in Cambodia, which the majority of our patients called home. This woman hadn’t eaten all day and had run out of food and
That concept resonated with me. But more so, what struck me the most in Phnom Peng was how every child we met had a perpetual cheerfulness. Their joie de vivre was infectious and I bonded so much with some of the kids in the short time that we had. A little girl that I won’t forget just loved hugs, and hugged everybody she could get her hands on. These young children weren’t guaranteed much in life, but I think that despite the hardships that they might face in the future, their optimism and gratitude will help them through. We helped them with their medical and dental issues, but these underprivileged children taught me to value the small things in life and be content, and to find happiness in being with others. They were so inspirational, I feel blessed to have seen that. And when people you’re trying to help are like these people, it brings a fulfilment and delight that I have never felt before. Every day in Cambodia there was something new. There was so much
to see, so much that we did, and so much that I desperately wanted to remember that I have a vivid recollection of walking back indoors out of the sweltering heat and being shocked that I was still living the same day. Too much had happened, it didn’t seem possible.
OUR VOLUNTEERS
It was a wild thing to live through, because at the same time the entire week passed so quickly, it was as if there was no time between getting off that plane for the first time and getting straight back on it, having to say goodbye to new friends and amazing people. I can’t write about my experiences with AHHA without writing about the wonderful people behind it all. From the ophthalmologists, like Dr Tess, who let me observe their operations, to KP and Maria who were so organised, and led the entire admin staff, to all of the other student volunteers, AHHA is an organisation made up of individuals who just want to help. AHHA is dedicated to restoring sight to the visually impaired and quality of life to the downtrodden. But more than that, it restores hope to people who desperately need it, and it’s unequivocally selfless in this endeavour. I know in my heart that in such a short time we’ve managed to touch hundreds of lives. My time in Cambodia is something that I will always remember, and keep with me.
Volunteer Reflection:
Thomas Nguyen InAugust2017,myfamilyandIhadourfirstopportunitytobepartofAHHA &Liverpool West Rotary’smissiontoCambodia.Forme,thiswasthefirsttime I have ever experienced working with a charity on the field. Everything I did in Cambodia was new and exciting, from working with professionals in the eyeanddentalteam,todoinghumanitarianaidinthepoorvillages givingout necessarysuppliestosurvivelikefoodandwaterfilters. Throughoutmy-one-ofakindexperience,Ihavelearnedtotrulybegratefulfor whatIhavein Australialikelivinginasafehomeandgoingtoafantasticschool. Everyday things I take for granted are impossibly hard to find in Cambodia. Basic needs such as clean food and water are scarce to find in small villages and hygiene is non existent. Their health such as poor eyesight from severe cataractstopoordentalhealthwasnotuncommon.Isawkidsasyoungasfour needed fillings and teeth extraction. Out of all of this horrendous atrocities happeningtothese smallchildrenduringtheirdentalproceduresthatyouand Icouldn’tevenstandforanhour,one thingwasconsistentwiththemall,was thateachindividualalwayshadasmileontheirfaces. Rainhailorshine,there wasa lwaysasmilestretchingeartoear. For me, this is one of the biggest factor of why I wanted to go to this mission withmyfamily.I wantedtohelpthepeoplewhoneededhelpthemostandto improvelivesofothersinanyway possible.Attheendoftheday,mygoalwas togiveeveryoneasmileontheirfaceevenonthe worstofdays. ToeveryoneinAustraliawhotrulywanttohelpthepeopleinneed,Isuggestto joinandsupport AHHA,ameaningfulcharitythathasbroughtsomanysmiles topeople’sfaces.Intheyearsto come,IhopeIcouldcontinuetobepartofthis wonderfulcharity.
Newsletter • Issue 17 • July - December 2017 | 25
Volunteer Reflection: Isabelle Community. I have lived this word in a variety of contexts upon my arrival in Cambodia. Between having grown up in a close-knit country town or living with a large family, I had grown accustomed to the spirit and closeness that communities represent. However, it was only until I had experienced volunteering with AHHA, that I truly learnt what it means to be part of a community. This experience has redefined for me the importance of working together in making a difference and has gifted me with a renewed perspective on life. To be completely honest, the days at the hospital were often long, but those hours ended with a feeling of purpose, renewed sense of self and a motivation to do more. Having worked with the eye team at vision screening, I saw faces from all walks of life. A story that holds close to my heart is that of an elderly lady who sought out AHHA’s compassion to restore her sight. As I checked her eyes before her surgery, I soon realised that she was completely blind from her cataracts. She expressed to me the difficulties of daily living with such impairments. Whilst my Vietnamese vocabulary was limited, it was enough to encourage her to persevere through the long day ahead. With the opportunity to observe in theatre, I was overjoyed to witness her life-changing journey. Leading up to this trip to Cambodia, I had achieved in fundraising $11 000 which contributed to the donation of an operating microscope to the AHHA eye team. Now, seeing this microscope being used to restore her sight, reminded me of the purpose of why I was here. Her vision, like many others, had been restored with the
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Nguyen
help of, not only AHHA’s volunteers, but also a community of friends and family in Australia with kind hearts and open arms. Watching her smile brighten as she thanked the doctors for the surgery was alike to witnessing a miracle. The humbling words that followed remain to resonate with me; “Cam on cac bach si da thay doi doi song cua toi” (Thank you, doctors, for changing my life) One of my most memorable experiences from the trip was its humanitarian aspect. Volunteers visited a local village, about an hour’s drive from the bustling city of Phnom Penh where we stayed. Whilst distributing water filters to the Cambodian community, I found myself working alongside a local village girl, no older than I am. Although I didn’t know Khmer, language proved to be no barrier. We worked as a team; handing out the packages, communicating through our mutual desire to help her community. How a girl so young, was yet so determined to make a difference, was incredibly awe-inspiring. As a volunteer, I see that no matter how great or small the difference, the gleam of hope in these people’s eyes makes you reflect on your own life and hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted. Volunteering with AHHA has made me realise that we are a global community, tied together by bonds of friendship, compassion and a willingness to make a difference. This shared experience, I now recognise, and our individual growth through it all, is what will always give our community an invaluable kind of depth, closeness and authenticity that has impacted me in a life-changing way.
OUR VOLUNTEERS
Volunteer Profile:
Dr Troy Lim Joon
10 years ago, I boarded a flight with 50 other volunteers to embark on a humanitarian project to help the poor and blind people of Vietnam. I didn’t know anyone and certainly didn’t know what to expect. What I saw both amazed and inspired me. Seeing people passionate about helping others. Performing tasks that they never dreamed they could do. Accountants, electricians, engineers working in operating theatres (stressful enough for those who do it daily) in trying conditions, all to help restore sight to people they had never met. 10 years on I continue to be amazed at the dedication and tireless efforts of AHHA who continue to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Vietnam and now Cambodia. I have had the joy of seeing the effect of the team’s efforts in restoring site to those who have been blind for many years. On our last trip I particularly recall one of our volunteers showing a gentleman a photo of himself after his surgery and realising that this was probably the first time he had seen himself for many years. My name is Troy Lim Joon. I am one of the many ophthalmic surgeons who are fortunate enough to have been invited to help over the last 10 years. For those that don’t know me, I’m normally the one sitting on the corner operating table, mask on and looking a little tired! Other times I would be the one asleep at the back of the bus. You may have also seen me with camera in hand wandering through the clinics or along the streets looking for a photo opportunity. There are rumours I may have also made a karaoke appearance at one of the farewell dinners. I am a third generation Australian of Chinese descent having grown up and trained in Melbourne. I have both a private ophthalmic practice but also teach and work in the public hospital system, being the current Director of Ophthalmology at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. I continue to look forward to helping AHHA achieve its goals of restoring eyesight to the poor and to help the local doctors achieve the skills and organization to be self sufficient in the future.
Newsletter • Issue 17 • July - December 2017 | 27
Volunteer Profile:
Dr Linda Mai Duong Hi my name is Linda Mai Duong and this is my story. The fall of South Vietnam to the communist regime of the North on the 30th of April 1975 forced my family to flee from the securities and comfort of our homeland that we loved to seek asylum. My father was a high ranking officer for the South Vietnamese government and staying behind would mean persecution and even death. Our family were offered asylum by plane to America but we chose to leave by boat so that my mum could bring all her younger siblings under her care with her as both her parents died when she was just 20 years old. At the last minute my dad was able to organise for our family and my mum’s siblings to board the ship named Truong Xuan. We left our home with just the clothes on our backs and some food on the 30/4/1975. As the ship set sailed, I could remember vividly seeing the tears in my dad’s eyes as he showed us the army tanks invading the city of Saigon; I was just 10 years old. We were on the treacherous seas for two days with over 4000 passengers packed like sardines and with hardly any food or water, we were dying of thirst and starvation .The final blow was that the ship had hit rocks which caused damage to the walls of the
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ship, it was sinking, and our fate was doomed. My dad was in tears because he felt guilty that he may have caused the deaths of his family. Distress calls were sent out and our prayers were answered; we were rescued by a Denmark container ship and once everyone boarded we could see the Truong Xuan sinking into the depths of the ocean. We were brought to the Hong Kong detention centre for temporary asylum. Our family including all of my mum’s siblings arrived in Sydney Australia in June 1975 as the first 200 Vietnamese refugees to be granted permanent resettlement by the Australian government. Our family lost everything but what we gained was much more precious and that is our freedom. Life in a new country as a Vietnamese refugee in 1975 was difficult especially when you are different and could not speak the language. From a life of luxury back home, my parents had to work in a factory. They suffered discrimination from a few ignorant people and we were bullied at school. However we are so grateful and we thank the Lord that we are in this great country called Australia, we were given the opportunity to study and be successful. The choice I had between pursuing a career in medicine and dentistry was
influenced by my mum. She had always told me of her suffering of dental pain as a child when her single mum could not afford dental treatment because the family was left in financial ruin when her dad passed away suddenly when she was just 12 years old. The pain was so intense that she would hit her head against the wall to try to get rid of the pain, which is why she always wanted me to be a dentist so that I can help so many people. My mum had always been my inspiration; I studied hard and graduated with Honours with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Sydney in 1989. I have a successful dental practice with my husband who is also a dentist and am happily married with two children. In 2010, when the opportunity to work
OUR VOLUNTEERS
as a volunteer dentist for VVPA (now known as AHHA) was available, my husband and I were excited to join the team to work in Vietnam to treat those who are less fortunate, and since then we have been on subsequent trips with VVPA . We even had the opportunity to take our children and mum on the last mission to Ca Mau in Vietnam. We wanted our children to see how lucky and fortunate they are. We have always enjoyed working as a volunteers; my mum was so proud to see her dreams realised by seeing her daughter relieving the pain of the underprivileged children. This year was my first mission to Cambodia working with AHHA and I would have to say that this is the most rewarding and memorable experience. I was able to work in a
clinical environment provided by the University of Puthisastra which enable me to perform the best dental treatment for the patients which I’m sure has made an impact on their quality of life. I was also able to teach and impart my clinical skills and knowledge to the Cambodian dental students. This mission was also an emotional one as I can relate on the personal level of some of the patients by seeing their living conditions and hearing their personal stories, especially one of a little boy named Khang that I treated. Khang is just 4 years old; he does not go to school because he has to collect cans to help his family. His dental condition was poor; he has never been to a dentist. I was able to perform all the required treatment for him and to
my surprise, he was so adorable and co-operative. Working with these poor children and being able to treat and relieve their pain makes me happy, it is such an indescribable rewarding experience. My areas of interest have always been Paediatric and Cosmetic Dentistry. I just love working with children and restoring people’s smile so they can gain confidence. Working as a volunteer with AHHA is like being a part of a big family, everyone is friendly, welcoming, and hard working. I love being part of the team and I would highly recommend anyone interested in being a volunteer to join the AHHA team. Helping those who are less fortunate is such a rewarding experience that you will never forget.
Newsletter • Issue 17 • July - December 2017 | 29
Volunteer Profiles:
South Australian Dental Team Writer Mr Ted Mlynarz & Dr Oanh Ha
Australian Health Humanitarian Aid (AHHA) volunteers come from all parts of Australia. The three volunteers in the photo are members of the Dental Team from Adelaide, South Australia. Dr Oanh Ha has now participated in 6 field trips, Dr Ryan Cornish has been twice while Dr Trudy Lin has now experienced her first trip and surely not the last.
Dr Oanh HA – AHHA’s South Australian representative, completed her Bachelor of Dental Surgery at the University of Adelaide in 1999 and has worked in both the private and public sectors. She has worked in clinical tutoring from 2007 to 2012 at Adelaide University teaching dental students from years 3, 4 and 5 in general dental practice stream. Oanh became interested in in special needs dentistry and in 2013 was fortunate enough to join the Special Needs Unit and work at the Adelaide Dental Hospital treating medically compromised and disability patients. Dr Ha has been an AHHA volunteer for 6 years and has undertaken as many field trips where she treats dental patients of all ages and backgrounds, in particular, special needs children. She considers herself fortunate to be part of the team and to have the opportunity to serve the disadvantaged.
Dr Trudy LIN – is a General Dental Practitioner with an interest in Special Needs Dentistry. Following acceptance into the special needs post-graduate programme will start training in 2018. Dr Lin works in the public sector mainly treating special needs patients. She also provides her time to teach 2nd year dental students at the University of Adelaide, her experiences on the recent AHHA field trip should provide invaluable information for the students. The 2017 AHHA field trip was Dr Lin’s and she will be welcome on any future trips in which she wishes to participate.
Dr Ryan CORNISH – works in private practice in Adelaide. He completed his Bachelor of Dental Surgery and Masters in Adelaide and trained in Oral Surgery in the UK. He enjoys academia and has taught at the University of Adelaide as a Senior Dental officer for SADS (General Practice and Special Needs) as well as in Tasmania as the Acting Clinical Director of OHST. Dr Cornish has been a volunteer with AHHA for 2 years and has participated on the last 2 field trips. He enjoys collecting wine, quizzes, travel and has been known to belt out some great karaoke performances.
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OUR VOLUNTEERS
Thank You 2017 Field Trip Volunteers Writer Ms Stephanie Wong
AHHA wishes to thank each and everyone of our 2017 humanitarian field trip volunteers. We are most grateful for your commitment, compassion and generosity which contributed to another great successful mission. It takes enormous commitment, personal sacrifice and of course great leadership and teamwork to make each mission successful. Dr Eduardo Alcaino
Dr Son Huynh
Mr Van Tay Nguyen
Dr Dien Tran
Ms Stephanie Alcaino
Dr Tess Huynh
Dr Chinh Nguyen
Dr Albert Tran
Ms Tanya Anh-Tuan
Mst Luke Huynh
Ms Emily Nguyen
Dr Henry Tran
Ms Alison Baum
Mst Mathew Huynh
Dr Diep Nguyen
Dr Ha Tran
Ms Helena Born
Dr Duong Huynh
Ms Christine Nguyen
Mst Alfred Tran
Mr Ian Brookes
Mr Peter Kandasamy
Dr Linda Mai Nguyen
Miss Anglina Tran
Ms Megan Broughton
Ms Anh Kieu
Dr Phuong Anh Nguyen
Mst Nathan Tran
Mr Joshep Cauchi
Ms Cindy Kim
Dr Tuan Nguyen
Ms Chantelle Tran
Ms Socheata Chea
Ms Jenny Le
Mr John Nguyen
Mrs Ha Tran
Dr Jen Cheah
Ms Anh Le
Ms Thuy Nguyen
Mr Michael Man Tran
Dr Juliana Chong
Dr Ivy Le
Miss Isabella Nguyen
Ms My Linh Tran
Mrs Alison Chong
Dr Minh Luan Le
Mst Thomas Nguyen
Dr Minh The Tran
Ms Donna Corcoran
Ms Amanda Le
Dr Tho Pham
Mrs Helen Tran
Dr Ryan Cornish
Mr James Leahy
Dr Thomas Pham
Mrs Hang Tran
Mr Loc Cung
Ms Andrea Lee
Miss Felicity Pham
Dr Hung Tran
Miss Alexandria Cung
Dr Troy Lim-Joon
Ms Bareen Pordily
Dr Hien Tran
Ms Amanda Cunningham
Dr Trudy Lin
Ms Tu Quyen Quach
Ms My Phung Tran
Mr Dan Dang
Dr Benjamin Lincoln
Ms Joane Rehe
Mr Victor Tran
Ms Maria Dang
Dr Lance Liu
Dr Loren Rose
Dr Teresa Tran
Dr Hung Duong
Dr Rex Martin
Dr Carolyn Ross
Dr William Trinh
Dr Kevin Foo
Ms Shelley Marx
Mr Shaun Rust
Ms Trinh Truong
Dr Oanh Ha
Dr James Mitchell
Dr Nisha Sachdev
Dr Thanh Truong
Mr Glen Hale
Mr Ted Mlynarz
Dr Michael Shiu
Dr Khanh-Tien Truong
Mr Charles Hilli
Ms Marie Myers
Dr Michael Stefanescu
Dr Phung Vu
Ms Trudy Ho
Miss Kelly Ng
Ms Lyzar Sun
Ms Stephanie Wong
Dr Michael Tuan Ho
Dr Phuc Ngo
Ms Barbara Taylor
Dr Patrick Wong
Mst Jayden Ho
Dr James Ngo
Dr Daniel Tran
Dr David Worsnop
Mr Bang Hoang
Ms Ku Ngov
Ms Deanne Tran
Ms Bijana Zjajic
Ms Jane Howard
Ms Siv Ngov
Ms Bich Phuong Tran
All volunteers pay for their own expenses including airfares, accommodation, transportation and meals.
Newsletter • Issue 17 • July - December 2017 | 31
NEWSLETTER No 6 – Dec 2017 “Volunteer Disaster” AHHA volunteers, Dr Tuan (Michael) Ho and Dr Khanh-Tien Truong, both from Brisbane, arrived home from the 2017 Field Trip to Cambodia and Vietnam to find that the Inala Centre where their medical and optometry practices are located had been destroyed by fire. AHHA management, volunteers and friends express their thoughts of support to both in respect to this unfortunate event.
Volunteer Disaster
Dr Ho demonstrating water filters in Vietnam
Writer Mr Ted Mlynarz
Dr Truong (centre) screening patients in Cambodia
AHHA volunteers, Dr Tuan (Michael) Ho and Dr Khanh-Tien Truong, both from Brisbane, arrived home from the 2017 Field Trip to Cambodia and Vietnam to find that the Inala Centre where their medical and optometry practices are located had been destroyed by fire. AHHA management, volunteers and friends express their thoughts of support to both in respect to this unfortunate event.
Acknowledgement
BOC Instruments Writer Dr William Trinh
AHHA would like to acknowledge the support & generous donation of a Slit Lamp biomicroscope by Mr Tony Consentino who is the managing director of BOC Instruments in May 2017.
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OUR VOLUNTEERS
Thank You Khmer Sight Foundation Volunteers Writer Ms Stephanie Wong
We would like to especially acknowledge the support of Mr Sean Ngu of Khmer Sight Foundation (KSF), Prof Meng Nguy of Khmer Soviet Friendship Hospital, Prof callum Durward of Puthisatra University, all KSF and medical student volunteers. Their enthusiasm & assistance was invaluable. Together we have accomplished wonderful life changing work for so many impoverished Cambodians during the 2017 mission.
Congratulations
NEWS
Dr Hung The Tran Writer Dr William Trinh Dr Hung The Tran is AHHA’s deputy dental team leader and has been our volunteer for many years. Dr Hung Tran has recently been elected the president of Australian Vietnamese Health Professionals Association (AVHPA) in NSW. We congratulate and wish him all the best with his new position.
Congratulations
Billy Cheng Writer Ms Stephanie Wong
Congratulations to Billy Cheng (Trinh) for receiving Redland’s Wark Award for Service. Under his Service Captain’s leadership, over $55,000 (one of the highest on record) was raised this year by the school for various charities. William has always been a very strong advocate for AHHA’s humanitarian cause and has organised annual school sausage sizzle fundraisers for AHHA the last 5 years.
SBS Interview
Dr William Trinh Listen to Dr William Trinh’s interview with SBS Radio in Vietnamese at www.ahha.org.au
Newsletter • Issue 17 • July - December 2017 | 33
NEWS
Update
Good News 3 Years Later Writer Dr Hien Tran
With Christmas approaching in late December 2014, we came across the case of a young baby boy, NHL of Quang Nam, Vietnam, born with Ventricular Septal Defect (congenital hole in the heart). At the time, the baby’s health was deteriorating rapidly and he was in need of urgent medical attention and a life-saving operation. A number of AHHA volunteers and AHHA management committee decided to help this child. Plans were quickly put in action to organise appropriate medical care, and to raise enough money (AUD $2,600) to cover the cost of the operation and post-op nutritional support. All waited with abated breath when the baby entered the operating theatre.
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Big sigh of relief were expressed all round when he emerged from the operating theatre and the operation was successful. A life was saved. Three years later, we follow up on NHL. He is now a young boy full of curiosity, and we are happy to report that he is healthy and doing well. In addition to providing life-changing cataract surgeries and dental treatments, the AHHA organisation is also active in lending a helpful hand to support humanitarian work when the need arises. We all wish NHL to have continued good health and a bright future ahead. Well done team AHHA!
Royal Visit at Fundraising Dinners His Royal Highness, Prince Sisowath Tesso graciously accepted an invitation to visit Australia and attend the two Australian Health Humanitarian Aid (AHHA) formal annual fundraising dinners, one in Sydney, the other in Melbourne. The Prince’s association with AHHA is due to his involvement with the Khmer Sight Foundation, our working partner in Cambodia. Arriving on his first ever visit to Australia, the Prince touched down in Sydney on Wednesday 24 May 2017 to commence a very busy itinerary. His first official appointment was to be a guest at the luncheon meeting of the Rotary Club of Liverpool West, Satellite Club. Later that evening the Prince was invited to attend an unofficial dinner function with members of the AHHA management team.
In both cities, the Prince visited Cambodian temples, mixed with the Cambodian communities and was able to get in some sight-seeing. A visit to Canberra was also arranged. Australian Health Humanitarian Aid (AHHA) held a formal annual fundraising dinner at the Crystal Palace Reception Centre in Canley Vale, Sydney on Friday 26th May 2017, this event attracted plenty of enthusiasm from volunteers, supporters and the general public. This year, the Victorian volunteers organised and hosted a fundraising dinner at the San Remo Ballroom in Carlton North, Melbourne on Saturday 27th May 2017.
FUNDRAISING Writer Mr Ted Mlynarz
Dance which is recognised for its ornate costumes. Prince Tesso is the Director of the Royal Ballet of Cambodia. The “Crowns” were auctioned at each dinner and attracted some enthusiastic bidding, providing much needed funds for field trip undertaken in August 2017. The Prince involved himself with formalities at both dinners, welcomed guests and presented sponsors, supporters and entertainers with gifts of appreciation for their support and performances. Some informal “fun” activities were also undertaken.
Prince Sisowath Tesso was Guest of Honour at both dinners. The Prince donated two “Apsara Crowns” which are tradition Cambodian headpieces worn during performances of the Apsara
Newsletter • Issue 17 • July - December 2017 | 35
Fundraising Activities Writer Mr Ted Mlynarz
“Generosity Comes From Within” For many years Australian Health Humanitarian Aid (AHHA) has been supported by donations from sponsors, supporters, regular donors, service providers and the community. The generous donations have enabled the work of AHHA to continue and provide some relief to those suffering from cataract, medical and dental conditions as well as those, particularly the poor and disadvantaged affected by natural disasters such as severe floods, earthquakes, typhoons and bushfires. Assistance has been provided in countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Nepal, Philippines and Australia. This year AHHA concentrated on distributing water filtering systems to provide clean water to villagers, in both Cambodia and Vietnam, affected by severe monsoon flooding and due to remoteness, clean water for human consumption was not available. Several fundraising events are conducted by AHHA throughout the year. During 2017 events were held in Sydney and Melbourne, these included regular entertainment and BBQ’s held in Freedom Plaza, Cabramatta as well as participation in
the Cabramatta Moon Festival, an extremely popular annual event organised by the Fairfield City Council. In Melbourne, AHHA volunteers participated in the Khmer Lunar Festival and the Khmer New Year celebrations in Springvale and continue to raise funds through community awareness and public education activities. A volunteer from Adelaide and a few from Sydney, travelled to Melbourne to assist. The Cambodian and Vietnamese communities in Melbourne were very supportive and generous, the Melbourne volunteers continue to work hard to ensure continued success. The AHHA annual dinner in Sydney is a major fundraising event and attracts several hundred supporters who are extremely generous with their donations and with become aware that their contributions and donations will provide medical, dental and humanitarian assistance to those most in need. AHHA’s Victorian volunteers arranged a fundraising dinner which was also well attended and a very entertaining and successful event. Both dinners were honoured with the presence of Prince Tesso Sisowath of Cambodia who visited Australia with the specific
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Redlands Fundraising purpose of attending the dinners and helping with fundraising. On Sunday the 25th June 2017 the Quan Nho Ban Ngheo (NBN) charity group conducted one of their monthly lunches with proceeds from this day going to AHHA. The contribution and support from the NBN group is very much appreciated. Fundraising events continue to be organised to enable AHHA volunteers to travel overseas to help the disadvantaged as well as provide the necessary resources such as equipment and medication. It should be noted that funding raised is directed toward the work of AHHA, all volunteers participating in events in Australia and on the annual field trip pay for their own travel and accommodation. AHHA is proudly supported by the Rotary Club of Liverpool West and the project is registered with Rotary Australia Community Services (Project No 14/2008-09). Online donations can be made through the AHHA website www. AHHA.org.au Click on “Donate Now” and proceed accordingly. Donations over $2.00 are tax deductable.
Writer Mr Billy Cheng On Thursday the 15th of June, the fifth annual BBQ fundraiser for Australian Health Humanitarian Aid (AHHA) was held at Redland’s Senior School Campus in Sydney. The total raised was $894.35 (sales + donations), a fantastic result and every cent has been donated to this great charity towards this year’s annual field trip to Cambodia & Vietnam in August. I would like to thank the Redlands community for continued support. Ms Coleman, the school service coordinator for making this annual event possible, Mr and Mrs Loveridge for organising the BBQ and drinks, AHHA volunteers and Rotarians: Mr Ted Mylnarz, Mr Jim Leahy and Mum for coming out to lend a helping hand, and of course fellow Year 12 student volunteers: Tom MacDonald, Lewis Rae-Carrol and Ben Price. Special thanks to Redlands, Mr Ted Mlynarz and my parents for sponsoring this event. Thank you to Ted for taking the pictures.
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Sydne Melbo Fundra Dinn
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We need your help! Our mission would not be possible without the generous donations from our valued donors. Your donations will help us to provide life changing cataract surgeries, vital dental treatments, medical & dental supplies, medicines, education sponsorships, school supplies, food packages, water filters and more to those in need.
Donate today to help us give sight to change lives! Donations over $2 are tax deductible. Donation forms are available online at: www.ahha.org.au/forms/ or see page 38 of this newsletter.
We thank you for your support.