IMHO ENewsletter #29 November 2011

International Medical Health Organization (IMHO) Issue: #29

November 2011

In This Issue Continuing to Rebuild Lives in Sri Lanka

Jaffna Hospital NICU Video & Update

Opening of Jaffna Cancer Education & Counseling Centre

Empowering Female Trishaw Drivers in Sri Lanka Official Website of the 9th Annual IMHO Convention Past IMHO Events Upcoming IMHO Events

Quick Links: Recent Reports Empowering Marginalized Women in Sri Lanka as Trishaw Drivers Gondar University Hospital Surgical Textbook Appeal Rebuilding Haiti: Serving the Health and Education Needs in Petit-Goave Introduction to the Sanford Health World Clinics Program Pediatric Services in Jaffna and Need for a NICU Unit Rebuilding Livelihoods in Sri Lanka: An Appeal Profiles of War-Affected Families in Sri Lanka Education and Empowerment of Deaf Youth in Ethiopia 2011 Annual Souvenir

Our Continuing Commitment to Rebuilding Lives in Sri Lanka In an ongoing effort to serve those in Sri Lanka most deeply affected by the war and working towards rebuilding the health care infrastructure in the region, we are proud to share a number of recent accomplishments with you, including the following: 1) Provided catheters for cardiac catheterization at the Jaffna Cardiac Centre, ultimately benefiting an estimated 500 patients at a cost of $5,000. Since

Profiles of War-Affected Families in Sri Lanka Education and Empowerment of Deaf Youth in Ethiopia 2011 Annual Souvenir Program Report on the Needs of Resettled Persons and Others in Sri Lanka Status of Vavuniya General Hospital Health Needs across Eastern Sri Lanka In Service of Humanity: Global Outreach of IMHO 2011 Update on Completed IMHO Efforts Maternal-Fetal Nutrition: Laying the Groundwork for a Lifetime of Health Point Pedro Base Hospital: National Health Excellence Award 2010 All Previous IMHO eNewsletters

1) Provided catheters for cardiac catheterization at the Jaffna Cardiac Centre, ultimately benefiting an estimated 500 patients at a cost of $5,000. Since opening in July 2011, more than 100 catheterizations have been performed for patients from the Northern and Eastern Provinces (25% of patients are transferred from Batticaloa).

2) Ongoing support for mobile clinics operated by Moolai Hospital ($2,000) 3) Bone marrow biopsy needles for the Jaffna Teaching Hospital ($500) 4) Ongoing support the Jaffna Diabetic Center, including a multimedia projector, air conditioning unit, and biothesometer ($3,520) 5) Pneumatic calf compressor and cuffs to prevent deep vein thrombosis following surgeries at the Oncology Unit of the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital ($3,900) 6) Various livelihoods and microcredit projects in Kilinochchi, benefiting 15 families. Included in these efforts is the establishment of an incubator to hatch chickens, which can hatch up to 144 chicks every 21 days and is able to withstand power cuts for up to 3 days! ($3,500)

Update on the Jaffna Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Development Follow IMHO on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, & GuideStar!

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Since our last e-newsletter, we have seen a flurry of support for the establishment of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, which is a really exciting development. We still have a long way to go in bringing this important facility to fruition though, and we hope you will continue to join us in making this a reality. At present we've collected approximately $32,745, which puts us well on the way to reaching our goal of $70,000 for the second phase of this project. Let's keep up the momentum and make this facility a reality! For those that have not yet seen the short documentary highlighting the state of pediatric services in Jaffna and the plans for developing the NICU, please click the video below to watch and learn more:

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Quick Links: IMHO Website Popular Pages Homepage History, Mission & Vision Picture Galleries IMHO in the News Blog Donate Recent Events

Opening of the Cancer Education and Counseling Centre at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital The Cancer Education and Counseling Centre at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital was formally opened on October 10th, 2011, marking an important step in addressing issues of cancer care throughout Northern Sri Lanka. Dr. Jeyakumaran, Consultant Oncologist, was on-hand for the opening ceremony to inaugurate the new facility. The center has impressive tele-conferencing capabilities, which will provide a great boost to the impact of the services offered by connecting with cancer centers abroad. This will allow for expert views and second opinions for difficult cases to be given and ensure the highest quality care possible. A few IMHO supporters from the US were also at the event to partake in the ceremony and give a short speech.

Empowering Marginalized Women in Sri Lanka as Trishaw Drivers In an effort to help empower marginalized women from various disadvantaged backgrounds, IMHO has lent its support to a livelihoods project in providing training and a trishaw (or "3-wheeler") to a number of women. This project was initially orchestrated and launched earlier this year by the Women's Education and Research Centre (www.wercsl.org), a Sri Lankabased organization committed to realizing gender equality and equity.

The first few phases of this project have already been completed, but perhaps the most important part of the project (providing trishaws to the now trained women drivers) has not yet materialized. We are seeking donors to support this final stage of the project. Of the total 12 trishaws that are needed, funds for just two have been provided to-date with pledges for a few more recently being secured.

However, we still need more donors to step forward and help fill this void. The beneficiaries will repay the cost of these trishaws to the local organization (WERC) from 50% of their earnings until the debt is paid off in order for more women to benefit from this same program later. You can read the appeal with more details of the project on our website at http://www.theimho.org/field-

now trained women drivers) has not yet materialized. We are seeking donors to support this final stage of the project. Of the total 12 trishaws that are needed, funds for just two have been provided to-date with pledges for a few more recently being secured. However, we still need more donors to step forward and help fill this void. The beneficiaries will repay the cost of these trishaws to the local organization (WERC) from 50% of their earnings until the debt is paid off in order for more women to benefit from this same program later. You can read the appeal with more details of the project on our website at http://www.theimho.org/field-news/field-reports/370empowering-women-trishaw-drivers

Check out the Official Website of the 9th Annual IMHO Convention (Toronto--2012)!

We are very excited to announce that the 9th Annual IMHO Convention is being held this coming April 27th & 28th, 2012 in Toronto, Canada. Guests from around the world will be joining us to discuss and share how we can better serve communities in need. All the event details will be updated regularly on the special event website at www.IMHOAnnualConvention.com. You can register for the event, buy tickets, and find all the information you need to join us in Toronto.

Come learn how you can get involved and become a change-maker for good!

Past IMHO Events Family Farm Day in Ohio Raises $18K+ Congratulations to the Ohio Chapter of IMHO for another successful fundraiser, which was held on Sunday, October 9th in Lebanon, Ohio. The weather was excellent, and the guests really enjoyed the train ride and the farm adventure. The total for all donations and pledges currently stands at an incredible $18,285! Thanks to everyone who attended and generously contributed, and a special big thanks to the organizers for their commitment and compassion.

90th Birthday Celebration Brings Hope to Resettled Families Ramalingam Nadarajah, who hails from Kantharmadam, Jaffna and currently resides in Wellington, New Zealand, turned 90 years of age in August 2011. To mark this occasion, his children Muruganantham, Vivekananthan, Paramananthan who live in Melbourne, Australia), Ketheeswaran (who lives in Texas) and Gowri Narendra (who lives in Wellington, New Zealand) have so far collected more than $15,287 to support microcredit and livelihoods empowerment efforts in Sri Lanka.

His children had this to say: "We left Sri Lanka due to the ethnic conflict and the ensuing civil war.

Similarly, in the aftermath of the civil war there are large numbers of Tamil people in the northeast of Sri Lanka who are experiencing continued economic and un-told physical hardship. Our father dedicated most part of his 'working life' seeking to improve the quality of the lives of the people in his community. Thus, on the occasion of his 90th birthday and in recognition of his commitment to humanitarian work, we decided to contribute funds towards IMHO's microcredit efforts. It is our wish that these funds will be utilized to assist in the economic and social advancement of the beneficiaries..."

Dinner to Help Rebuild Lives Held in West Virginia Thanks to our volunteers and all attendees who made it out to the event on November 12th in Charleston. With your attendance and generosity, we collected more than $1,300 to help assist war-affected families in Sri Lanka.

Upcoming IMHO Events ***"Ideas 2 Impact": San Francisco 2011*** WHEN: Saturday, December 10th, 2011 from 6:30-10:30pm WHERE: pariSOMA Innovation Loft, 169 11th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 RSVP: Click HERE to register for this event!

Mingle with students and young professionals who share an interest in humanitarian work. Hear about the incredible work that IMHO does in Sri Lanka and beyond. Participate in a unique brainstorming session in which your talents/interests are matched with specfic humanitarian

***"Ideas 2 Impact": San Francisco 2011*** WHEN: Saturday, December 10th, 2011 from 6:30-10:30pm WHERE: pariSOMA Innovation Loft, 169 11th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 RSVP: Click HERE to register for this event!

Mingle with students and young professionals who share an interest in humanitarian work. Hear about the incredible work that IMHO does in Sri Lanka and beyond. Participate in a unique brainstorming session in which your talents/interests are matched with specfic humanitarian needs, to generate innovate projects that come to life with the IMHO's support. After the event, continue working with the IMHO and like-minded attendees to translate your ideas into real impact overseas. FREE DINNER AND DRINKS WILL BE PROVIDED! Please RSVP today! Visit the special event website today for more details: www.ideas2impact.org ***Haiti Benefit for Ecole Village Lucina*** WHAT: Dr. Henri Gerard Desgranges Foundation Benefit for Ecole Village Lucina in Petit-Goave, Haiti WHEN: Saturday, December 10th, 2011 WHERE: The Desgrottes Residence, The Kalahari, Suite B309, New York City, NY RSVP: Please send an email to Dr. Tania Desgrottes at taniad@hgdfoundation.org You are cordially invited to attend an evening of elegance, enchantment, and cultural exchange.

A journey to Haiti through inspirational song, storytelling and visual arts. There will be a silent auction. Hors d'oeuvres, wine, beer and spirits will be served. All proceeds will benefit the Ecole Village Lucina in Petit-Goave, Haiti. ***Online Shopping Campaign*** WHEN: Now! This is an ongoing campaign taking place online.

WHERE: Go to http://cafegive.com/?cause=IMHO WHAT: Now you can make purchases from your favorite online stores and earn money for IMHO! Simply login to cafegive.com and shop your favorite stores...Target, Barnes & Noble, Expedia, Macy's, Home Depot, iTunes, and hundreds more. A percentage of all your purchases will go back to IMHO. Just use the following link and start shopping today!:http://www.cafegive.com/?cause=IMHO ***SAVE THE DATE: 9th Annual IMHO Convention*** WHEN: Friday, April 27th and Saturday, April 28th, 2012 WHERE: New Jaasmin Banquet Hall, 90 Nolan Court, Toronto, ON, Canada All volunteers, donors, supporters, and team members of the IMHO family of organizations (including IMHO USA, IMHO Canada, IMHO Lanka, and IMHO European Union) are invited to attend our annual convention! Find all the event details and register/buy tickets today on our special event website at www.IMHOAnnualConvention.com. ***IMHO Canada Greeting Card Sales*** IMHO Canada is pleased to offer greeting cards designed by Sri Lankan youth whereby all profits will benefit youth in Sri Lanka. Each pack of colorfully designed cards comes with 10 cards and envelopes for just $5! Or you can order 5 packs for just $20. To order, simply email the IMHO Programs Coordinator at programs@imhocanada.org and give the details of your order.

The cards can either be picked up at the IMHO Canada office or can be mailed to you. If you are picking the cards up at the IMHO Canada office, simply bring a cheque or cash as payment. If you prefer to have the cards mailed to you, please make a donation online HERE and make

sure to include $5 extra for shipping. In either case, please coordinate in advance with the IMHO Canada Programs Coordinator by email or phone.

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During this crucial time in Sri Lanka and around the world, as we face monumental challenges in providing better access to quality medical and health care for those most at-risk populations, we need YOUR HELP now more than ever. With just $1/day (or $30/month) you can help save and improve lives in Sri Lanka and elsewhere. Please consider making a donation to IMHO today. You can donate online via PayPal as a one-time or recurring donation (the amount & frequency of which are up to you).

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