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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-05-01 Daily Xml
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HEALTHCARE OUTREACH PROGRAM

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (15:46): I rise today to speak about the SAH Healthcare Outreach program. This program started in 1986 when a group of medical practitioners travelled to Tonga to help the local community. These volunteers performed surgeries to assist locals who were affected by cleft lip and palates and cardiac conditions. Over the past 25 years the Outreach program has grown to include other countries, including Rwanda, Mongolia, Fiji and Nepal. The program has also expanded to include gynaecological procedures, ophthalmology and operating on burn scar contractures.

The World Health Organisation estimates that Nepal has the highest number of burns-related injuries in the world due to the prevalence of cooking with campfires, kerosene lamps and open flames. If left untreated burns develop into contractures, which result in the skin thickening and tightening. This in turn can cause a disability to the burn victim, as the use and movement of their limbs is restricted.

In March 2013 a team of 25 doctors and nurses from around Australia travelled to the small Nepalese town of Banepa, approximately 26 kilometres east of Kathmandu. As well as entirely self-funding their trip, the team was able to raise enough money and support to send over an entire container full of supplies, food, clothing, gifts and medical equipment, including operating tables and anaesthetic machines.

The preparation for these trips begins well in advance of the team's arrival. A local coordinator visits neighbouring towns and villages throughout the year to find candidates who may be considered suitable for surgery. Consideration of the suitability is always whether the patient's quality of life would be improved rather than achieving a purely cosmetic outcome. Quality of life can be enhanced by surgery through improved economic prospects and self-confidence. Those who are considered suitable are photographed and their picture sent to Australia for evaluation.

Shortlisted candidates travel to Banepa to await the arrival of the team from Australia and are reviewed again and medically tested. If deemed suitable, surgery is booked and begins the second day the team arrives. This trip saw 77 patients reviewed by the team and 52 operations performed in 10 days. The patient's travel, accommodation, hospital stay, surgery, recovery and follow-up is entirely financially covered by the team, and costs approximately $1,000 per burns victim. Without these charges being met, the cost of surgery would be unaffordable in a country where more than half the population of 30 million live on less than $1.25 per day.

In addition to performing surgery, the trips provide an opportunity to work with the local medical community to teach and improve their skills. The staff at Scheer Memorial Hospital, which hosts the annual visit, look forward to the opportunity to work with the Australian team, and the teaching has proven to be so successful that all cleft lip and palate surgery is now performed by local doctors. Educational lectures are also conducted, which have proven popular with local medical staff. Over the years the hospital has also been improved by the supplies and equipment donated.

One of the members of the team which travelled to Nepal was Dr Rebecca Wyten. After completing her science degree in her hometown of Adelaide, Rebecca travelled to Sydney to undertake her medical degree before heading to New York to participate in a surgical oncology residency. Rebecca returned to Sydney to begin six years of training in plastics and general surgery. During this period, she became interested in giving back to the community and became involved in the outreach program.

Rebecca was the first person to be accepted into the program as a junior. Dr Wyten has now finished her accredited training as a plastic surgeon and continues to travel to Nepal as a senior surgeon. Dr Wyten particularly credits her mentor, Dr David Pennington, for his assistance and support of the project as well as her personal involvement.

Anyone interested in supporting this very worthwhile program can make a donation online at www.sah.org.au or by phoning 1300 034 357.

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