An article from Murray Verso, Williamstown Rotary
Through Interplast, Rotary supports lifesaving surgery and training of staff in Asia and the Pacific region. Around 28,000 surgeries and 15,000 training sessions have been performed since the partnership was formed in 1983. You and your club can change a life today and benefit that person’s community for years to come.
Ngawang tells Interplast ambassador and program observer Sam Squires about her injury, experiences and treatment with Interplast
When Ngawang was just seven years old, her life changed in an instant when she accidentally spilled boiling water on her chest and hands. Over the next three years, Ngawang became socially isolated and endured countless hospital visits, but what she desperately needed was specialist reconstructive surgery, that wasn’t available in the region of Bhutan where she lived.
In some countries, when a child experiences a burns injury, it can be fatal. The rate of survival is significantly lower than that of a child in Australia. This is simply because they don’t have the same medical resources and specialist care. Thankfully, an Interplast surgical team arrived in Bhutan and was able to assess Ngawang’s injuries. After surgery, and some ongoing hand therapy Ngawang’s mobility has improved. While she will need more surgeries to regain full use of her hand, her future has been restored. She has rejoined her soccer team, and her family have noticed her mood lift and her smile return.
Ngawang’s story is another triumph for Interplast’s work of repairing bodies and rebuilding lives.
However, there are still hundreds more children desperately waiting for surgeries in parts of Asia and the Pacific region and that is why we need your help. Your support can help another child waiting for surgery to reclaim their future. On average, an Interplast operation costs just AUD1,500. Your Rotary Club can help Interplast change a life. Donate today here: Donate Now! | Interplast Australia Interplast Australia & New Zealand
If you would like to learn more about how you can support the life changing work of Interplast, or your club would like a presentation, please contact Interplast company member:
PDG Murray Verso
Email: Murray.Verso@rotary9800.org
Mobile: 0417 595 217
Email: Murray.Verso@rotary9800.org
Mobile: 0417 595 217
Left: Ngawang, Sonam and Michael, post-surgery - April 2025 Right: Megan Fitzgerald helps Ngawang splint her fingers after surgery