Rotary Hoppers Crossing's International Committee have recently completed an exciting project that will help provide a better standard of health care for hospitalised patients in three African countries; Ghana, Uganda, and Nigeria. The project has involved sending high-quality surgical instruments to health clinics and hospitals in the 3 African countries. The first very important step in the project involved the collection of high-quality medical instruments from hospitals as part of a replacement policy by the Health Department. A key component in the project involved the transfer and then storage of the instruments at Donations in Kind. Transportation of the instruments from Donations in Kind was then undertaken by Rotarians who had attended the 2023 Rotary International Conference in Melbourne, or by a container destined for Ghana. A number of instruments were then handed to representatives from the 3 local Rotary Clubs for distribution to a medical clinic or to a hospital in the recipient country.
The medical instruments include scissors, clamps, needle holders, and other assorted items which are in regular use in Medical Clinics and Hospitals. Support for contacting visiting Rotarians at the International Conference was also provided by members of the Wyndham rotary cluster clubs.
To date, 9 packages and a semi-container load of surgical instruments have been donated to hospitals in 3 African countries (Ghana - 1 package, Uganda - 3 packages and Nigeria - 5 Packages). Feedback for the project has been very positive. President Komla Nyaletey from the Rotary Club of Accra - Ring Road Central stated that the staff from the Medical Clinic in Brekusothe Eastern Region of Ghana were very grateful and appreciative of the donation of the medical instruments. Correspondence received from Rotarian Ekele Ochiabuto also expressed their appreciation for the medical instruments that were donated to the Federal Medical Centre in Umuahio, Nigeria. Participants in this project have said that they were very grateful and appreciative of the surgical instruments donation and thanked the Rotary Club of Hoppers Crossing for organizing the donation. The Rotary Club of Nsangi was also actively involved in the transportation of medical instruments to the Kasanje and the Nakawuku Health Centres in Uganda.
The President of Rotary Nsangi, Kato Ssamba, also indicated that they were very grateful for the generous donation of medical instruments. Dr George Dade, the International Chair of the Rotary Club of Hoppers Crossing said that this was an ideal project for the Hoppers Crossing as it was low cost and had the potential to make a big difference to the health and well being of residents in the three recipient countries. The President our club, Karyn Vines, said that the club was delighted and honoured to be involved in such a successful and impactful project.
Rotary Hoppers Crossing also successfully organized a separate transfer of instruments by container to the Rotary Club of Accra - Ring Road Central, Ghana. Given the success of this project, Rotary Hoppers Crossing has plans to send additional transport of instruments to other countries in Africa.International Committee members involved in the project include chairperson Dr George Dade Aziz Arshad, Bob Fairclough, Nik Tsardakis, and Gifty Dade.