Via their work in hospitals in Phnom Penh, a group of orthopaedic surgeons had a dream to build a new surgical ward for Kampong Spue Referral Hospital. That dream has now been realised through the extraordinary generosity of benefactor, Dr. Chris Keenan who funded the building of a brand-new surgical facility with two operating theatres.
While the building was under construction the Rotary Clubs of Hawthorn, Vic. and Osborne Park, WA, got to work identifying and sourcing suitable items for the new operating theatres.
Equipment required included hospital beds, image intensifiers and anaesthetic machines from Victoria, supplementing supplies of the equipment sourced in WA by Rotary Osborne Park.
The medical equipment and hospital beds provide the resources to allow surgeons to perform a wider variety of surgical procedures; procedures that are of greater complexity; and procedures in greater numbers. The facility provides a vital service to the local people, whose surgical needs have not been addressed well in the past.
The container of medical equipment and supplies organised by Rotary Hawthorn, was entirely funded by The Rotary Foundation via a District Grant and the World of Difference. Integral to the project was the support of Donations in Kind in Melbourne.
Sincere thanks to: Chris Keenan, Tim Keenan, Meng Sok, Pip Asphar, the Rotary Foundation, World of Difference and Donations in Kind, the members of Rotary Club of Osborne Park and Rotary Club of Hawthorn who were involved in sourcing and packing the equipment in containers.
Photos: Hawthorn Rotarians Gordon Cheyne and Peter Lugg pack equipment
