Australia Sri Lanka Medical Aid Team visit to Sri Lanka December 2007 and
January 2008
Team members:
• Doctors Kamala De Silva, Sian Hughes, Thanuja Ranatunga (Katugampala)
• Nurse Mindy Musaeus
• Nihal Gamage (interpreter) and Malithi Gamage (second year medical student)
• Nils Musaeus senior (pharmacy manager)
• Tony, Sam, Rosie and Matilda Heselev, Nils Musaeus junior (pharmacy/distribution
of donated clothes and toys/spectacles)
• Amelia Harris (photographer, pharmacy/distribution of donated clothes
and toys)
• Don and Ravindu Katugampala, Rashika Ranatunga (interpreter)
Generous benefactors included:
• Heike and Jeff at Umbrella Entertainments and Lynton Paech of Market
Makers who both gave $2000 to buy double phototherapy units
• Jeremy Gunaratne and Lauren Hewes who gave $1000 to disabled children
at Moratuwa on the occasion of their wedding
• Rosie Heselev who gave $8,000 for medication at the clinics on the occasion
of her batmitzvah
Key achievements
Clinics
- We ran seven clinics at three locations, seeing a total of 1300 patients
who were treated for chronic conditions including asthma, arthritis, hypertension
and malnutrition. Patients received free medication for three months and a
script so they could get more medication direct from a pharmacy.
 |
 |
 |
| Sian, Malithi and Nirosha at work |
Queue at Samanala |
Asthma treatment |
 |
 |
 |
| Kamala at work |
Crowd control at Hambantota |
Mindy and Nihal conduct triage |
 |
 |
 |
| Part of the pharmacy team |
Patient with her script |
The pharmacy at Hambantota |
Food
- We distributed 200 food bags containing milk powder, dry fish, sugar, rice,
lentils, sweet biscuits and soap, plus additional food for disabled and very
malnourished children, and sweets.
 |
 |
 |
| Sam and Kamala packing bags |
Rosie and the food bags |
A grateful recipient |
| |
|
|
Other donated goods
- We distributed a total of 25 large boxes of toys, shoes and clothes, 200
pairs of spectacles, seven bikes, seven wheelchairs, a box of crutches and
thousands of pencils, exercise books and toothbrushes.
 |
 |
 |
| Sian and Malithi test crutches |
Rosie, Nils and Tony giving toys |
Another happy customer |
 |
 |
 |
| This wheelchair brought tears all round! |
Satchels were a favourite gift |
`Food supplements for a manwith oesophageal
cancer
|
Who we helped
- Caritas Convent, Moratuwa: Ran two medical clinics and
a Christmas party for disabled children and their families. We bought equipment
including a TV, DVD player and rice cookerfor the centre, run by Sister Jacinta.
All children received a Christmas gift, and food packages were distributed
to the most disabled children. We also bought a mattress and pillow for a
severely disabled child with no mother, and fishing nets for her father and
brother.
 |
 |
|
| Sister J and student with present |
The Christmas party organisers |
|
 |
 |
|
| Disabled students enjoying the
party and the special Christmas cake |
 |
 |
 |
| Sister J receiving bikes from
Australia, cooking equipment and a television/DVD set from Arpico |
 |
 |
| A mattress instead of floorboards to sleep on |
A means of earning a living |
- Karawanella Hospital: Distributed donated medical items
from the container including wheelchairs, examination tables, walking frames,
two autoclave sterilizers, two ECG monitors, theatre lights, drip stands,
commodes, colostomy bags, and medical textbooks. Sian and Thanujamet three
of the doctors who are committed to establishing this base hospital despite
very little government support.
- Negombo Hospital: Donated phototherapy unit. Sian visited
this hospital (with Dilshan Fernando of AuSLMAT), which has received little
support because of its proximity to Colombo, but it can take more than two
hours to get a patient to Colombo.
- Kethumathi Maternity Hospital: Donated phototherapy unit
 |
| Talking with the doctors from Karawanella |
- Karapitiya Hospital, Galle: Donated a double phototherapy
unit and patient trolley to paediatric ward. 100 asthma inhalers with volmatics
and baby masks were delivered. The hospital was visited three times for ward
rounds, to discuss financial support for paediatric services and distribute
gifts on Christmas Day. Also met Sam Waduge, originally from Galle, who is
organising monthly raffles at work (Leigh Mardon in Melbourne) to support
the hospital.
- Foundation of Goodness, Seenigama: Ran a medical clinic.
- Hambantota Hospital: Donated medical textbooks, colostomy
bags, crutches and other medical equipment.
 |
Doctors Thanuja, Sian and Kamalaat Hambantota Hospital Medical Library.
The photo behind is of the ENT surgeon who died in the tsunami |
- Hambantota district: Ran three medical clinics at remote
villages where we distributed wheelchairs, walking frames, crutches, food
packs, donated clothes, toys and several bicycles, and about 200 pairs of
spectacles donated by Rotary DIK
 |
 |
 |
| Nils Junior working at the optometrist |
We always need more spectacles |
Mat with a happy ‘customer' |
| |
|
|
- Embilipitiya: Gave each of 30 girls at an orphanage a new
pillow and pillowcase, cushion,towel, pens, exercise books and several board
games. Decorated their dormitory walls with posters and wall hangings and
beautiful locally made rugs. The girls loved the interaction with our children.
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
| .`` Presents for the girls at
the orphanage |
- Samanala Estate Hospital, Norton Bridge: Ran two full-day
clinics for tea plantation workers. Received fantastic support from Nigel
Kerner and his team, especially Marion, Mary and George. A special thanks
to Nirosha our fantastic Tamil interpreter. We felt that this area has the
greatest need for our services. (Patients from Samanala are referred to Nawalapityia
Base Hospital. Sian and Kamalavisited the paediatrician at this hospital.
He has done an amazing job with few resources, and is going to send us more
information about his key needs)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| A great place for a clinic |
The trip was very rewarding and we will never forget the smiles
on the children’s faces!
For more information www.auslmat.com.au
