International Svs

The RCWV are working on a matching grant to support the Theresa Willis Home of Hope in Sabie South Africa. Please view the business plan here.

The RCWV has partnered with the Rotary Club of Panaji Midtown Goa for a matching grant project to provide surgical operations for children suffering from Polio which will allow them to lead a normal life. See a PDF of the Post Polio Slides and the letter from the Rotary Club Panaji below.

Also, we have a project with the Panaji Mid Town Rotary Club in Goa to build a drinking water fountain similar to the one in these pictures:

SURGICAL REHABILITATION OF THE DISABLED

The rotary Club of Panaji Midtown was formed in 1999. In the very first year, The Rotary Foundation awarded the Children’s Opportunity Grant Project No: 879 to the club. The project involved full surgical rehabilitation of the handicapped children. This project was completed by the year 2001, and since then the club had been continuing the same work funded by the 3-H grant from the District 3170. So far we have received two grants from the Rotary District under the 3H Project, the first being Rupees One Lac and the other being Rupees One and Half Lac. We have been utilizing this grant for the benefit of the Patients having Post Polio Residual Paralysis.

Goa has eradicated Polio totally and there have been no cases since 1998. The cases in Goa are of the migrant laborers mostly from Karnataka, which are the endemic areas of polio. We now have regular inflow of polio patients coming for surgery from the districts of Hubli, Gadag, Bijapur and other surrounding villages. They have learnt of this project by way of word of mouth from the satisfied patients from the area.

The Rotarians of the Rotary Club of Panaji Midtown, initially visited the slums around the Zuarinagar, Vasco on Sundays and with the help of the local doctor identified the disabled children who needed and would be benefited by surgery. The parents and the relatives had to be counselled and explained all the details of the project. Due to their ignorance and false beliefs the people were reluctant to come forth initially, but were enthusiastic once they saw the results of the surgical rehabilitation. Now we have children coming from places far off in Karnataka and Maharashtra, after they have seen the results of the treatment.

The patients and their attendants (parents, siblings) were transported to the hospital by the ambulances of Goa Fire Brigade, free of charge and so far we have logged more than 3000 km. The patients, after the surgery are transported to their homes by the ambulance and are picked up again for the subsequent surgeries. Some patients are housed in shelters, whenever we feel that they could not be cared for in their huts.

The patients, the attendants, and the siblings are provided with all the meals during their hospitalization. This is necessary as the parents are daily wage earners and have no money to buy food whenever they do not work. This facility prevents dropouts. All medicines, investigations, X-rays etc are done at the hospital and the project also include cost of implants, and appliances like calipers, splints, crutches etc.

Rtn. Dr. Deep Bhandare carries out the surgical procedures and the follow up treatment. Dr. Deep Bhandare is Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, practicing in Panaji. He takes interest in the Polio corrective Surgery. Dr. Jayant Bhandare and Dr. Shyam Talwadkar assist him and Dr. Sanjeev Juwarkar is the Anaesthetist. The team does all the work free and do not receive remuneration in any form. All the surgeries are carried out at Bhandare Hospital, Panaji.

The children who are in between operations and those who have completed treatment are assisted in their studies by way of giving books, uniforms etc. Whenever possible attempts have been made for giving them suitable employment.

Many of the disabled children outgrow their Calipers, Crutches, Splints etc and they have to be changed. This is also an ongoing cause of expenditure.

All these facilities are imperative, to alleviate the difficulties of the people, to attract the slum people to come forwards and to avoid the dropouts from treatment.

a) This project has always received the attention of the media, and has been well publicized by the newspapers and the Goa Doordarshan. ( local TV Station.)

c) Many children are now coming from the neighbouring states of Karnataka and Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.

d) Many visiting foreigners have appreciated this project and have contributed generously. Special mention is be made of Late Rtn. Peter Wobmann and his wife, and Fr. Kranz from Switzerland who have contributed over one and half lakh of rupees, and this grant is carrying us forwards at the moment.

B) Dr. Deep Bhandare was conferred Honorary Paul Harris Fellowship by Carlos Ravizza, President, Rotary International, during his visit to Goa in the year 2000.

C) Deep Bhandare has received the National Award for “The Best Individual Working for the Welfare of the Disabled.” By the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.

We sincerely wish to continue this project as an ongoing one. The mind and the hands are willing and we depend on the constant supply of the funds, to continue this work. Considering the amount of work and the benefits to the target population from all over the district we appeal the District Office to continue financing this activity.

So far we have successfully rehabilitated 110 children disabled by Post Polio Residual Paralysis. There are quite a few who need treatment and on an average a child needs a sum of Rupees Twelve Thousand for treatment. Some need much more while some need less. The figure quoted above is an average of the patients treated so far.

International Service

SURGICAL REHABILITATION OF THE DISABLED