Latest Projects

Nurse Melioni

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:16:18 GMT

To keep Volunteers 'in touch' who have cared for Melioni, and love her dearly TroppoDoc have started a file under 'Perspective' that will be updated as Melioni grows.

Anyone wishing to support Melioni (Dr Derek is her Guardian) can donate to:-

Troppodoc Charitable Trust 03-0638-0544998-000 Westpac Bank, 101 Gladstone Road, Gisborne, New Zealand.

Please ensure 'for Melioni' is included on your deposit slip, with your name and address to receive a taxable receipt.

If you reside outside New Zealand, donations can be made from any bank via a telegraphic transfer. Swift

Volunteer Calendar - 2011

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 22:10:02 GMT

(1) Please contact Communication Manager to have your name added or deleted.

(2) Important – contact Volunteer Co-ordinator before you purchase your air tickets.

August – September - Burkina Faso – Africa

Mahadaga - 2 wks Piela – 2 wks & Ghana – 2 wks

Dr Derek Allen

Melioni

Bronni (Volunteer – NZ)

Danika (Volunteer – Canada

October – Return Indonesia - 2 wks

Late November – TroppoDoc Promotion Tour N.Z.

Please contact Communication Manager to organize Volunteer get-2gether with Dr Derek.

January – February 2011 Tello Island – Indonesia

Dr Derek Allen

Melioni

Natalie (NZ Med Student – elective) Jan 10 – Feb 21

Yoska (NZ Med Student – elective ) Jan 10 – Feb 21

James Volunteer Tauranga NZ)

Kim (Volunteer Auckland NZ) & Photographer

Nicola (friend Kim - Volunteer NZ)

Bronwyn + 3 (Vanuatu NZ Volunteers)

Anoop (Doctor Volunteer NZ) ?

March – April - Bolivia (6 weeks)

Georgia (Doctor – UK)

Dr Derek

April – May Indonesia/ Vanuatu?

Whitney (RN Wellington NZ)

Alice (RN Wellington, NZ)

Abbey (RN Wellington, NZ

Laura (RN Auckland, NZ) - May

Katherine (Med Student ChCh)

June – July Tello Island Indonesia

Tauranga Surfers (NZ 10 Volunteers + Kids) building playgrounds

Jan B & Chloe (Medical Volunteers - Tauranga N.Z.)

Damaris (Tauranga – NZ)

July – August (maybe) Bolivia (to confirm)

Lukas (NSW Australia)

August – September – Burkina Faso (to confirm)

October – November Tello Island Indonesia

Pamela (NZ Med Student – elective) October 11 - November 20

Sam (Doctor Volunteer NZ)

"One Net One Life"

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 13:29:39 GMT

Providing pyrethroid treated bed nets, and planting marigolds to drive mosquitoes away from Kampongs.

Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes. In the human body, the parasites multiply in the liver, and then infect red blood cells.

Symptoms of malaria include fever, headache, and vomiting, and usually appear between 10 and 15 days after the mosquito bite. If not treated, malaria can quickly become life-threatening by disrupting the blood supply to vital organs.

Key interventions to control malaria include: use of insecticidal nets by people at risk; and indoor residual spraying with insecticide to control the vector mosquitoes.

Treated Mosquito Bed Net

A light an easy to use mosquito bed net is hooked on the ceiling and tucked under the mattress for overnight protection from bites. The pyrethroid treatment provides further protection. The best net to purchase is suitable for beds of all dimensions up to king size. It has a circle frame and attaches to only one point on the ceiling. It can be purchased from any World Travel Shop.

It is TroppoDoc vision to provide children on Tello Island with treated bed nets. Volunteers can provide education for parents - how to use the bed nets, and protect their children against malaria.

Please Post Mosquito Nets to:-

M. Reid 35/281 Maunganui Road, Mt Maunganui, Tauranga 07/5740417

Planting Marigolds

Marigolds not only help repel mosquitoes but will provide bursts of colours throughout the island. It’s unpleasant smell helps deter those tiny skin-nibblers and is an easy and inexpensive alternative to poisonous chemicals. Many insect repellents use a compound called Pyrethrum, which is found in Marigolds. This is what makes the marigold plant so effective in naturally repelling these pests.

Volunteers can help Tello Island go naturally mosquito-free by planting marigolds.

Individual costs for specific people & illness

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:04:59 GMT

Jutra 17 year old woman who lives with her parents on Pulua Pulua Tello had been ill for five and half months – with fevers, loss of weight, anorexia and sizeable lumps on both sides of her neck. Dr Derek, David & Lucy (Medical Students) confirmed Jutra needed an urgent blood film, bone marrow examination with a staging CT scan to determine her diagnosis – these test are not available on Tello Island. Jutra’s parents were too poor to pay for her travel to Medan, and hospital care. Dr Derek convinced her parents (when funding was guaranteed) to allow him to escort Jutra by plane to Medan for tests.

Jutra is today, taking her TB medication and malaria tablets and doing well. If there had been no sponsor for Jutra – she would have died.

If you would like to sponsor a Patient - donations can be made at any Westpac Bank branch within New Zealand to: Westpac Bank, 101 Gladstone Road, Gisborne, N.Z.

Account Name : Troppodoc Charitable Trust 03-0638-0544998-000

Please ensure ‘Patient’ is included on your deposit slip and your name and address to receive a taxable receipt and information about your Patient.

If you reside outside New Zealand, donations can be made from any bank via a telegraphic transfer. Swift Code WPAC NZ2W please note the "swift code" has the numeral "2" following the letter "Z"

Volunteer - build playgrounds for poor children!

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:11:38 GMT

TroppoDoc has obtained permission from the Chief of the small villages on the far side of Tello Island to build a playground in one village. There are eight villages with 20 – 30 children with no play equipment. The Chief likes the concept - It is Troppodoc’s vision to build playgrounds in the eight villages.

As children engage in a variety of play activities, they have many opportunities to perceive themselves as competent, powerful and useful – as having something worthwhile to contribute to their world. These perceptions are vital to develop their feelings of well-being and self-esteem (Dau & Jones, 2001).

The playgrounds will have a climbing wall, set of swings, two see-saws, a variety of stepping stones and climbing ropes surrounded in a soft landing area.

Volunteers are welcome to create their own playground - every village could have a different concept. Example - variety of climbing ropes and ladders, sand and plastic rock holds are light and easy to transport.

We need Volunteers to help build the playgrounds, paint the equipment –Volunteers with ‘green fingers’ to plant gardens – grow vegetables, and teach the children about nutrition.

We need funding to purchase the materials. Think about the difference you will make to these children’s lives and the enjoyment the villagers will get watching their children play.

One climbing wall is complete - using local materials and a local builder to get the project off the ground. Cost 3million rupiah including labour = NZ$500.

Climbing walls are a brilliant way to develop children’s balance, motor skills and confidence - they can also create their own play and set their own goals.
Donations – please ensure deposit slip include the words: Children’s Playgrounds

Westpac Bank 101 Gladstone Rd Gisborne New Zealand Account: Troppodoc Charitable Trust
Account Number: 03 0638 0505833 25 Swift Code: WPAC NZ2W

Volunteer - build playgrounds for poor children!

Volunteers Bicycle

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 22:49:02 GMT

"Bicycle - World's most efficient form of transport"

If you would like to sponsor a bicycle - or TroppoDoc a new motorbike - donations can be made at any Westpac Bank branch within New Zealand to: Westpac Bank, 101 Gladstone Road, Gisborne, N.Z.

Account Name : Troppodoc Charitable Trust 03-0638-0544998-000

Please ensure ‘bicycle’ or 'motorbike' is included on your deposit slip and your name and address to receive a taxable receipt.

If you reside outside New Zealand, donations can be made from any bank via a telegraphic transfer. Swift Code WPAC NZ2W please note the "swift code" has the numeral "2" following the letter "Z"

Water Project

Sun, 08 Aug 2010 17:19:30 GMT

Water Project

TroppoDoc Water Project to be successful requires continued education. It also requires voluntary labour and funds to build more tanks, and to maintain existing water tanks.

If you would like to help - donations can be made at any Westpac Bank branch within New Zealand to: Westpac Bank, 101 Gladstone Road, Gisborne, New Zealand

Account Name: Troppodoc Charitable Trust 03-0638-0544998-000

Please ensure ‘ Water Project’ is included on your deposit slip and your name and address to receive a taxable receipt.

If you reside outside New Zealand, donations can be made from any bank via a telegraphic transfer. Swift Code WPAC NZ2W please note the "swift code" has the numeral "2" following the letter "Z"

Suriyani

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Suriyani

Tuberculosis is a treatable disease with medication! The national law of Indonesia state that free TB treatment cannot be given unless a positive diagnosis, two positive sputum’s out of three, or a positive chest x-ray can prove the diagnosis. Tello Hospital (MAP Int) test patient’s sputum and if positive refers them to the Government Puskesnas at Tello for free medication. The Government Puskesnas at Tello has no TB medicines – has had no TB medicines for the past seven months.

Suriyani 25yrs mother of two young boys was diagnosed in February by Dr Derek Allen to have tuberculosis. She was too weak to give sputum so Dr Derek decided to take her and her family with us on our journey to New Zealand to Teluk Dalam for an x-ray. The new hospital at Teluk Dalam we discovered had no x-ray facilities, so it was onto Gunung Sitoli Hospital. Suriyani’s chest x-ray confirmed Dr Derek’s diagnosis that she had tuberculosis. Unfortunately the Gunung Sitoli hospital referred Suriyani back to the Puskesnas at Tello for medication. No medicines - Suriyani and her family returned to Pulau Marit.

I contacted Dr Amos (MAP Int) in Tello to enquire if Suriyani had received any medication. I advised Dr Amos I would pay for Suriyani’s hospital care and medication costs if necessary. Together with Given’s help Dr Amos located Suriyani, and admitted her to hospital to start her treatment. Suriyani was discharged from hospital after two days, and staying with friends in a crowded environment when I arrived back in Tello. I negotiated with the Tello Hospital (MAP Int) for Suriyani to be readmitted for two months care and medications. The hospital is empty – I wanted to pay more, and include her family to stay in the hospital - but that was not acceptable. Hospital care with five meals per day for two months and medicines for eight months cost 2 million 650,000 rupiah = NZ$600 (discounted – poor people’s rate) but unfortunately this is too much for poor people – if I had not paid for Suriyani’s hospital care and medicines she would have died.

I wrote to Dr Ravi asking Map Int. to supply free TB medicines to the poor in Tello...... Thanks for your message. The inability to do everything that needs to be done is what keeps us humble before the Lord. With best regards and Blessings Dr. Ravi I. Jayakaran Senior Director - Global Programs MAP Int

By Volunteer Margareth

What we need is a fund especially for TB patients, so when someone is diagnosed like Suriyani with tuberculosis - they can be admitted to hospital for two months for hospital care, and treatment with a further six months supply of medicines, with ongoing medical supervision.

Donations – please ensure deposit slip include the words: TB Patients - Fund

Westpac Bank 101 Gladstone Rd Gisborne New Zealand Account: Troppodoc Charitable Trust Account Number: 03 0638 0505833 25 Swift Code: WPAC NZ2W thank you

Suriyani 25yrs 30kgs - Tuberculosis - Pulau Marit - Tello Islands

Some thoughts on projects outstanding from Derek in Burkina Faso

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hi! Derek here.

I'm not whinging about the 4 am start today and 10 hours on buses or 3 hours in a Drs waiting room to see cardiac specialist in Ouagadougou and no my heart is in excellent shape, but thank you for asking !

Yes projects page is fine. new projects; We need Drs for two, 70 bed hospitals in Burkina Faso, serving 25,000 and 27,000 people respectively which presently have no Drs. In fact never have had in past 20 years.

People to prepare and paint the inside walls of the patient rooms and paint enjoyable comic figures, murals whatever on them to catch the eye. walls are of plaster concrete and 20 year old wall and paint is peeling off.

Construction of preschool play area in above 2 hospitals, Mahadaga and Piela to help myriad of small children at hospital learn thru play.

Need money for Bernadette, 17 yr old girl with mitral heart defect probable as result of rheumatic fever get heart operation in Spain, her heart races at 130 beats per minute when she is resting and without surgery her heart will beat itself and her to death !

Need to complete unfinished projects in Tello, i.e. Sigata island health centre , funded by Irish surfers and bonfire needs lit under local villagers (3 villages) to complete for good of community. Gavin's house, yes he works at Gavin's pace but over last couple of years is actually picking up to moving speed and might actually be started... soon!

Sponsorship of my travel, Emirates airlines has a humanitarian travelling fund and Margaret Reid is looking into that. Any other sources ??? need more spectacles, medicines, volunteers.

Bernadette from Mahadaga, Burkina Faso

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Doctor Derek Allen and medical student Gavin Bond saw Bernadette in a clinic in Mahadaga in May. She was complaining of chest pain and limited exercise capability. On examination, she had a palpable thrill in her chest and a loud murmur coming from her heart. It was obvious she had a serious heart problem that could significantly shorten her life if not fixed. A few days later, when back in Ouagadougou (capital) Gavin and Derek talked to a local heart specialist who had the equipment for investigation and an arrangement was made with a charity in Spain who will arrange the cardiac surgery and hospital care for free. Derek then had to move on to commitments in Djibo in northern Burkina Faso

Last week Derek with volunteer Margaret (Tauranga) returned to Mahadaga to find Bernadette. It took two days travelling over dirt roads with pot holes as deep as bath tubs, waiting for hours in small villages in temperatures of 40+degrees for the next bus with no edible food. Derek and Margaret arrived in Mahadaga on dusk, exhausted and tired to be met by Bernadette in the street. She did not know Doctor Derek was coming, but she had faith that he would return. Bernadette was so excited and happy. She is a lovely girl with a beautiful smile!

Two days later Bernadette travelled with Doctor Derek and Margaret, on the ten hour bus trip to Ouagadougou. During her stay in Ouagadougou Bernadette had an ECG, Chest X-ray, and Echo Cardiogram, and was examined by the Cardiac Specialist. Bernadette has a mitral heart defect, two faulty valves, probably the result of rheumatic fever. Her heart races at 130 beats per minute when she is resting, it is beating itself to death. The Cardiac Specialist made Bernadette top priority, giving her the next booking for a heart operation in Spain.

Bernadette is booked to have her operation in Spain this September, 2009 if TroppoDoc can raise $4,000. …

If you can help please make your donation to the Troppodoc bank account

* Westpac Bank: Gisborne, New Zealand

* Account Name: TroppoDoc Account No. 03 0638 050583325 Bernadette

It is difficult to imagine the poverty that exists in Mahadaga a village of 27,000 people in eastern Burkina Faso, And yet this is part of our World, (our global village) with air travel making countries only hours apart. In Burkina Faso many people do not have the bare necessities in life like running water. Mud huts the size of our average bathroom house a family. Bernadette’s family are very poor. They have five children and they live in such a hut The village is very isolated, miles and miles from the capital and what shops there are carry little or no food. The "hospital" has never had a Doctor and has no running water.