HEALTH FOR CHINA MAY 2008 UPDATE CHINA MOURNS EARTHQUAKEEARTHQUAKEEARTHQUAKEEARTHQUAKE

EARTHQUAKEEARTHQUAKEEARTHQUAKEEARTHQUAKE ON 12 TH MAY 2008 WE EVACUATED OUR HEALTH SERVICES BASE IN XI’AN DURING A DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE WHICH OCCURRED IN THE NEARBY SICHUAN PROVINCE. NO-ONE WAS HURT HERE AND WE WATCHED AND WAITED. AFTER ONE AFTERSHOCK WE DECIDED TO REMAIN OUTSIDE A BIT LONGER – AND LOOKED BACK FROM A SAFE DISTANCE. STEVE, ONE OF OUR CEREBRAL-PALSY PATIENTS AND YY OUR TERMINALLY-ILL STAFF MEMBER, HAD TO BE CARRIED DOWNSTAIRS – AS SOON AS THE MAIN TREMORS HAD STOPPED. THERE SEEMED TO BE NO DAMAGE TO OUR BUILDING. BUT, TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE WE KEPT YY ON THE GROUND FLOOR OVERNIGHT AND RESUMED “NORMAL” WORK THE FOLLOWING DAY.

As we waited for an all-clear, we chatted and joked. Little did we know that 350 miles away tens of thousands of people had been killed, 350,000 people injured and 5 million people had been made homeless. But when we learned what had happened, we resolved to try and help wherever we could.

EARTHQUAKEEARTHQUAKEEARTHQUAKEEARTHQUAKE HEALTH FOR CHINA THEN MADE UP A TEAM OF FOUR – COMPRISING 3 DOCTORS AND ONE MEDICAL ADMINISTRATOR – WE TRAVELLED TO CHENGDU BY TRAIN AND HEADED FOR XIAO BA, MIANYANG AND DUJIANGYAN WHERE THE WORST EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE WAS RECORDED. PICTURED FROM L TO R.- DR MAY,(PRC) DR..J, (USA) LAURIE, (NZ) AND DR.F,(PAKISTAN).

EARTHQUAKEEARTHQUAKEEARTHQUAKEEARTHQUAKE WORKING UNDER THE HEART TO HEART ORGANISATION WE WENT OUT AND WORKED ALONGSIDE THE GLOBAL DOCTORS MEDICAL TEAM. We worked in these blue tents with Global Doctors.

MIANYANGMIANYANGMIANYANGMIANYANG THIS YOUNG GIRL HAD SIGNIFICANT BURNS ON HER LEG. WE WERE ABLE TO APPLY APPROPRIATE PROTECTIVE DRESSINGS.

EARTHQUAKEEARTHQUAKEEARTHQUAKEEARTHQUAKE DOCTOR J. LISTENS INTENTLY AS A PATIENT EXPLAINS HIS PROBLEM.

GRIEFGRIEFGRIEFGRIEF THIS YOUNG GIRL LOST HER ELDER SISTER AND HER MUM AND DAD HAVE BEEN RESETTLED TO KUNMING. NATURALLY SHE FELT A HUGE SENSE OF LOSS AND ISOLATION.

AHUGESENSEOFLOSSAHUGESENSEOFLOSSAHUGESENSEOFLOSSAHUGESENSEOFLOSS DR. F (PAKISTAN) ATTENDS TO AN ELDERLY PATIENT. A NUMBER OF PEOPLE CAME TO US SUFFERING FROM AN INTENSE SENSE OF GRIEF AFTER LOSING FAMILY MEMBERS

Mianyang Stadium was a home for almost 30,000 refugees from the nearby earthquake-devastated areas. Our combined medical team came and worked here for two days when there were about 10,000 left.

EARTHQUAKEEARTHQUAKEEARTHQUAKEEARTHQUAKE These three family members were told to pack up for resettlement back to the country as we talked. They had been sleeping on a large sheet of cardboard for 6 days after the earthquake. They left behind 50% of their possessions. The little girl never stopped smiling – she had her teddy bear!

Near Dujiangyan we saw the results of the earthquake were really horrific.

Doctor May checks a temperature reading for a patient.

On Day Six we visited a school in Xiang Er Xiang which was not hit by the earthquake – their town, however was a write-off! These kids below were still smiling!!!!!!

HOME TO XI’AN AFTER A SOLID WEEK IN SICHUAN PROVINCE – BUT WE HOPE WE WILL BE BACK!

Peter came in for some intensive love, care, and attention. ADMISSIONS FOR MAY 2008

Baby A.T.L from Hephzibah was admitted with heart and lung problems. She has beautiful eyes and is very attentive.

CEREBRAL PALSY THERAPY WORK CONTINUED IN FULL SWING AGAIN THIS MONTH STEVE AND DR L.(PRC) Z.J.J SITS IN HIS THERAPY CHAIR CALEB AND NURSE SUNNY CALEB CAN NOW BLOW OUT A CANDLE.

YY HAS TAKEN UP KNITTING, WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM. IT CERTAINLY RELIEVES THE BOREDOM OF SITTING IN BED ALL DAY. WE THINK SHE IS LOOKING A LOT BETTER.

 We await the safe return of Dr’s Sam and Julie and their two boys, from Australia.  We are most grateful for the Earthquake Relief funds that are arriving. We will ensure they get sent to the appropriate people.  We really need a breakthrough with the tight visa situation which is very restrictive (only 30 days) and which is affecting our ability to work effectively. It is causing some medical people to delay coming to work in China.  Funds as always are needed for Healthcare – we seek continuing supply in the face of high demand and low supply. But as always we give thanks for His Provision.

CURRENT NEEDS An additional local - (Chinese) Nurse is required, to assist our work. Continuation of funds to enable us to provide for our ongoing Rural Health Training Program and free medical clinics. Funding for the Cerebral Palsy work. Ongoing needs for Overseas medical professionals to volunteer with us.