Over 70 patients benefited from a special medical camp held in July, conducted by AUSLMAT (Australia Sri Lanka Medical Aid Team) and coordinated through the Foundation of Goodness (FoG).
 Patients await their turn to see
the AUSLMAT team of doctors
This special medical camp was held at the Seenigama Medical Centre and drew villagers from the area and its surrounding regions.
 Patients queue up to have their
prescriptions dispensed
The 71 patients that benefited on the day sort relief for a wide range of ailments and illnesses, the most common being arthritis, influenza, asthma, lower-respiratory track infection, rashes, URTI and myalgia. Medication for these ailments was dispensed by the FoG run Pharmacy, free of charge, as prescribed by the AUSLMAT doctors.
On the AUSLMAT team of visiting doctors from Australia that conducted the medical camp were Dr. Sean Fernandez, who is a 3rd year resident medical officer, cardiologist Dr. Jennifer Johns and Dr. Quintus de Zylva, a physician who was the organizer of the special AUSLMAT camp held in Seenigama.
This is not the first time that AUSLMAT has visited Seenigama. Doctors from Australia have held many medical camps here in the past, the previous one being January 2008.
AUSLMAT (Australia Sri Lanka Medical Aid Team) has been working in the south of Sri Lanka providing medical equipment and supplies, helping local doctors and nurses improve their skills and knowledge, conducting medical clinics in outlying and poverty-stricken areas, and upgrading operating theatres. To date, they have made 15 visits to Sri Lanka, delivering lectures and tutorials, providing medical expertise in complex cases and conducting more than 20 clinics.
 Children’s goodies for donation, brought by AUSLMAT
On this July visit to Seenigama, AUSLMAT brought along a donation of children’s toy, books and clothes for gifting to rural children to make the life of the children more bearable.
 Dr. Jennifer Johns and Dr. Sean Fernandez
meet burn victim Sriyani de Silva
On the occasion Doctors Fernandez and Johns got an opportunity to meet Priyani de silva, who AUSLMAT funded for facial surgery following severe burn scars. Ms. de Silva has completed the first stage of surgery. Along with her Mayuri Wickremarathne is also to undergo similar surgery, once she has gained weight as advised to do so by Apollo Hospital, Colombo, which is carrying out the two surgeries. These two surgeries are being coordinated by the FoG, on behalf of AUSLMAT and sponsored by Help Sri Lanka and AUSLMAT.
Speaking on the success of the AUSLMAT special medical camp Kushil Gunasekera, founder/trustee of the FoG said “this caring institution has extended its medicare expertise to benefit thousands of patients since post tsunami and they never failed to bring along with them useful items for children in need. Our connection to AUSLMAT was established via Mr. David Cruse, who is its immediate past president, and an ardent supporter of FoG to who we owe a debt of gratitude. I must admit that the association with AUSLMAT has paved the way for our medical centre to upgrade its quality of service through their vast knowledge of specialized doctors as well as volunteer doctors, particularly Dr. Irma Bilgrami, who has served us for months.”
“Vision without action is merely a dream.
Action without vision just passes the time.
Vision with action can change the world”
- Joel Barker
2008.08.05 |
