Report on Donation of 80 Hearing Aids to Rotary District 3870, Cagayan De Oro Mindanao Philippines November 9 th to 13 th 2015

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1 Report on Donation of 80 Hearing Aids to Rotary District 3870, Cagayan De Oro Mindanao Philippines November 9 th to 13 th 2015 For more information, please contact PDG Danny Low dannylow@bigpond.net.au Rotary District 9685, NSW Australia 1 20 th November 2015 Prepared by PDG Danny Low

2 Background: Donation of Hearing Aids Project For over a decade, PDG Danny Low has initiated and actively lead projects that assisted people with disabilities and as well supported partner s projects. Since 2004, as organised by PDG Danny Low, over 6,000 new wheelchairs have been donated to people with various forms of immobility. This Donation of Wheelchairs Project under the Rotary Club of Mosman is an ongoing to date. PDG Danny Low has also been involved in helping those who suffered from vision disability by Donation of Spectacles both new and second hand for over 15 years. Together with the Vietnam Vision Project Incorporated, PDG Danny Low extended with the Australian Vision Team with free cataract operations in various provinces throughout Vietnam since year 2003 Often PDG Danny Low received requests for ROTARY Donation of Hearing Aids to help many who suffered from impaired hearing, especially children and those who are in Hearing Impaired special schools in various countries. Impaired Hearing is a hidden disability and has always received lower priorities and support. Primary reasons are the hearing aids (HAs) are expensive and also the processes of custom fitting of the hearing aid required many consultations. There must also be capabilities for proper tests for hearing loss, the ability to make ear mold, the ability to fit the HAs and then continue support for supply of batteries, cleaning utensils and education of the users. Many impaired hearing recipients also required speech therapy and to learn how to speak after the hearing has been restored or improved. The ENT doctors and staff at hearing centers in a hospital s Audiology Department must have the facilities to test for hearing loss; fit the hearing aids, provide education and support services to the patients. Without a capable partner on the ground to implement the Donation of HAs, the project will not be possible. In year 2004, PDG Danny Low then attempted to organize the donation of hearing aids first starting in Vietnam and working with a school for the hearing impaired children. The past donation of an Audiometers and also various lots of donation of hearing aids have benefitted many children and adults with impaired hearing, being treated in Vietnam. To further capacity building, PDG Danny Low arranged for Dr Le Thi Lan to visit Australia which was sponsored by Rotary Club of Mosman. Dr Le Thi Lan visited the National Acoustic Laboratory; Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre; Audiology Department of Macquarie University and also met and worked with Australian audiologists at their work places th November 2015 Prepared by PDG Danny Low

3 We recognize the contribution of Mr Christopher Brew, Connect Hearing Mosman; and also the audiologist Ms Lina Nguyen at the National Hearing Fairfield NSW who supported Dr Le s visit and who continued to support the Hearing Aids Project. We are grateful to the many volunteers who collected, checked and prepared the hearing aids prior to donating to the respective beneficiaries and local co-operating partners. Donation of HAs to other countries The Donation of HAs is now established and ongoing with the ENT Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam. There are 2 schools for children with impaired hearing which have also received support from Donations of HAs in Vietnam, namely the Xa Dan School, Hanoi and Anh Minh School in Ho Chi Minh City. Rotary is fortunate to involve the support of the Principal of Anh Minh School who holds a Bachelor Degree in Audiology from the Audiology Department, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW We had also donated some HAs to Mudanjiang. Northern Western China through working with Chinese NGOs who have access to the support of Chinese audiology services and specialists. First Donation to Rotary District 3879 Philippines-Cagayan De Oro, Mindanao. PDG Danny Low had led various Rotary Projects with the Rotary Club of East Urban, Rotary District 3870 Philippines. PDG FE Juarez from Rotary D3870 had jointly supported the implementation of all the past Rotary Projects. First, there was a Donation of 108 new wheelchairs for the disabled in This was followed in 2011 with 4 container shipments of Donation of School items; Donation of Dictionaries; Donation of Hospital items and Donation of new disposable surgical gowns and 2 working anesthetic machines PDG Fe Juarez and her Rotarians in Rotary Club of East Urban arranged with the Capitol University Medical City (CUMC), Hearing Centre, the ENT Doctor Jesus Cardin and owners/management of CUMC to support our Rotary Donation of an initial 80 HAs. CUMC s adopted the project as part of their corporate community responsibility. CUMC provided free testing services and all related supporting services needed (consumables and education) and the local Rotarians provide financial support where needed. With excitement, PDG Fe Juarez declared that this project in partnership with the Rotary Club of Mosman will change the lives of many people who are disadvantaged from impaired hearing and it is a blessings that they can begin to hear God s whispers th November 2015 Prepared by PDG Danny Low

4 Photographs of fitting HAs by audiology nurses at CUMC Hearing Center Beneficiaries of Donated HAs 4 20 th November 2015 Prepared by PDG Danny Low

5 Energetic Rotarians supporting this Donation to Impaired Hearing People 5 20 th November 2015 Prepared by PDG Danny Low

6 Next Steps Plans to sponsor the visit of 2 audiology nurses from CUMC Hearing Center to visit Sydney NSW Australia, for on the job vocational training in Rotary Year PDG Danny Low will organize the activities of the training opportunities and visits to related centers of excellence in audiology as well as to Australian schools for children with impaired hearing to learn about current Australian best practices in caring for people with impaired hearing. CUMC will pay for costs for air travel CDO/Sydney return while Australian Rotarians and PDG Danny Low will home host these visitors and other living costs during the visit. At present there is a waiting list of 30 people (a spillover from the first donation) and many more are being identified in the poor communities who are in need of hearing aids. Future Donations of HAs will be organized on the next visit. Opportunities for a group of Rotarians to visit CDO to donate the next lots of hearing aids and work with Rotarians in Philippines. We will invite Australian audiologist volunteers to conduct workshop and demonstrate procedures to the CDO audiologist staff members. Acknowledgements to the following: In Australia The Hearing Macquarie University Campus, North Ryde, NSW. National Hearing Care, Australia national outlets nationwide for donating the HAs to Rotary The Management Team and Staff Members of National Hearing Care, Australia wide. Management and staff members of Australian Hearing Group. Australian audiologists and other volunteers. Special thanks to Professor John Newell. The Audiology Department, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW. Rotary members of Rotary Club of Mosman, Rotary District PDG Danny Low, Project Leader and his wife Dr Angeline Low. Australian World Community Service Limited Eastern Region & fellow Rotarians. In the Philippines PDG Fe Juarez and her family for home hosting PDG Danny Low and Dr Angeline Low. Rotarians of Rotary Club of East Urban, Rotary District 3870 for their full support. Committee by Rotarian Myra, Rachael and others in overseeing the Donation of HAs. Rotary Club of East Urban for donations of costs of batteries, other consumables for the HAs for users for initial 6 months. The Hearing Centre, Capitol University Medical City, Cagayan De Oro, Mindanao, Philippines The generous support of Management and owners of Capitol University Medical City to provide hearing tests, fittings and other support services- the most critical logistics for success th November 2015 Prepared by PDG Danny Low

7 A group photo with Dr Angeline Low, Guest Speaker to women community leaders. This discussion on Women & Entrepreneurship was organized by the Zonta Club II of Cagayan de Oro and attended by Rotarians and ChildFund leaders, staff and students at Business College, Capitol University. End of Report 7 20 th November 2015 Prepared by PDG Danny Low