“People stop me on the street and tell me how I’ve inspired them to never give up, and ask how they can support me. The truth is, I feel lucky to have been born in a country where treatment’s available. Others are not so lucky, but you can help. Join me in supporting the cause closest to my heart at one of Interplast’s major fundraisers in Sydney and Melbourne in 2015.”
Turia Pitt – Interplast Ambassador
International Women’s Day provides an opportunity to reflect on the incredible contribution of women.
With this year’s theme of ‘Make it Happen’, we couldn’t miss the opportunity to thank all the remarkable women who work to make it happen for Interplast!
Shannon Bailey, a nurse at a private day hospital in Dandenong, has listened with great interest for years to the stories of colleagues upon their return from volunteering on Interplast programs. Mr James Leong and several nurses would swap inspirational stories, and Shannon knew it was something she wanted to do when the time was right.
Last November our volunteer team met four year old Filomena on a program activity to Suva, Fiji. Filomena was born with a cleft lip and palate on both sides, as well as a palatal fistula, which means there were gaps in the roof of her mouth and top lip. Our surgeons operated on Filomena in 2013 and successfully closed the gap in her mouth.
But that’s not the end of the story.
The life-changing surgeries we perform are only part of the story.
After surgery, a patient needs help to regain strength and function. A speech therapist can play a key role in supporting a patient after a cleft lip and / or palate surgery. A physiotherapist or occupational therapist can play a valuable role in restoring function to a burns patient.
2015 is shaping up to be a busy and exciting year for Interplast. With increasing demand for our services, we’re looking forward to expanding our impact even further with plans to undertake 70 programs.
Drs Lupi Lestari and Lia Fatmarita, two anaesthetic registrars from Indonesia are currently taking part in an annual month-long professional development program in Ballarat, facilitated by Interplast. Lupi and Lia are enjoying the experience immensely, and have journalled their highlights so far…..
Beginning in 1996, Interplast has made annual visits to Laos to train teams at Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane in the techniques of cleft lip and palate repair.
Proof of the difference that we make in people’s lives is one of the greatest rewards of our work.
Interplast recently presented our 30 Year Fiji Impact Study at a surgical conference in Fiji. Representatives from 16 countries including all of the Pacific countries in which we work attended The Pacific Island Surgical Association (PISA) Conference.
In addition to working extensively across the Asia Pacific providing surgery to those who would not otherwise be able to access it, and training and mentoring to local medical staff, Interplast works in partnership with Australian agencies to achieve life-changing outcomes for individuals.
Interplast Ambassador, Turia Pitt, and her Great Wall of China team have arrived back from their fundraising adventure. The team raised over $170,000 for Interplast. An amazing effort that will rebuild countless lives across the Asia Pacific region.