I moved house in March after we spent many months if not years looking for somewhere.   This has been very exciting BUT meant that my proposed annual trip to Palawan at the end of February had to be cancelled.   I was loathe to do this as two weeks in the tropics during February is always a welcome break from UK weather.   The lack of a report of my annual visit does not mean that nothing is happening.

April (Soc & Cecile's daughter) and her son, Ethan, have just made another visit which this year coincided with a visit by Cecile's mother from the USA.   So it has been a very busy time for them both as the patients continue to pour into the unit.

Soc has gave an invited lecture to the ARTOF (Association for the Rational Treatment of Fractures) meeting during the EFORT (the European Federation of national Associations of Orthopaedics & Trauma) meeting in Vienna. 

The Spring 2009 News Letter should have reached you by now showing the success of the Ponsetti method that Soc learned at the conference in Finland a few years ago.   If you do not have a copy please let me know and I will put your name on our mailing list.

2008 Outstanding Award in Community Empowerment/Service

SOC IS GIVEN SPECIAL AWARD

by THE UNIVERSITY of the PHILIPPINES ALUMINI ASSOCIATION

GARI M. TIONGCO (Chair, UPAA Search & Awards Committee and President, U.P. Alumni Association) wrote to Soc.

Congratulations!  The UPAA Board of Directors has confirmed your award as 2008 UPAA Outstanding Awardee in Community Empowerment/Service.  We are proud to note that you have used your education from the University of the Philippines as a springboard to your total development in your profession.  We recognize your achievements in your particular field, and your leadership in projects which contribute to the welfare of Filipinos and to the larger society.

This is a great honour for Soc.  He and Cecile attended the meeting in Manila during the celebrations.  This year is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the University making the award to Soc very special. 

There are some photos of the event in the Gallery.

Chaiman's visits to palawan

     The account of my visit in 2008 is given in the 2008 Annual Report which is below the new 2009 report.         (There are some photographs relating to the 2008 visit in the Gallery)

      My visit in 2009 was to have been in February but personal factors have led to the postponement of this trip.  I am booked to visit in March 2010 and will report back.

Please remember that costs are always rising and we are looking for new supporters.   Please tell your friends and let us know the address of anyone who would like to be on the mailing list.

Notice to all donors

1. Thank you to all our loyal donors.  I am well aware that many of you make donations on a regular basis often more than once a year for which we are extremely grateful.  I apologise that I do not acknowledge all the donations but I feel that this is really a waste of our resources,  If you do require a receipt let me know.

2. The work in Palawan is still increasing.  Not only do Soc and Cecile have to care for an increasing number of patients but the new training centre (Bahay Sanay) creates even more work - and of course needs even more money.

3. The latest Annual Report is now available.

4. We are about to send out a News Letter to doctors who are not on our Mailing List.   Please encourage others to support us and let me have the names and addresses of any colleagues who might be interested in our work.  Addresses on the Contacts page.

5. It would help me enormously if donors who have previously signed a Gift Aid Form could let me know when they sent donations.

Louis Deliss

ARCHIVES

Sasakawa Health Prize

I am delighted to report that in Mayoc attended the World Health Organisation (WHO) Sixtieth World Health Assembly at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. He was there to receive the Sasakawa Health Prize for 2007.   The prize is given for outstanding innovative work in healthcare development.  this is a wonderful achievement and recognition of Soc's work in developing appropriate Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation in Palawan that is applicable in many parts of the world.

Photos of the award ceremony can be seen in the Gallery.

Further details can be found on the following links.

http://www.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB120/B120_DIV3-en.pdf  See notes on page 4.

http://www.nippon-foundation.or.jp/eng/brief_dtl/20070528HealthPrize.html

http://information-hub.ofw-connect.com/OFW_Articles/?q=Palawan_Doctor_to_receive_WHO_Award

Photos on  http://www.who.int/mediacentre/multimedia/2007/wha60/en/index2.html

Report of visit to Palawan August 2007

My annual visit to the Philippines started with two days in Manila.  Soc had arranged meetings with various, hopefully, influential people.   These were both in government and at the University of the Philippines.    Some would be helpful with Soc’s medical activities and some for his geological work as he still advises the Provincial Government on geology.   I was also scheduled to give a talk to the Orthopaedic Department of the Philippine General Hospital.   The PGH is the main hospital and medical school in Manila.   It was interesting to be shown around by the Chief Resident (SpR).   I lectured on Appropriate Orthopaedics as I see it, concentration on the need to question the excessive use of internal fixation.   The senior Consultants agreed but the juniors had more difficulty!

Then we flew to Palawan.   There are not many changes but a steady increase in the signs of affluence.   There are more cars and tricycle taxis on the road and more smart shops and restaurants as well as many new buildings.  The other measure is the tripling of scheduled flights from Manila.   I stayed as usual in a fairly simple wooden hotel near the centre where they are extremely welcoming.

Soc and Cecile were also most welcoming but got me down to work straight away.   Off we went to the Bahatala building to meet the staff including Angela a Canadian VSO Physio.   Then we went to see patients both in the clinic and in the ward.   There are the usual large numbers of Club Feet, many Constriction Bands, skeletal trauma and infection.    The first patient in the ward had a nice cold abscess with muscle wasting and osteoporosis making the diagnosis of Tb easy.   There were also the large numbers of forearm fractures in children and some in adults.   These fractures vary from fresh to a few weeks old, some even hoping for correction years later.  The fresh ones are treated by either manipulation under haematoma block or a few days on skin traction, often at home, before casting.    Fractured "NOF" are as usual not treated surgically and do very well, as do the femoral shaft fractures.   The sub-capital fractures often do not come in but are given a few days rest and then mobilised with sticks or crutches. The per-trochanteric are mobilised the same way after 1-3 weeks on traction.   Femoral fractures are treated by traction, skeletal in adults, on a Perkins’s bed for 4-6 weeks and then put in a thigh brace and mobilised.

We had a trip out as always.   This was to follow up some patients and to see new ones.   We went to Taytay which is the old Spanish capital of Palawan north of Puerto Princesa.   It was particularly nice to see “Lee” (see under “gallery” on the web site) who was at school and came running across in normal trainers.  We also saw new patients that had been “found” by Aimee, the local CBR worked attached to Bahatala.   These varied from simple trauma to complex difficult cases some probably infective and the usual congenital problems and CP.   Whilst there I unfortunate caught the local ‘flu and found a fever in temperatures of 95+ quite difficult.  But at least it was not Malaria!

The last week of my visit coincided with a two day course for doctors.  They came from most of the municipalities of Palawan to learn some Orthopaedics.   They are often the only doctor for many miles and have to be “multi-skilled”, performing Caesareans and treating the two common diseases of childhood, gastroenteritis and Malaria, but must be ready for anything including trauma.    I was able to present Soc with the Eyre Brooke Medal awarded by World Orthopaedic Concern International at the opening ceremony.  I then gave opening and closing talks, Soc did the most and short talks were given by the VSO Physio and by Cecile.   Everyone seemed very keen and to enjoy themselves.   The meeting was held on the BPT Training Centre (Bahay Sanay.   This building is in constant use for meetings and training courses.  It is definitely showing its worth.

I spent much time with Soc and Cecile talking about future developments and inevitably about finance.   The exchange rate has fallen a bit after the spectacular climb from 43 peso to the pound to 110.  It has now settled at about 90.   This means that the inflation proofing effect of the exchange rate has stopped and slightly reversed.   In addition the costs inevitable increase and the Training Centre will have revenue consequences.   Below is a table I will put into the 2007 Annual Report.  It shows the additional funding that Cecile skilfully and successfully arranges.  The small but increasing local contribution is very reassuring for our long term sustainability.   All the funds in Palawan go through the NGO we set up, Bahatala Inc.  There are in addition some other local donations for the supply of wheelchairs.

             I hope that we will be able to increase our income by completing the revision of our mailing list.   This has already gone up by about 15% but we need to increase further to cover increased costs.  Please consider us when making charity donations and pass on the news about our work to your colleagues

Chairman British Palawan Trust

www.britishpalawantrust.org.uk

2 September 2007

Report of 2006 visit by Trust Chairman

My annual visit in 2006 took place over Easter.  Being there over this devoutly observed religious holiday is a mixed blessing.  The whole island is in holiday mood with small shrines in each street and the Stations of the Cross at Calvary, a hill on the outskirts of Puerto Princesa which is part pilgrimage and part fiesta.  On the other hand the work stops and it is really to see the work being done that I visit, although the enjoyable holiday is another good reason.   I was greeted by Soc and Cecile at the airport and after dumping my things at the hotel it was straight to work.  

I saw very many patients with both traumatic and orthopaedic problems.   I spent time in the Bahatala building and with the staff we employ.   I even saw some new patients on my own when Soc was off doing other things.  It all brings home the excessive reliance on high technology that is the fashion in the west! 

I was also able to spend a great deal of time talking to Soc and Cecile.  Sometimes I talked to them both at other times I was able to talk to them separately.  The result was that I learned much and began to understand what the real problems had been over the last year.   It is now, I am pleased to report, all irrelevant as Soc is now reinstated with full admitting rights in the hospital.   The week after I left he had two operating lists and has had more since.   He is also once again using the BPT ward that we built as an extension of the hospital.   However one must remember that the majority of his patients do not require in-patient care

The new training centre, now called Bahay Sanay the Tagalog for Training (and exercise) House, is a really wonderful facility.   We must be very grateful to the Bishop of Palawan for most generously giving us the land.   The building, funded by an oil company, is in the grounds of a seminary close to the Bishops Palace.   This means that it is totally free from “political” interference.     The centre will be use for training courses.   The first is on 6^th & 7^th June and aimed at the School Nurses.  It will also be used for training village health workers.   At the opening I invited the Palawan Medical Association to use it for their meetings and I hope they will take up the offer.  I have suggested to Soc that training sessions for local doctors should start as soon as possible.

The cost of building the new training centre was all met by an oil company but there will be an ongoing cost for courses, upkeep and electricity.   In addition the number of patients increases each year.   Cecile has been very successful in obtaining additional funds from partner charities such as CBM (Christoffel Blindenmission), Stitchting Lilliane Fonds and others but the British Palawan Trust will have to find more money.  To this end I have been working with Soc on the mailing lists and NewsLetters.  I will also try to find companies to give donations and look to others to do the same. 

In summary the work of the Trust is still needed and appreciated by the Palaweños.  The numbers of patients and of the disabled who benefit is enormous and growing please keep supporting us. 

WOC International Eyre-Brook Medal Award

Soc received this letter from Mr K Tuson F.R.C.S. in 2005.

Dear Dr Socrates,

I am delighted to be able to tell you that I was able to announce to the International Committee of World Orthopaedic Concern that your nomination by WOC UK for the receipt of the Arthur Eyre-Brook Medal has been approved. As you know, the Arthur Eyre-Brook Medal is named after one of the founders of World Orthopaedic Concern and designed to recognise the efforts and input of surgeons like yourself who spent many years working in areas of great need. Many congratulations. I hope that Dr Rajasekaran, who is visiting the Philippines shortly, will be able to make contact with you to present you with this medal.

P.P.S.  I presented the Medal to Soc at the opening ceremony of the Doctors Training Course in August 2007.  I had been asked to do this by WOC.  The Medal now hangs in a frame with the certificate in the Bahatala staff room.  LD.