February 2015 Newsletter
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HAITI: WANT TO LEARN FIVE YEARS MORE ABOUT OUR FEBRUARY 2015 AFTER QUAKE, ACTIVITIES? NEWSLETTER THE COUNTRY Regular updates of our relief activities around the world and IN THIS ISSUE - SPRITUAL ACTIVITIES / BRANCH FUNDRAISERS / PROJECT UPDATES STILL NEEDS HELP local projects MESSAGE FROM Image galleries from our spiritual activities and charitable works THE HOSPITALLER Welcome to the first edition of the Details of upcoming events Australian Associations newsletter in 2015. As usual within these pages we hope to share with you the activities of the Order Videos of our humanitarian since the last newsletter and introduce you to some upcoming initiatives for the Marie-Luise and her newborn child in the mother-child activities around the world. center in Darbonne. Photo: ADH/Schmetz year. Headlining this edition is an update from the Order’s international relief agency, Malteser International concentrates rebuilt after the earthquake 2010 who are currently active in West Africa MALTESER on improving basic health care, food in cooperation with the Episcopal Visit www.orderofmalta.org.au in an effort to fight the spread of the Ebola epidemic. This is just one of many security, water supply and sanitation Church. After continuous trainings INTERNATIONAL projects that Malteser International are as well as disaster preparedness of the medical staff in basic health EXTENDS involved in across the globe and we in Haiti. In this, the relief service care and the prevention, diagnosis regularly reports on their activities on our EBOLA: FIGHTING THE ASSISTANCE focuses on the cooperation with and treatment of cholera as well as website. UNTIL 2017 and the capacity building of local of the administrative staff, Malteser partners in order to make the country International could finally hand This issue also includes some of the EPIDEMIC IN WEST AFRICA independent from external aid in over the maternity ward as well as initiatives undertaken by the state Five years after the terrible As the worst Ebola outbreak since the products, tests and medicines. Another the long term. "Our programs aim at the health center to the Episcopal We have been serving the sick branches, including the Lourdes Day earthquake that destroyed large Mass celebrations in Sydney and discovery of the virus continues to run batch of equipment was sent to Pita, strengthening the Haitian people and Church which now manages both parts of Haiti, the country still needs and the poor for over 900 years. Melbourne that took place at the end rampant in West Africa, the international Guinea, to be managed by the OMF further developing their capacities," centers on its own responsibility. emergency relief agency of the Order of clinic. These prevention kits allow further assistance despite some of 2014 and upcoming celebrations in Malta, Malteser International, is joining the health professionals to observe the says Thomas Huefken, Malteser "When we opened the maternity Help us continue our work other states. It also details upcoming visible progress in the fields of social efforts to fight the spreading epidemic. necessary protocols to avoid the risk of International Program Coordinator ward two years ago, we had around by leaving a bequest to the fundraising events and updates on local infrastructure. Malteser International contamination. in Haiti. "This means that we train 25 births per month. Currently, about projects undertaken by the branches. will therefore continue to support the Order of Malta. “The epidemic still shows no signs of slowing local partner organisations not 70 newborns see the light of day down,” says Marie Benner, Malteser The World Health Organization (WHO) reconstruction and rehabilitation of It is also with great pleasure that I only in project implementation, but each month", says the medical International’s public health expert. announced that it had considered the the country at least until 2017. can confirm that in 2015 we will be also in the areas of administration, director Dr. Alix Ariste. "The word By leaving us a legacy, no matter what size, you “Although the international community has epidemic of Ebola hemorrhagic fever as a distributing 3,000 of our Coats for the logistics and conflict management." about the new and good service allow us to plan for the future. With guaranteed funds stepped up its efforts, the crisis continues to "public health emergency of global reach." The relief service of the Order of Homeless across the country this coming in place, we can look to expand and develop our be overwhelming.” The outbreak has so far killed more than Malta for humanitarian aid has In these trainings, volunteers from provided by the maternity ward winter. Thank you to everyone who has partner organizations work together and the health center has spread." humanitarian activities with confidence. 3,300 people in West Africa – most of them already spent around 10 million supported this project and that enables Together with its partner agency, Order of in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. More euros for emergency aid and with Malteser International staff and Each month, the medical team us to help so many of “our Lords, the sick If you would like to receive a copy of our bequest Malta France (OMF), Malteser International than 7,000 cases have been confirmed, thus gain practical skills. "In this way, treats about 2,000 patients, controls and the poor “. is channeling funds toward awareness and and the WHO warns that tens of thousands reconstruction measures. The living brochure, please complete and return the form on conditions of many people are we ensure that our local partners growth and weight of more than 600 prevention campaigns in Guinea, one of more could be infected within the next page 5. Finally, as our next newsletter is not still very poor. In addition to the will become able to continue the children and carries out around 400 the countries most affected by the crisis. few months, if the international community scheduled until July, I invite you all to does not intensify its efforts. earthquake, tropical hurricanes projects even without us," says vaccinations. Huefken. get in the habit of frequently visiting our “Preventive measures are key to control have repeatedly destroyed the website, www.orderofmalta.org.au with the outbreak and to keep it from spreading crops, so that especially people its weekly updates of our activities. to neighboring regions,” Benner says. There is currently no vaccine to protect The maternity ward in Darbonne near living in poor areas suffer from limited "All communities must be informed and people against Ebola. The virus is Léogâne may serve as an example Visit www.orderofmalta.org.au access to nutrition. Particularly in the The Australian Association of the Order of Malta Thank you for your continued support. take measures to protect themselves transmitted by direct contact with blood, for this approach: It was opened in for regular updates regarding our secretions, body fluids or organs. After an rainy season, the ongoing cholera 33 - 37 West Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010 accordingly, if we are to keep the outbreak 2012 and is part of the health center International Humanitarian aid Telephone: +61 2 9331 8477 | [email protected] Best wishes from spiraling out of control.” incubation period of 2-21 days, the patient outbreaks continue to weaken the that Malteser International had efforts www.orderofmalta.org.au starts displaying the first symptoms of high population’s health status. In Liberia, OMF sent 1.6 tons of protective fever, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, Ian Leitch gear such as tents, coats, gloves, and diarrhea, or hemorrhaging. The average The Order of Malta is a Public Benevolent institution and is endorsed by the Australian Tax Office as a Dr. Ian Leitch RFD, MB boots, as well as cleaning and disinfection fatality rate is currently around 50% 2 Deductible Gift Recipient. ABN 37 142 209 121. Licence: SA - CCP1722, WA - 21310. 1 MEMBERS OF THE PROJECT UPDATE: LOURDES DAY MASS CELEBRATIONS NSW BRANCH ORDER PROVIDE GUARD BRINGING LOURDES WATER TO THE CONTINUE OF HONOUR AT THE TIMOR-LESTE MALADES IN AUSTRALIA INSTALLATION OF BISHOP PHARMACEUTICALS TO SUPPORT TO FISHER AS THE NINTH PROGRAM ARCHBISHOP OF SYDNEY ST JOSEPH’S One of the Australian Association’s ongoing projects is the delivery of HOSPITAL pharmaceuticals to small clinics in PALLIATIVE Timor-Leste which provide primary medical care for significant numbers of POPE FRANCIS APPOINTS Dr Andrew Dorigo receiving the cheque from Mr David CARE UNIT Hall AM and (from left to right) Members of the Order Dr Timorese in underprivileged urban and RAYMOND LEO BURKE Robert Costa, Dr George Boffa and Dr Stephen Quain isolated rural areas. These clinics run by The frequency of the deliveries to the of the work is done in the field by local congregations are dependent CARDINALIS PATRONUS clinics is largely dictated by the funds manual labour, muscular aches and The Australian Association of 4 x High’low beds on shipments such as ours to provide OF THE SOVEREIGN Picture courtesy of available to this project. Our aim in pains can be chronically debilitating. the Order of Malta is very active treatment to the patients that visit throughout Australia supporting 2 x Shower Commode Giovanni Portelli Photography 2015 is to ensure that the clinics have This inexpensive anti-inflammatory ORDER OF MALTA them. the services of St Vincents Health Chairs with Accessories sufficient supplies to ensure that they drug would allow the family bread Melbourne picture courtesy of Sydney picture courtesy of Australia in Brisbane, Melbourne and are able to provide treatment to their winner to continue working. Kairos Catholic Journal/Casamento Photography Giovanni Portelli Photography On 12 November, St Mary’s Members in SA purchase the Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke has Sydney. 1 x Hand Held Ultra Sound patients throughout the year.