MG 58331 & MG 58332 Operation smile, 2005 – 2006 Swiss-Sponsored Reconstructive Surgery Projects  

Thanks to dozens of plastic & reconstructive surgeons and anesthesiologists, and hundreds of nurses of the 9 participating Government Hospitals, we have reached the successful completion of 2 projects that gave treatment to 798 patients, 397 young patients with MG 58331 and 401 with MG 58332. These numbers have a special significance as they mean that, since the start in 2001 of Reconstructive Surgery Projects sponsored by Clubs of District 2000 in Switzerland, we have helped a very impressive total of 2,000 young patients

In particular we thank our ‘Rotary Champion’, 2006-2007 District 2000 Governor Patrick Lahusen, for his great compassion and tireless fundraising efforts! He & his wife Sylvia have visited Thailand at least once a year to witness from close-by the dramatic change in the life of our patients. Reconstructive Surgery not only improves the health of patients, it also helps them to lead a life in dignity, without shame.

Since 2004, our ‘total care’ project format included bringing Clown Eckie with us for hospital visits. He performs his fantastic shows in waiting areas, hospital wards for patients and during ‘Thank You’ events for doctors, nurses, local volunteers. At little additional cost, we used his presence to also bring joy & toys to disadvantaged children at local Children Homes. Always highly appreciated by the kids and by the local Rotarians who help us with local project arrangements. For bringing so much joy, Clown Eckie recently received a well-deserved Paul Harris Fellowship.

Over the years, the Thai Government has made substantial investments in human resources, medical equipment and facilities, for what already was an impressive medical infrastructure. These gradual increases have enabled more surgery in Government Hospitals in all parts of Thailand. They have also had an impact on our projects, as –no matter how impressive our results are– in some locations they were lower than planned, leading to the need to get additional hospitals on board.

For our type of surgery, the major remaining ‘weakness’ in the current system is a shortage of funds for the hospitals. To solve this, the Thai Government has introduced a funding program that extends to the end of 2008. This will provide Reconstructive Surgery to an extra 5,000 patients! Such a program is usually the precursor of a structural funding increase to enable hospitals this type of costly treatment.

This is a very positive development! In view of the extensive contacts with the Thai medical community at all levels, our projects and our approach have plaid a role in this development! We can now say that Thailand is self-sufficient & self-reliant for this type of medical care. This means that there is no further need for Rotary-sponsored projects of the kind that we have had since 2001. Other, more specialized needs remain, such as for Speech Therapy and for individual cases of Complex Surgery.

We thank our Great Friends in Switzerland for this unique result! We also thank many other contributors and our very reliable partner, The Operation Smile Foundation in Thailand and its Medical Teams! Our combined efforts have litterally given New Life to thousands of young patients! Herzlichen Dank! Khop Khun Maak Krap! Thank You Very Much!

Overview of 2001 – 2006 Swiss-sponsored MG Projects
Of the 2,000 patients that our Great Medical Teams helped with the D-2000 projects...

1,126 were helped in the Ubon Ratchathani Region (56.3 %),
150 in other parts of North-East Thailand (total 63.8 % in North-Eeast Thailand),
45 in North Thailand, mainly in Pitsanulok (27.3 %),
110 in Central Thailand (5.5 %) and
69 in the Greater Bangkok Area (3.4 %)