AVOIDABLE BLINDNESS - PITAS 7 Feb 2010

Avoidable Blindness Campaign
Pitas, 7th February 2010
The Avoidable Blindness Campaign at Pitas on Sunday, 7th February 2010 was a follow up of the Rotary District 3310 “Avoidable Blindness Conference” held at the Sabah Trade Centre in Kota Kinabalu on 22nd November 2008.
The Avoidable Blindness Campaign was organized with the support and assistance from the Jabatan Oftalmologi of Queen Elizabeth (QE) Hosiptal led by the Ketua Jabatan & Pakar Oftalmologi, Dr. Shuaibah Abdul Ghani. The other specialist doctors participated in the campaign are Dr. Norwazilah Binti Mohd Ansul, Dr Mustafizur Rahman, Dr Linda, as well as optometrists, Cik Norhayati Hat, En Ikbal, Cik Suhaida, Cik Enjelin, En Irwan and 7 others hospital assistants. Some staff members from the Sabah Medical Centre (SMC) have also participated at the campaign. There were 10 Rotarians, three of them accompanied by spouses and family, and 3 Rotaractors who also participated in the event.
About 300 kampung residents of Pitas were examined and treated by the doctors at the Dewan Serbaguna Pekan Baru Pitas. Some of these patients who require surgical treatment will be treated at the District Hospital of Pitas and Kota Marudu within one month time by the specialist doctors. Due to the great turnout, the doctors and volunteers worked tirelessly to complete the examination/treatment of the patients, by taking only a short 15 minutes lunch break by turn despite that they having departed very early on Sunday morning and taken the three and half hours bus journey from Kota Kinabalu.
While the medical team was busy examining and treating their patients, the Rotarians and spouses were occupied giving out the de-worming medication and distributing exercise books, stationeries, snack foods/drinks and used clothing to the kampung folks.
President Frankie closed the campaign with expression of words of gratitude and thanks to the doctors and volunteers from QE hospital and gave an appreciation certificate to each of the QE volunteer. President Frankie also thanked the Pitas District Office, SMC volunteers as well as the Rotaractors who had participated and/or assisted in the event. He also thanked the RCKK Rotarians and spouses, especially Rtn Dr. Ravi for organizing the campaign that will make a difference for the life of those kampung folks.
The chartered bus left Pitas about 4.30 pm. As a token of appreciation, the doctors and volunteers were invited for a simple dinner at Lintas Plaza after reaching Kota Kinabalu at about 8 pm.
Dear President Frankie and fellow Rotarians,
This is just to express my heart felt gratitude to all the Rotarians who took the trouble to come all the way to Pitas last Sunday to help out with the Medical Outreach - Avoidable Blindness Eye Camp. I wish to thank:
President Frankie for leading the team and being personally there despite the recent passing away of your mother.
Rotarians Chiang Wei Chia and Andrew Chong for doing all the groundwork - publicity, transport, food and other arrangements - to ensure the success of the Camp
PE Alfred Sii for helping out with the placement of banners and distribution of leaflets during your previous trip to Pitas and Kota Marudu in connection with flood relief
VP Tan Yew Lim for keeping the patients well-fed with pisang goreng and providing the doctors and support staff with soft drinks on a hot day.
PP James and Ann Yuk Ling for taking the trouble to distribute all goodies to the Kampung folk
Rotarian Paul Thien for your kindness to bring enough mineral water bottles for all participants
Rotarian Iskandar, Ann Fauziah and children for helping out the QE staff in various ways
PP Robert and Rotarian Alvin for your moral support
and to all the members who contributed in one way or other to make the Camp a success.
Inadvertently I forgot to thank you all while making the report on the Camp during the meeting yesterday - my apologies
Sincerely your in Rotary,
Ravi

Rtn Chiang Wei hang the banner infront of the Pitas Market.

Rtn Raymand Lee and PP James Jupinun help Rtn Chiang to hang up the banner at the junction of Pitas

Rtn Edward also land a hand to hang up banner at the community hall where the camp will be held

The Rotarians

Rotary club of Kota Kinabalu will be organising an avoidable blindness screening campaign at Pitas District, Sabah on the 7th of February 2010. The screening will start at 10.00am finish at 2.00pm. The preparation is on the way. The campaign is a join project with doctor from Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Sabah Medical Centre and Rotary club of Kota Kinabalu. The director in charge of the camp is Rtn Chiang Wei Chia. Contact no :0128296787.