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Construction of New Hospital in Samoa Defers 2011 Heart Surgery Mission to 2012

An artist’s impression of the planned first phase of the new National Hospital at Motootua

The Trust has been advised by the Chairman of the Samoa NHS Board, Tupuola Oloialii Koki Tuala that construction of the new national Hospital for Samoa and related demolition work commencing in April / May 2011 will affect essential services to the TTM Hospital operating suite. As a result, the Board has been advised by their management to defer the planned July heart surgery mission to 2012.

The Chairman of the Samoa NHS Board has graciously invited the trust to communicate directly with him in planning the next surgery mission and any other activities …..

On behalf of the NHS Board, Minister of Health and the Government of Samoa , I wish to record our sincere appreciation to you, your team and your sponsors/donors for all the work you have done for this mission. However, it is our hope to have the mission in 2012 when the new hospital is completed and you are most welcome to undertake your mission and your project in 2012. The Board will ensure the NHS’s part in the mission will be completed in time, including the screening and organizing of patients prior to your arrival. NHS will also be well prepared in 2012 to complete the mission successfully with your team.

……… Once again, we are grateful for your help and support in organizing the above mission for the People of Samoa . We look forward to work closely with your team in completing the cardiac mission for 2012.

 Tupuola Oloialii Koki Tuala CHAIRMAN NHS BOARD 28 Feb 20011

The Trustees and Clinical team look forward to preparing for the next cardiac surgery mission in the new National Hospital.

Pacific.Scoop: New hospital to lift health standards

 

Donee Status Application Update 2011

The Trust has been advised by the Policy Advice Division of the IRD on the progress of the application of the Trust for Charitable Donee Status.

As the Trust will apply most of it’s funds to overseas aid special parliamentary approval is required for it to qualify for donee organisational status and the associated tax rebate benefits.

The proposed addition of the New Zealand Good Samaritan Heart Mission to Samoa Trust in Schedule 32 of the Income Tax Act 2007 is included in the Taxation (Tax Administration and Remedial Matters) Bill, which was introduced into Parliament in November 2010.

The bill is currently with the Finance and Expenditure Committee.  You can follow the progress of the bill on the Parliament website:

New Zealand Parliament, Legislation - Bills

The timing of the enactment of the bill will depend on legislative timeframes.  Provided everything goes smoothly, the Trust would be conferred with overseas donee status starting from the 2012 - 2013 tax year (so starting from 1 April 2012 ).

Tim Willcox

Trustee

Health workers use holidays to help out

Forty New Zealand health workers are giving up part of their holidays to perform life-saving heart surgery in Samoa .

The surgeons, nurses and other practitioners from Auckland , Hamilton , Wellington , Christchurch and Dunedin left yesterday on the 10-day surgical trip to the Pacific country's national hospital.

They are part of a trend in NZ charity healthcare, following a similar trip to Samoa last year, two to Fiji since 2006, children's heart surgery in Palestine and the opening of the Canterbury Charity Hospital last year.

In Apia , the team will replace heart valves in 18 people, most under 25.

Such operations cost $40,000 to $50,000 in NZ and are not otherwise available in Samoa , although the country sends some patients to NZ for the surgery.

The heart valves were damaged by rheumatic fever, a complication of streptococcal throat infection.

"If we don't do these kids' operations now they will die within two years," said the co-ordinator of the mission, Dr Chellaraj Benjamin.

The turn-around in their lives would be dramatic after the surgery, said Dr Benjamin, a radiation oncologist who has helped to set up dialysis units there and in Fiji

When asked why health workers wanted to give up holidays for such a project, he said: "Because we are saving lives and that is the greatest satisfaction you can have in your life."

Tim Willcox of Auckland City Hospital said there was no difficulty finding people to go.

The trips had important spin-offs, like prompting the construction of a proper oxygen supply at the Apia hospital and the establishment of strong links between clinicians in the two countries.

Mr Willcox is his hospital's chief clinical perfusionist, which involves running the machine that acts as the heart and lungs in open-heart surgery.

MERCY MISSION

* Heart-valve replacement operations on 18 people.
* At the national hospital in Apia , Samoa .
* Forty health practitioners from New Zealand .
* Four tonnes of medical equipment.
* One heart-lung machine.
* Funded by the New Zealand and Samoan governments, New Zealand staff working in their holidays, and suppliers of equipment, transport and accommodation.

Published 25/07/2008 By Martin Johnston - NZ Herald