Headline: Ambulance will be a goer in Goa. Source: Evening Herald (Plymouth). 23 July, 2002 at: http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=98912&command=display Content&sourceNode=98821&contentPK=2194540
APPEAL: Lack of medical equipment is crisis in tourist region A Saltash couple is appealing for donations and medical equipment to help provide an emergency ambulance service in the popular Indian tourist region of Goa. Colin and Sue Russell are both members of Saltash Lions, and Colin retired from Saltash ambulance service three years ago. Last year, they took out locally-raised funds to enable 1,000 sight-saving eye operations to be carried out at a desert hospital at Bisalpur, Western Rajasthan, and also took educational materials to an orphanage for deaf and dumb children near Bombay. But it was while giving first-aid resuscitation training in Goa towards the end of their trip that Colin became aware of the ambulance crisis facing the region. He saw a female English tourist who had drowned in the surf being attended by a doctor and nurse. They worked unsuccessfully for an hour to save her life before an ambulance turned up - a bare white van with no equipment and not even a stretcher. The president of Candolin Lions, Saltash's twin group in Goa, put a shocked Colin in touch with the region's secretary of St John Ambulance and the Red Cross of Goa. Colin said: "It was evident that they could provide personnel, training and expertise, but they had no ambulances or equipment. "We came back to Saltash in January with the target of getting three ambulances out there." Saltash's St John Ambulance had already donated its old vehicle for use as a mobile medical centre in Moldova, but St John in Axminster donated theirs for use in Goa, and it was rededicated last month. It is now being stored free of charge at Certini Cycles, on the Tamar View industrial estate at Carkeel, while Colin and Sue gather as much equipment and medical supplies as they can. Sue said: "Goa has now got five vehicles, so we are taking one ambulance and as much kit as we can. "All the Lions clubs in the district are helping to equip it, and we are also receiving donations of money. "We may need to fill a separate container as well as the ambulance, and are looking for ways to ship it all out; Colin will fly out to meet it at the other end." The Russells will also be returning to the eye hospital, the orphanage and Goa in January, taking with them Saltash Leos president Amanda Wells and member Caroline Smith. Anyone who would like to help the Russells is asked to contact them on 01752 844659. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ AND Express and Echo (Devon), 11 July 2002 Ambulance will be sent to Far East. Axminster and district St John Ambulance is sending its old ambulance to Goa in the Far East [sic], where ambulances are in short supply. Following the dedication of the new ambulance at the parish church, Superintendent Derek Cowling handed the keys of the old ambulance to Jamie Love, the president of Axminster Lions, which is sponsoring and arranging the vehicles transportation to the Far East. ============================== Don’t forget – you saw it on GoaNet! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
