Giving birth in developing countries is a far cry from what Northern Beaches women experience.
Dr Ray Hodgson, a gynaecologist, obstetrician, and a member of the Rotary Club of Port Macquarie, visited the Northern Beaches to talk about the hospital he is helping build and equip in rural Nepal.
For more than a decade Dr Ray has visited Nepal with volunteers to positively impact the lives of women living in poverty and in 2010 he founded Australian for Women’s Health (A4WH).
Although disrupted by Covid-19, which has devastated Nepal, Dr Ray is leading the construction of a mothers and Babies Hospital in East Nepal. Dr Hodgson and his teams have been training doctors, midwives, nurses, imaging technicians, pathologists, cleaners and administrative staff – all ready to occupy the building.
He told the hundred who gathered at the Manly Leagues Club late May that the 35 bed, earthquake resistant hospital will have a modern labour ward, a neonatal ward and operating theatre.
The top floor of the building will be used to teach Nepalese medical students, doctors, nurses, and midwives. Australian teams will continue to visit to provide teaching of more advanced procedures and mentor the teams.
The project is already supported by several Rotary Clubs in NSW, the US and Iceland, and Rotary International, but clubs on the Northern Beaches are hoping to add funds to help build the hospital.
“We saw a video from A4WH at our District Conference last year and were incredibly moved by how women in Nepal suffer during pregnancy and childbirth,” said Rotary Club of Balgowlah President Rick van Brugge.
“We invited Dr Ray to come and talk to a wide group of residents to see how we may be able to assist.
“Rotary Clubs on the Northern Beaches are looking at options for fundraising to ensure the hospital will be fully set up.
“More than$1.5 million has been raised but a further $300,000 is needed to ensure it functions at the optimum level.”
If you are interested in learning more or supporting this project, please contact Rick on balgowlahrotary@gmail.com
