News Archive
April 2008 - Update of the situation so far as we are aware
- P3CA is now a well established and legalised Indonesian Charity
employing about 30 people thanks mainly to Director Drs Sanusi Maha
and funding from Aceh Partnerships in Health. The goal of APiH is
“Healthy Aceh 2010” and we believe they are using funds donated for
the tsunami with the best of intentions.
- APiH have financed the CBRS (Community Based Rehabilitation
Services) project and this is expected to continue to the end of
2008, all in accordance with a contractual agreement where P3CA
project members receive assistance and training in all aspects of
developing and carrying out a program to supply services to the
disabled over a wide area. Essentially these are stroke, speech and
physio-therapies as well as the provision of improvements for
access, support, and mobility tools etc.
- The first year CBRS 2007 Report lists 689 disabled that have
been visited in the districts of Banda Aceh, Aceh Besar and Sabang.
Talks and seminars on the subject have been given at HQ and in
several locations. A cash flow summary is included from July to
December 07 and some photos of low reproductive quality; in all some
230 single sided pages. This document may well be useful for
publicity purposes.
- Upon closing their branch in Aceh recently, Oxfam donated a
motor cycle, desktop computer, office furniture and stationery to
P3CA. At the same time a compost making project was sponsored by
HIVOS including the donation of a compost making machine, 5 cows and
other supporting material. All this is now based on farmland
belonging to a Trustee and is run by P3CA. The potential is for
employment of some disabled, training of skills and providing income
for Education and Livelihood.
- In March BRR (Badan Rehabilitasi dan Rekontruksi) - the
Government reconstruction organisation following the tsunami - has
budgeted for and donated to P3CA 40 million rupiah for skills and
handicraft training of the disabled.
- For some time P3CA Staff have been donating monthly a percentage
of their earnings to the Education Fund. This has been distributed
recently to 40 students.
- Livelihood support has been given to 8 persons, in April 08, to
help them set up in small business.
October 2007 Update following Wardah’s visit to Aceh
Training of prosthetists: Following discussion with BRR (Aceh Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Organization) support may be allocated in next year’s budget for the training of prothetists in 1st world design provided that P3CA can find suitable candidates. In this respect we are looking for the 2 persons who were sent to Malaysia by MERCY shortly after the tsunami for 2 years training.
The program manager of Leonard Cheshire International, in Aceh, has met with P3CA and proposed co-operation in related issues, hopefully, in the matter of more prostheses. We are now waiting for comment from LCI head office in London regarding follow up which must include the very best design in future.
Meetings with Government: Wardah together with the Director of P3CA met with both the Chief of Social Affairs in Aceh, and the local Chief of Aceh Besar district.
On each occasion interest was expressed in the idea of setting up a prosthetic workshop. There would appear to be the possibility of land being made available even though a bit far from the city.
Community Based Rehabilitation: This is now the principal program wholly financed by APiH and is run with two approaches, “Outreach” and “Client Based Centres.” There are 10 CBCs established to deliver physiotherapy services covering 3 districts (Aceh Besar, Banda Aceh and Sabang). Presently, team work is a little weak as the staff is not yet sufficiently trained for the extensive administration involved. One of the villages where the CBRS Outreach is done was visited. The community appreciates the services being provided as there is a real need for the people. CBRS has now reached more than three hundred beneficiaries.
Education Fund: The few directly sponsored students have received their full allowance but the others listed have been reduced to half measure during 2007 as the available cash had already been distributed. The good news is that the physiotherapists working for CBRS (about 27 persons) will contribute a minimum sum of $5 per person per month to help support the education of the children. This is done with pure sincerity and no force from management. The list is now reduced to about 30 students, others having dropped out for various reasons, leaving school, etc.
Livelihood support: Since the last report only three extra disabled have received livelihood support due to lack of funds. Many requests have been received and proposed whilst funds are awaited.
Prostheses: The kind donations from Jakarta Highland Gathering and The Golf Association have been used for the additional costs of the Artificial Limbs project. Part, also, for medical expenses of some disabled.
April 2007 - Visit to Aceh
- The tents have all gone now and trees growing, some few up to 4 metres
already. Some people are still in barracks but this is because either their
house hasn’t been built yet or the water and power is not yet available where
their house is. I was fortunate to have an air conditioned room and hot water
this visit, courtesy of Lafarge and the local cement works, which is now being
rebuilt.
- It was good to see Edi again, this time with a fully functional arm. He had a
mechanical elbow fitted 3 months ago and is fully recovered. He has moved into
his new house in the brand new village of Dayah Mamplam on the hills nearby the
destroyed village of Leupung. Unfortunately there is no electricity or running
water yet but Edi has opened his house as a shop/café and is catering to the
workers on the site.
- Our Charity P3C-Aceh is presently very busy with their new CBRS program
funded by APiH. The Community Based Rehabilitation Services program commenced in
December 06 and has so far recruited 26 medical persons presently being trained
by APiH. Two of them are young men who already have 3 years training as
prosthetists. The objective is to set up locations all over the province of Aceh
where disabled can report to and receive attention in a fairly short time
without having to travel so far. The plan hopes to include a mobile prosthetic
and orthopaedic workshop in due course. If all goes well it will be funded for 2
years at a possible cost in 6 figures (measured in UK pounds). Indra Yulianto
has been the one to get this program going in spite of being available only part
time. He has, to date, held the charity together in spite of many problems and
limited funds.
- There are some complaints about some of the new prostheses fitted in February
07 and P3CA is doing its best to have adjustments made. In the UK one just goes
to the nearest disability centre for this but in Aceh some patients are as much
as 400 miles away from Banda Aceh. Hence the need for the above program.
Unfortunately the locally made socket design, despite using perfect Otto Bock
components, is not as good as the UK standard. This is my fault for making
assumptions instead of checking out the supplier personally.It seems that most
prostheses made in Indonesia (sockets – the part that fits to the patient) are
based on a very old Netherlands design. P3CA has now located a supplier of
‘first world’ design sockets, which are essential for the fit and comfort of the
limb, and is hoping to introduce them to Aceh.
- I was pleased to meet the new Director Drs H Sanusi Maha who has done so much
to enhance P3C-Aceh image both locally and throughout the province. He is
responsible for getting government and other training systems going for our
disabled in recent months. With his long experience working in charity he will
shortly be restructuring and strengthening the team more in line with Indonesian
practice.
- P3CA head quarters will be given back to the owner, Mr Badruzzaman, in August and new accommodation will be rented. This will be in one or two ruko perhaps (the local type of shop). At the same time we have available, free of charge, a guest house near the airport for training and functions.
Hugh Crawford 20.04.07
New Limbs Project
by courtesy of Otto Bock Corporation & Aceh Partnerships in Health
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| Measuring and taking casts for the new limbs 19/20 January 07 | ||
During the first 2 weeks of February 2007 – 24 patients were fitted with new
modern prostheses and 2 with orthopaedic supports, followed by training
exercises in the use of them. 14 were given above the knee false limbs, 8 below the knee false limbs and 2
were given false arms.
All prostheses component parts were donated by the Otto Bock Foundation and of their own particular design and the assembly by their agent PT Pratama Anugerah Medika of Jakarta. Funds were provided by Aceh Partnerships in Health.
The program was reported by the local newspaper Serambi and attended by local government, the TV, the Aceh reconstruction agency and other international charities and agencies.
The training and fitting took place at P3CA new training centre & guest house near Blag Bintang, provided by our recently appointed Director Drs Sanusi Maha who has done so much to expedite this project.
Training
This same month, 11 other disabled have been trained in Aceh handicraft by courtesy of local government. They will be provided with a market for the products they make in due course.
Other disabled are attending an electronics course arranged by P3CA.
Update December 2006
Limb Components donated by the Otto Bock Foundation
P3CA have received a grant from Aceh Partnerships in Health (A facility of
Burnet Institute, Australian International Health Institute & World Vision
Australia) to pay most of the cost of assembly and fitting of the components to
make up 26 prostheses and bring them to Aceh. A large donation from the Saturday
Morning Only Golfers Society (SMOGS), Jakarta will make up the shortfall and pay
for even more false limbs. Our thanks for their generous donations.
The social department has at last provided a certificate confirming the charity status of P3CA and BRR (Aceh Rehab Authority) have confirmed the work being done is part of its activity. These documents are necessary for release of the limb components from customs without duty.
Dependant upon the performance of this program APiH will support a further program made by P3CA for a mobile rehabilitation unit (MRU) which involves the setting up of disability stations, manned by volunteers, in various towns throughout Aceh. The team have monitored many additional disabled people for this and their immediate needs.
Special Donation of Freda May Wield (Deceased)
Freda May Wield was an amputee and wished to do something for our charity. Upon
her death her family and close friends made a generous donation to P3CA instead
of sending flowers to the funeral. Our sincere thanks for this most kind
gesture.
Livelihood support
Fifteen new beneficiaries have received funds from P3CA and set up small
businesses. This makes a total to date of 45 with average payouts of £110.00. (A
spreadsheet of the latest 15 showing their proposed activity is available upon
request). Some of our earlier beneficiaries have already repaid the required 50%
of their loans.
Education fund payments
A further allocation to all the students has been made in August. As funds are
running low for the majority, who are un-sponsored, we are looking for more
individual sponsors.
Training
A 4 day cookery class for 15 disabled women took place from 11 November and
various utensils were given to the trainees.
A Government department has allocated Rps. 20,000,000,- for skill training in making Aceh Handicraft for about 20 disabled people. After the training they will be given a partner to sell their products to.
A new team member Taufik Hidayat, also disabled, who stays in the office now will take responsible for this activity. Taufik is skilled in audio electronics and is computer literate.
Staff
A new member Mr Sanusi has taken over as acting director whilst Mr Husin Ali is away in Sabang. Mr Sanusi is an experienced charity professional.
Update 14 June 2006
Hugh & Vera visit to Aceh 14 May 06
Our visit to Aceh found the P3CA team very enthusiastic about their meeting up with Aceh Partnerships in Health who are financed by World Vision Australia. We understand that APiH objective is to support small NGOs in Aceh who have viable projects in health related subjects but lack the experience and funds to carry them through. This renews the possibility of having a disability centre complete with orthopaedic and prosthetic workshop in Aceh. We will update you on this exciting progress with APiH as we are informed.
P3CA have moved on since the loss of their first program manager and are progressing with the two full time graduates that joined them in January to cover the Cipto patient’s visit. Rima has been covering finance and Nanda covers secretarial work. Livelihood and training is covered by a new member to the team Agus Setiawan, BSc Agr.
A new director has been appointed, Drs. M.Husin Ali, to take over from Nasir Ibrahim. Drs. Husin is retired from the education department in Sabang and so is available full time. Siti has had to resign due to her full time commitment to Oxfam and has been replaced by Mariya Isneini, BSc Agr (also of Oxfam). H. Badruzzaman is still a strong member and councillor to the team. He has let his new house become P3CA head quarters and this will continue to be available provided the electricity and water bills are paid.
The Cipto patient’s last visit was in March when they were given shelter and refreshments by P3CA. Both Cipto and Solo hospitals have now finished their work of providing prostheses in Aceh.
Muhammad has returned to his home fully recovered and Edi is at last progressing and out of pain with his long time fractured elbow. We have a new patient now with similar problem to Muhammad – a pin to be removed from a broken femur. Her name is Sarita and she is very brave with her other leg amputated below the knee.
As for Aceh itself there are still some refugees in tents and this is more obvious the farther one goes away from the city. However, there are many houses built and being built and the latest are of better quality than the wooden ones built a year ago. As the refugees move into better housing they begin to worry about when will the electricity have to be paid for and how to afford their own food.
In such a short visit it was impossible to do all the things we had hoped to achieve or to see the many amputees, and children of the education fund. The donated wheelchair taken with us was given to a friend who had to have dialysis twice a week and was too weak to walk very far. (Deceased June 06) This man had lost his home and several children in the tsunami. He had built a house with driftwood on his land in Leupung and made a lot of money selling rice from it to passers by going down the West coast. When he could no longer work he spent all this money in memory of his lost sons by providing a feast for everybody in the neighbourhood of his daughter’s home near Mata Ee.
Our friends in town who gave us shelter after the tsunami were living in a big new unfinished house in their garden. They had let their own house to expatriates to take advantage of the high rental prices now available. This is a common practice now in Banda Aceh as good money can be made from rental and moving away to cheaper rented accommodation, whilst the foreigner’s money continues to be available.
Fortunately we were able to vacate the tent after the first few days. It had many patched holes at ground level for the mice and cats to chase through. We were able to move to a small house in the Mon Ikeun village, that we had built on the site of a café my wife Vera used to own. The next day the weather changed with high winds and horizontal rain from the southwest which nearly took the roof off. This wind never stopped whilst we were there and I cannot remember the likes of it except for June last year after the tsunami. Neither surfers nor fishermen went out that week. In the 2 weeks we were there 3 earthquakes occurred, which is less than last year but frightening just the same.
Indrah of P3CA asked that we relay their thanks all the donors to their small charity and especially to those who give regularly by standing order.
Update 27 February 2006
Support for health service and transportation costs
Edi Husaini - The free operation to replace his elbow was done in November 2005, with a free elbow from Zainoel Abidin Hospital. P3C-A’s staff looked after him during his time in the hospital and has supported him financially for transportation cost as well as for his medicines.
Muhammad was admitted to the hospital on January 27, the operation to remove the pins from his femur was done free of cost. He left the hospital on February 4 and is presently living in P3C-A office. P3C-A’s staff will look after him until he completes his outpatient status and is paying for his food and transportation costs.
A further six patients were supported with their transport costs during December and January.
Supporting the patients of Cipto Hospital - 15 patient from outside Aceh Besar and Banda Aceh area attended Zainoel Abidin hospital to get their artificial limbs fitted. Initially the patients planned to stay overnight in P3C-A office, but they decided just to rest and have a meal during lunch time in P3C-A’s office as they had already hired return buses. P3C-A supported 3 of the amputees for their transportation costs.
Livelihood support
At least 3 more disabled have received financial support and some existing beneficiaries have received a second payment to help with their small businesses.
Education fund
By January 30, the education fund had been distributed to 28 children to cover 3 months: January, February and March. The remaining 8 children should, by now, have received their fund. We understand that several additional children have been added to the list.
Co-operation with other organisations
P3C-A is trying to develop its relationship with international NGOs. One is for the mental rehabilitation of traumatised people, another is to supply supporting tools for disabled. P3C-A is looking forward to the follow up of these proposals.
We are extremely grateful for the generous donation from BCC (British Community Committee in Jakarta) who have donated money specifically for health services and transportation cost of the patients and for the disabled education fund.
Otto Boch limbs
Arrangements are still being discussed regarding the additional costs - needed to pay for transporting the limbs from Germany, for making sockets and for the fitter’s travel expenses from Jakarta. We are anxious not to lose this offer of good quality limbs and are currently in discussion with other NGOs who may be willing to help.
Update 14 December 2005
The Aceh Disabled Rehabilitation Centre (P3C-Aceh) urgently seeks more funding to continue with its programs of helping the amputees in their livelihood support, training and health problems.- In particular, to support an offer made by Otto Boch in November. This German
prosthetics supplier, through the offices of Anggoro Praktomo their agent in
Jakarta, has generously offered to provide 40 prostheses to Aceh amputees. This
is a fantastic opportunity, which we cannot turn down, to help those whose false
limbs have broken or are not up to standard through poor fit etc. P3C-Aceh team
is presently gathering information and photos on those most in need. The offer
does not include the costs of air fares or hotel accommodation in Banda Aceh for
the technician who will carry the false limbs from Java, so we are urgently
seeking help towards these costs. We estimate that this would be in the region
of US$ 500 per visit. We cannot proceed without raising money for this
particular purpose. Transparency: Should a prospective donor require a
breakdown of costs and expenses following the procedures, this will be
provided.
- The rent for the building will be due for renewal in May. It is essential to have a base for the fittings of false limbs, training sessions and for the team to work from and be contacted at. Telephone communications are very poor and expensive and the team use mobiles generally and internet café. This is an area we are also seeking assistance in, whether by better mobiles, cheaper tariffs or use of facilities of another’s office on occasion.
Leonard Cheshire International
We have been in discussion with LCI (Leonard Cheshire International) and other
charities to ask for help. LCI intend to do something in Aceh in the future and
we hope to work in co-operation with them when they become established in the
region. Meanwhile we hope to keep the Centre running for at least another year
and to keep education support for amputees and the children of amputees going
indefinitely.
P3C-Aceh have agreed to provide food and accommodation for amputee patients
whilst they attend the Zaionel Abidin Hospital, Banda Aceh, for limb fitting in
January 06. This is in response to a request from the Dr Cipto Mangunkusumo
Hospital in Jakarta. These patients were not able to attend the clinics earlier
in the year due to the distance they have to travel and with no accommodation
available. Cipto is one of the two main suppliers of free prostheses (funded by
overseas organisations) who have been visiting ZA Hospital once a month to
measure, provide and fit false limbs since May 2005.
This request justifies one of the principal reasons for the setting up of this charity: our concern for the problems that patients would encounter with the Indonesian approach to supplying such orthopaedic help from far away.
Training programmes
The
ILO planned trip for as many 18 to 22 year old amputees as possible will take
place in Riau in the fields of vocational training, commencing January 06 and
will last for 2 or 3 months.
This photograph was taken at the P3C-Aceh Centre during the ceremony which enabled amputees to meet officials from International Labour Organisation and other NGOs.
Progress report - November 2005
P3CA Initial Work Program has been, so far, the rather time consuming task of tracking down the homes of the various disabled and their families as far afield as Pidie, to interview and follow up on them. To ensure that the beneficiaries accept monitoring, the support funds are allocated on the basis of 50% being a loan.
Funding and monitoring of livelihood support
Since our activities began in July, P3CA has been able to support 27 amputees/family units with funds to start small businesses (eg cake baking, sewing, small shops, small fast food businesses). These are being monitored and, to date, most of the projects are progressing well with at least 6 showing a respectable profit.
Training
Following a ceremony to introduce a group of amputees to several local and international agencies, arrangements have been agreed between ILO (International Labour Organisation) and P3CA for vocational training. This will be for a group aged between 18 and 22 and will take place in Riau (south-east Sumatra) commencing January 2006 by which time P3CA will have selected the most appropriate participants. A skilled amputee is training another group of 4 in electrical/air-conditioning - tools have been supplied by P3C-Aceh. One woman has received a 2 month's course in hairdressing and another a 1 month's course in computer studies.
Training in character building is planned in November by a polio diffeble (different ability) from Surabaya who has been trained in the Netherlands.
Health monitoring
The various requirements of amputees/disabled are being monitored and the 2 most serious cases have been/are being referred for hospital treatment. Five patients have been issued wheelchairs (donated by others).
Travelling expenses
We have provided travel pocket money to at least 87 persons for attending various appointments etc.
Hash House Harriers
A letter has been circulated, internationally, amongst these running clubs to ask for fundraising on the anniversary of the Tsunami and has resulted in contact from several organisations wishing to assist us.
Recent Donations - September 2005
A kind donation was received recently from the Aspidinians Club in Gravesend.
This is a club for Blue Circle employees and their friends retired from the
cement, lime, brick and associated industries.
Further generous donations were received from the Blue Circle Overseas Reunion
at Buxton resulting from an auction, raffle and individual donations.
Opening Day for Amputees
This meeting was conducted on 17 July 2005 in the meeting room of Zainoel Abidin Hospital, and aimed to introduce P3C-A to the disabled. Twenty-nine participants attended mostly from the Banda Aceh area. As well as introducing the P3CA program to the disabled, at this meeting we also conducted further assessments about the livelihood and financial support needs of the participants.
As a follow up program of this assessment, 10 disabled have been funded for their economic activities. These funds were distributed between 21 – 26 July 2005 by P3C-A team members by visiting their business sites or their temporary houses.
In mid June we agreed a very attractive rent for a new 4 bedroom house for our offices and a place where we can hold clinics. It will also enable our patients from further afield to stay overnight. The building was completed mid July 2005 and a 2 year rental contract set up with the owner who is a firm supporter of our cause.
Rebels Released
Hundreds of Acehnese rebels were released from prisons on Wednesday following the signing of a decree granting amnesty and unconditional release to members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday. - The Jakarta Post 02.09.05
