HOME : NEWS : PRESS RELEASE : HEALTH SERVICES

HEALTH SERVICES


Toronto, Canada January 2000

The International Goan Organization (IGO), in Toronto Canada, has shipped another container of medical supplies and equipment to Goa, India to aid local charitable hospitals and institutions in their efforts to help the poor and needy. The shipment, which is valued at Canadian $46,000, includes 75 wheelchairs, 95 folding aluminum walkers, 40 rollator walkers and other medical and institutional equipment. This is the second shipment of medical supplies from Canada that the IGO has undertaken.
St. Francis Xavier's Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children in Old Goa; Christ the King Physiotherapy Artificial Limb Centre at St. Inez in Panaji; Nirmala Mary Maternity Hospital & Dispensary in Cavelossim; Missionaries of Charity in Panaji; Shanti Avedna Ashram Palliative Care & Cancer Treatment Centre in Loutolim; Lokvishwas Pratishthan's School for Handicapped Children in Ponda; the Porvorim Lion's General Hospital in Siolim and Daddy's Home in Margao, will all benefit from the shipment.

Cellie Gonsalves, Chair of the Health Services Committee of the International Goan Organization in Toronto, expressed that she and other members of the Toronto team - Mr. Soco Aguiar, Mr. Olavo Joanes, Ms. Debbie Araujo, Mr. Lamberto Gomes, Ms. Charmaine Gonsalves, Mr. Al Mathias, Mr. Paul Menezes, Ms. Zulema de Souza, Mr. Trevor Monteiro and Dr. Althea Correa - were extremely happy with the response to the shipment of supplies that came to Goa last year.

Mr. Gonsalves referred proudly to letters of thanks and blessing from Msgr. Alberto Luis, Director, Caritas Goa who is coordinating the IGO team in Goa, and other individuals and institutions who had benefited from the last Canadian shipment. "It is especially gratifying to see how much people value their independence and to be part of an effort which helps people be self-reliant," said Gonsalves. She quoted a letter from Lokvishwas Pratishthan, which said, "It is only because of philanthropists like you (IGO), this institution is making headway for the upliftment of handicapped children in society and is creating self-reliance in their life."

"With this shipment from Canada, the hard-working men and women, in Church-run and other charitable institutions, who give of themselves and their time, effort and energy to help the poor and needy in Goa, will surely get a boost," added Gonsalves.

"The IGO was created to find ways in which Goans abroad and Goans in Goa can work together for the benefit of all Goans," says Zulema de Souza, president of IGO, Toronto, Canada. The IGO has previously implemented a series of successful initiates since its incorporation in 1989, which include the Indo-Canadian Enterprise Exchange Program, academic conferences and book launches on Goa, in coordination with the University Of Toronto, Canada.

For further information please contact: Rev. Msgr. Alberto Luis, Director, Caritas-Goa, Paco Patriarcal, Altinho, Panaji, Goa, India 403 001. Telephone: 832 226509/223353, Email: caritas@goa1.dot.net.in

Toronto, Canada January 1999

Canadian Goans donate $50,000
Shipment of hospital equipment arrives in the state

CODE BLUE!!! This call rings out as hospitals scramble to tackle an emergency.
The International Goan Organization, Toronto, Canada used the same words to rally Goans to reach out a helping hand to Goa. As usual, Goans in Toronto responded enthusiastically with cash donations to pay for the shipment of a 20-ft container packed with hospital equipment and supplies that arrived in Goa at the end of December 1998

The International Goan Organization (IGO) in Toronto, Canada decided to take advantage of the opportunity present by the restructuring of health services in Ontario, Canada. More than thirty hospitals were contacted by the IGO with the request that they consider the International Goan Organization when disposing f equipment and supplies. Some of the health care facilities have already provided equipment that was included in the shipment to Goa. Dialogue and negotiations is ongoing for further donations of equipment and supplies for the next shipment.

"This is our first attempt to gather equipment from hospitals in Ontario and use it to benefit our people in Goa," says Ms. Cellie Gonsalves, Chairperson of the health services committee of the International Goan Organization, "our shipment left Toronto for Goa on November 18, 1998. It was a total team effort that made this project a reality. Members of the IGO health services team in Toronto who worked diligently for over a year were Soco Aguiar, Alethea Correa, Olavo Joanes, Debbie Araujo, Zulema de Souza, Lamberto Gomes, Charmaine Gonsalves, Al Mathias and Paul Menezes."

"Based on extensive research and in collaboration with the IGO team in Goa headed by Mr. Alberto Luis, Director of Caritas, Goa, we selected seven health care facilities that met our criteria", says Ms. Gonsalves, "the pre-requisite to the supply of equipment, is that significant benefit should accrue to the poor and needy in Goa."

"All the facilities that we have selected in Goa operate fully on a charitable basis," says Mr. Alberto Luis, "and cater primarily to disabled children, the elderly and provide palliative and cancer treatment,: The first shipment included 75 wheelchairs, 95 walkers, 154 boxes of catheter units, 410 boxes of various athletic supports, 4110 syringe units, ideogram, hearing aids, crutches, angio sets and blood pressure sets. The health care facilities that will be receiving the equipment and supplies are: St. Francis Xavier's Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children in Old Goa (Caritas); Christ the King Physiotherapy Artificial Limb Centre at St. Inez in Panaji; Nirmala Mary Maternity Hospital & Dispensary in Cavelossim; Missionaries of Charity in Panaji; Shanti Avedna Ashram Palliative Care & Cancer Treatment Centre in Loutolim; Lokvishwas Pratishthan's School for Handicapped Children in Ponda; the Porvorim Lion's General Hospital in Siolim.

"This is the latest in a series of successful initiatives implemented by the I.G.O. since it's incorporation in 1989," says Zulema de Souza President. Among these initiatives include the Indo Canadian Enterprise Exchange Program, academic conferences and book launches on Goa in co-ordination with the University Of Toronto, Canada.

For further information please contact: Rev. Msgr. Alberto Luis, Director, Caritas-Goa, Paco Patriarcal, Altinho, Panaji, Goa, India 403 001. Telephone: 832 226509/223353, Email: caritas@goa1.dot.net.in

Toronto, Canada July 1998

Left to Right - Paul Menezes, Zulema de Souza and Soco Aguiar

CODE BLUE!!! This call rings out as hospitals scramble to tackle an emergency.
I.G.O. Canada has used the same words to rally Goans to reach out a helping hand to Goa.

"There is a window of opportunity to gather surplus equipment from hospitals in Ontario and use it to benefit our people in Goa," says Cellie Gonsalves Chair of the Health Services Committee of the International Goan Organization, "our target is to commence the first shipment before December 31, 1998."

A major restructuring of hospitals in Ontario, Canada will result in closings and amalgamations of several major hospitals. More than thirty hospitals in Ontario have been contacted by the I.G.O. and ongoing dialogue and negotiations have already begun.

"The challenge now is to select hospitals in Goa" says Cellie Gonsalves, "the pre-requisite to the supply of equipment, is that significant benefit should accrue to the poor and needy in Goa." Health care facilities interested in being considered should write to: The International Goan Organization (I.G.O.), 61 Spadina Road, Richmond Hill, Ontario L4B 2Y7, Canada.

"The request from hospitals in Goa should include a brief background of the hospital, a list of their supplies and equipment requirements, commitment to operate and maintain the equipment as well as use it to benefit the less fortunate in Goa," says Dr. Jorge Fernandes, President of the Indo Portuguese Friendship Society in Goa, who represents the I.G.O. in Goa.

"This project has the full support of The Goan Physicians Association in Canada" says Dr. Terence Da Silva, president.

A task force was formed by the I.G.O. in October 1997. Goans in Toronto, Canada responded with overwhelming enthusiasm and the momentum continues to build. More than forty volunteers with a strong desire to help their homeland Goa have been mobilized so far. Professionals, managers, educators, doctors and university students have rallied to the call.

"This is the latest in a series of successful initiatives implemented by the I.G.O. since it's incorporation in 1989," says Zulema de Souza President. Among these initiatives include the Indo Canadian Enterprise Exchange Program, academic conferences and book launches on Goa in co-ordination with the University Of Toronto, Canada.

For further information please contact: Msgr. Alberto Luis, Director, Caritas-Goa, Paco Patriarcal, Altinho, Panaji, Goa, India 403 001. Telephone: 832 226509/223353

Toronto, Canada March 1998

A Little Love... With a Lot of Hope!
By Cellie Gonsalves

Left to Right - Marjorie Mendonca, Principal Caritas Center, Cellie Gonsalves, Director IGO, Rev. Msr. Alberto Luis, Director of Caritas

Extravagant outdoor weddings, golden beaches, dramatic carnivals floats, huge election rallies... these memories are fading away, but the memories that are etched in my mind are the visits to the hospitals and treatment centers in Goa. In February of this year, I visited these places as Chair of the Health Services Committee of the International Goan Organization, (I.G.O.) in Toronto.

The first place I visited was the Caritas Center for disabled children at the picturesque little village of Bainguinim, close to St. Francis Xavier's Church in Old Goa. Arriving at the Center, we approached a group of giggling ten-year-old girls neatly dressed in their school uniforms. As we got closer, I noticed that some of the girls had prosthetic legs and were hobbling. Along the way we passed giant sheds, and parked the car beside an unimpressive bungalow with a beautiful garden. A nun directed me to Rev. Msgr. Luis Director of Caritas, who was overjoyed that I had accepted his invitation to visit the Center.

Rev. Msgr. Luis told me "Our goal is to see that the children placed in our care are given proper education in keeping with their abilities, thereafter train them for an occupation which will help them to be financially independent individuals." The sprawling 36,000 square metre complex began with just 14 handicapped trainees and now has several hundred students. The Principal, Marjorie Mendonca proudly told me that they offer education on par with normal schools, right from Kindergarten to High School and on to Junior College, presently offering the Commerce and Humanities streams of study.

At the training-cum-production center, practical and results oriented training is conducted. Certificate courses are provided in printing technology, cutting and tailoring, dress making, carpentry, electrical wiring, baking and confectionery, catering management, typing, candle making and beauty culture. Embroidery, bamboo and fiber-work, welding, bakery, poultry, piggery, dairy farming and kitchen gardening are some of the other trades taught at the Center.

In one shed, I saw the teacher helping students make prosthetic limbs out of wood. It suddenly dawned on me that the girls I had seen earlier were hobbling because the artificial limbs were heavy and awkward. In the embroidery class, I saw a little girl without arms or legs doing needlework using the stumps of her hands. In every class I visited, the children proudly showed me their work!

In addition to the trades, focus is also on academic and other needs required to develop the personality and character of the individual. That's the raison d’être for housing the boys and girls in rather meager hostels located in the complex, and managed by the Sisters of the Franciscan Missionaries of Christ the King. Physical training is also a part of every child's daily schedule. Victor Vaz, a special coach assists the teachers in training the children for Annual Sports Programs and Special Olympics.

As I watched the children, it was easy to forget that these children have deficiencies in areas that most of us take for granted such as thinking, seeing, hearing, speaking, moving and socializing. I realized after my visit, that a child with a combination of challenges has an extraordinary share of abilities and development. These children are walking through the dark corridors of the handicapped world, and we believe that it is our obligation and duty to bring them into the light.

As we are all aware, more than thirty hospitals have been scheduled for amalgamation, as part of the major restructuring of hospitals in Ontario. The I.G.O. has taken advantage of this opportunity to obtain surplus equipment from these hospitals and send it to Goa. The first shipment will leave Canada before December 31, 1998.

In addition to the Caritas Center, we have selected seven other hospitals/treatment centers in Goa as recipients. Their requirements are fairly basic - hearing aids, wheel chairs, crutches, prosthetic limbs, audiometers, incubators, stethoscopes etc. All these facilities operate fully on a charitable basis, and cater primarily to disabled children, palliative and cancer treatment.

The I.G.O. has set up a Health Service Project taskforce in Toronto, and more than forty volunteers have been mobilized so far. A team has also been established in Goa. Goans have responded with overwhelming enthusiasm and the momentum continues to build. Professionals, managers, educators, doctors and university students have rallied together and are dedicated to extending a little love... to bring a lot of hope! If you have a strong desire to help the poor and needy in our homeland Goa, and would like to join our team, please contact me at 905 883 6115.