A Change of Guard

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Friday 28 October 2011

Cambodia calls


SUPPLIED
HELPING CAMBODIANS: Wainui nurse Bev Hopper with a Cambodian baby. The photo was taken last year when Ms Hopper went to Cambodia with a team of five nurses teaching basic health hygiene.

Last updated 28/10/2011

Bev Hopper cannot wait to return to Cambodia.

The Wainui nurse, who works at North Shore Hospital, wants to go back for nine days from November 6 to 17.

Ms Hopper received a grant from the New Zealand Orthopaedic Nurses Association last year to travel to Cambodia and teach "all things orthopaedic" at Sihanouk Hospital, a centre providing free medical treatment to poor and disadvantaged.

"We focused on educating and training the nurses at Sihanouk, and the nursing students at a local university so we could make a long-term impact," Ms Hopper says.

She is also inviting her Waitemata District Health Board colleagues to join her this time round.

"In a short space of time we were able to make a difference, so I want to invite other staff members to join us for this year's trip," Ms Hopper says.

Ms Hopper's Cambodian trip was featured in last year's North Harbour News.

She says Cambodians would "travel for miles around, sometimes taking days" just to reach Sihanouk Hospital, and wait at the outpatients clinic a marquee with plastic chairs for hours before they are seen by a doctor.

"But they waited patiently. They'd wait for the whole day and when evening comes and a doctor is still not able to see them they would just sleep on the ground or under a tree and come back the next day," she says.

Ms Hopper says this year's trip focuses on developing post-graduate nursing papers, leaving behind a "legacy of education and training".

Joining her is Mason Clinic's educator Raewyn Somers, who was in Cambodia five years ago for an Oxfam fundraising cycling trip.

"I want to go back because it's such an incredible place," Raewyn says.

"I plan to run mental health needs assessment and post-traumatic stress disorder training."

Raewyn will be joined by partner Shane who works at Counties Manukau DHB mental health unit.

North Shore emergency department doctor Adrian Kerner sees the trip as part of a long-term commitment.

"I want to build relationships and make a difference. It's about teaching, learning and educating."

Donations of educational DVDs for children, old laptops and nursing books are sought by the team.

Rotary Orewa has gifted Ms Hopper $500 for her travelling costs. North Shore Hospital chipped in $400 towards the $1130 medical charity organisation Impact Charitable Trust hopes to raise for use of facilities to carry out assessment courses.
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Contact Beverly Hopper, email beverley.hopper@waitematadhb.govt.nz if you can help or for information.

- North Harbour News

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