The Mountain Lodge’s John Adamson (left) and Peter Williams (right) welcomed Professor David Croaker and his wife, Helen to the Lodge’s Ladies Luncheon on Sunday.
MEMBERS of the Mountain Lodge, their partners and invited guests enjoyed a luncheon at the Bombala RSL Club on Saturday.
The gathering was treated to short talk by Canberra based Professor David Croaker, a paediatric surgeon, who specialises in urological surgeries and methods of diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infections in children.
Professor David Croaker donates his expertise and time to conduct paediatric surgery at hospitals in a number of Third World countries including Mongolia, Nepal, South Africa and the Gaza Strip.
He has also helped Rotary Oceania Medical Aid For Children Ltd (ROMAC) and is actively involved in “Kind Cuts for Kids” a Melbourne based organisation.
“By travelling to the countries we can perform more surgery, but there are occasions when we have to bring the patient to Australia due to a lack of local facilities,” Professor Croaker said.
He and other eminent surgeons generously respond to requests for assistance and have provided over 300 children from 21 developing countries with urgent medical treatment that has given them new hope.
Professor Croaker is strongly involved in The United Mission Hospital at Tansen in West Central Nepal (Palpa District) which was founded in 1954. Since that time it has provided a high standard of care to a large population in often difficult circumstances.
Professor Croaker said “it is unfortunate that in some countries, where poverty is severe and extensive, the problems are increased through political instability and violence”.
When Professor Croaker went to Tansen in 1987 it was estimated that they served about 7.5 million people with 165 beds. In particular, there are about 9,000 emergency admissions a year.
Compared to Australia the care and service the hospital provides is a very cost effective way of delivering health care.