Chisago Lakes Rotary helping to provide medical equipment, training to Jamaica

Chisago Lakes Rotary hosted a couple of special visitors at Rotary’s regular Tuesday gathering last week at Eichten’s.  Rotary District officials Margie Horning and Craig Leiser were presenting a check to Rotary President Judy Chartrand. The check is representing matching contributions from the district for the local  Rotary projects, benefiting Jamaica.  

Diagnostic equipment and medical training are being made possible through this effort, spearheaded by Chisago Lakes Rotary members Joanne Sackreiter and Kristine Nelson Fuge.  

Delivery of the equipment and on-site training are scheduled for the second week of January 2016.  The Chisago Lakes Rotary contributed about one-quarter of the needed monies and the Rotary District and Foundation supplement the local group’s efforts. In total this outreach and aid to Jamaica is a $55,000 effort.  

Grants subcommittee chairperson for Rotary District 5960, Margie Horning, said the work that went into putting this effort together by local Rotarian coordinators should be applauded.

Rotary’s Global Grant program (through the Rotary Foundation) is partnering with the local Rotary to help pay for an ultrasound machine, transducers and an EKG machine.  Clinics are also receiving blood pressure monitoring equipment.

The second part is a District Grant supporting a vocational training team to lecture and instruct Jamaican technicians.

A   White Bear Lake physician, two sonographers and Lindstrom  Rotarian Sackreiter will travel to Jamaica in January.

Rotary in Jamaica

Chisago County Press January 7, 2016

The Chisago Lakes Rotary Club delivered boxes of medical equipment; including ultrasound equipment, blood pressure machines and cardiac monitors for two rural hospitals in Jamaica.  The group arrived Jan. 2 in Jamaica. Shown with some of the equipment, in May Pen, Jamaica are:  Chisago Lakes Rotarian Joanie Sackreiter, left; Dr. Bradley Edwards, Sr.  Medical Officer of the Clarendon Hospitals, Walter Leavell, May Pen Rotary President, Colleen Johannsen, EKG Specialist, Dr. Ron Johannsen, Cardiologist, Dr. Jill Linse, and Pamela Ulett, Sr. Public Relations nurse from Mandeville, far right.

 Over the next two weeks, training of local health care providers takes place on the new equipment, including 75 Jamaican physicians who are travelling to participate in the Rotary sponsored training.  Team member  Dr. Ron Johannsen, a University of Minnesota cardiologist, will conduct lectures to local doctors and nurses on diagnosis of cardiac patients through the use of ultrasound.  Bedside ultrasounds in the emergency department enable physicians to rapidly determine who needs immediate surgical intervention and/or emergent transfer to a higher level trauma facility.  While in Jamaica, the team will conduct emergency room and clinic training to physicians and staff on cardiac monitoring and treatment of hypertension in both May Pen and Clarendon Parishes.  The Chisago Lakes Rotary Club applied for the Rotary International and District grants totaling $54,000 with financial matching support from more than 21 other clubs in Rotary District 5960; (district officials at local luncheon, story Press Nov. 26).