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Current & Future Efforts

Baltimore, MD * October 16, 2010

Current Situation in Sri Lanka• We have an opportunity to engage and rebuild• Many different parties have shown interest in

working with us, through us• Over 430,000 were displaced in final months of

the conflict, but only 82,000 of these were new IDPs– An estimated 28,000 IDPs remain in camps because

no place to return to/unsafe areas

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Resettled PeopleAs of 08/26/2010• Vavuniya Camp - 32,707• Jaffna Camp - 2,237• Released - 292,081• In place of origin - 216,262• With host families - 71,264• In transit - 3,288

Resettled people in Kilinochchi & Mullaithivu

• Kilinochchi - 100,000• Mullaithivu - 50,000

Current Situation, cont.• “Returnees” have gone back to their communities or

settled in new areas, but are far from being “resettled”– Demining is a top priority; need for safe travel roads,

clearance of arable land, mine education, etc.– Lack of livelihoods, shelter, food, etc.– Many returnees used their official resettlement packages to

buy food & basic items, not rebuilding materials

• 58% of “returnees” are women; children and the elderly make up a significant % as well

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International Medical Health O

rganization (IMHO

)

North East Monsoon

• October to February• Forecast cyclones and flooding due to

current La Nina cycle • Waterborne diseases• Malaria• Dengue

Resettled IDP Health Concerns• Mental Health & Psychosocial Rehabilitation• Rehabilitation for Amputees• Primary Care

– Disrupted access to medications– Overstretched services, doctors

• Sanitation & Water (esp. for resettled families without infrastructure)

• Livelihoods/Empowerment• Lack of health care professionals, support

– Training for local personnel

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Primary Care

• Staff salary• Kilinochchi – 3 Pre-interns – $2700 for 3months• Mullaithivu – 3 Pre-interns – $2250 for 3 months• Mobile Clinic – Mannar – $12,000 for 5,000

patients

Nutrition

• Pregnant mothers in Mullaitivu• 1,000 mothers – $30 per mother

Patient Transport

• Poor road conditions• Lack of transport services• $2,000 – Patient transport expenses in

Mullaitivu area

Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Amputees

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Focus Effort: Amputee Rehab• Working through local partners with amputees in Jaffna &

Mannar• Jaffna Jaipur Centre for Disability Rehabilitation (JJCDR)– Project to help war victims in Northern Sri Lanka left

disabled and traumatized from the recent violence to move independently and comfortably through the provision of prostheses and mobility devices, such as wheelchairs, tricycles, walkers, crutches, and walking aids.

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Jaffna Jaipur Center Pledged – $36,000

Given to-date – $24,000 International Medical Health O

rganization (IMHO

)

Patient Profile #1• Father & Son: Jegan (29; below knee amputee) & Antony (9;

above knee amputee) from Naavanthurai North, Jaffna, Sri Lanka

• Victims of shell blast in Kilinochchi in 2007; fitted with limbs in June 2009

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Patient Profile #2• Kamalanathan (10; above knee amputee) from Selvanagar,

Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka• Lost leg in shell blast on March 30, 2009; fitted with limb in May 2009

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Patient Profile #3• Jeyantha (19; upper limb amputee) from Vannankulam,

Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka• Lost arm in Mullaitivu

during tsunami of December 2004; fitted with limb in 2007

• Lost limb during Vanni war in 2009; refitted in June 2009

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Meththa Foundation$7,900 – Given

Ongoing support for rehab center in Mannar International Medical Health O

rganization (IMHO

)

Patient Care

• Kilinochchi-Renovation of in patient unit- $10,000

• Home for Vettimanai residents• Jaffna- Mobile mental health services

Shelter for Returnees

• $33 per family for Cadjan roof• $4,000 given

Microcredit & Livelihoods Support— Key to Rebuilding Lives…

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Focus Effort: Livelihoods Empowerment

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Microcredit project• Survivors Associated - $10,000 pledged;

$5,000 given.• Kilinochchi – through KAMHA - $9,500

• 22 families benefitted• Tailoring shop• Tuition center

Ananthapuram- $9,500• 95 families• 22 families already supported• Carpentry• Poultry• Mechanic shop• Auto- three wheeler

Microcredit project, cont.

Microcredit project, cont.

Microcredit, cont.• Returns- already started to come- Rs.

1,000/month• This money will be used to support the

other families in this village• Then to move to the next village• One village at a time

Education and Training

• Tailoring school• Tutoring class for

school students

Mental Health Issues Present Huge Challenge

Focus Effort: Mental Health• Mental health has been identified repeatedly by those on the

ground as being the area of greatest need• Many coping with issues of trauma, depression, displacement,

loss of family members/homes, need for reunification, emotional distress, hopelessness, etc.– Collapse of string binding structures, family units– Guilt: for surviving, not being able to bury dead, etc.– Lack of livelihood, feelings of self-worth– Personality disorders, poor impulse control, aggression, anti-social– Domestic violence– Fear of death, hunger, suffering, etc.

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Recent Milestone

• Registration of IMHO Lanka (September 2010)– With increasing space for INGOs, IMHO Lanka can

serve as implementing partner• Success of growth & independence of IMHO

Canada• CDN $103,570 in 2010 projects to-date ($138,170

w/ pledges)

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IMHO Canada Efforts

• Sivan Arul Illam--$22,800– For nutritional/educational support for orphans and

physiotherapy trainees

• KAMHA--$6,700– 3-wheeler for patient transport and staff support

• CHA--$37,470– 50 permanent toilets for returned IDP families

• RDHS Jaffna--$3,500 ($11,000 pledged)– Nutritional support for 250 malnourished pregnant mothers

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IMHO Canada Efforts, cont.

• Tellipalai Mental Health Society--$5,500 ($24,000 pledged)– Support of multi-disciplinary intervention team

• Delft Hospital--$9,600– Medical equipment and facilities improvement

• JJCDR--$3,000– 25 indoor wheelchairs for amputees

• MSF Canada--$5,000– Haiti earthquake disaster relief

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IMHO Canada Efforts, cont.

• Maga Sakthy Women Federation--$5,000 ($9,300 pledged)– Microcredit/income-generation support for war-affected women-

headed households in Kilinochchi

• Youga Sakthy Women Federation--$5,000 ($9,300 pledged)– Microcredit/income-generation support for war-affected women-

headed households in Kilinochchi

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Future Projects• Continued support of amputee rehab through Meththa

Foundation, JJCDR, and Handicap International

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Future Projects, cont.• Development of community medical clinic for poverty-

and disaster-affected people in Petit-Goave, Haiti with Henri Gerard Desgranges Foundation ($32K grant)

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Future Efforts, cont.• Ethiopia volunteer medical mission trip to Bahir

Dar/Debark, Northwest Ethiopia in partnership with the Amhara Development Association (ADA)

– Laying foundation for future effort(s)

– Sent shipment of glucometers, medicines, hygiene supplies,sports equipment, etc. valued at $14,000

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Future Projects, cont.• Jaffna University student support: $5,500• Palliative Care Center at Batticaloa Teaching Hospital in

partnership with Indo American Cancer Association• Possible ICT/telehealth project for maternal & child

health at Jaffna in partnership with consortium under Global Partners United

• Alcohol/addiction hotline for Northeast• Livelihoods/self-employment support and other efforts

through Colombo Rotary Club

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Moving Forward

• Continue to pursue USAID funding• Explore social ventures and public-private

partnerships• Establishment of IMHO European Union still in the

works• Plan to coordinate volunteer teams to Sri Lanka in

very near future based off ground needs

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Support Our Work

• Donate online at www.TheIMHO.org • Send a check made out to “IMHO” to: IMHO Treasurer,

PO Box 61265, Staten Island, NY 10306• Become a monthly donor…just $1/day (or $30/month)

will support our efforts to rebuild lives throughout Sri Lanka

• All donations are tax-deductible

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Volunteer!• We will be issuing a call for volunteers to go work in

Sri Lanka very soon! Start spreading the word…• Always looking for Chapter Coordinators in new cities

& states• Volunteer at local events• Network on our behalf• Offer your professional services– Web/computers, graphic design, accounting,

videography/photography, printing, medical/consulting, etc.

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Service is a commitment…

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