Bulletin May 08

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=175 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <B><U>Site Index</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="0050e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Site Map"><B>Site Map</B></A></FONT></div> <div> <IMG SRC="0050e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF6600" FACE="Arial" ><B>Bulletin May 08</B></FONT></div> <div> <IMG SRC="0050e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id65.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bulletin Dec 07"><B>Bulletin Dec' 07</B></A></FONT></div> </td> <td valign="top" width="100%" style=" border-left: 1px solid #000000;" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div>  <script language="JavaScript1.2">  </script><script> if (document.all) document.write('<p align="center"</p><a href="javascript:addbookmark()">Click here to Bookmark this site!</a>') </script>  </div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="1" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="581" HEIGHT="1%" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFFBF0 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 70 ><NOBR><div> Beryl Thyer</div> <div> Memorial Africa Trust</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Go back to: </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Site Map"><B>Site Map</B></A></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Peter's Bulletin - May 2008</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="1" CELLPADDING="10" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="647" HEIGHT="10%" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 2 ><NOBR><bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="443" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 95 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="3cd383d0.png" border=0 width="56" height="61" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <I>Beryl Thyer Memorial Africa Trust</I></div> <div> Registered Charity No. 1112603</div> <bR> <div> Patron: Patti Boulaye FRSA</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>Bulletin: Issue No. 2; May 2008</B></div> <div> <B>Includes details of my completed 'Parachute Jump', please read on.....</B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 2 WIDTH="300"><div> Dear Friends; It is time to write to you</div> <div> again regarding recent events concerning</div> <div> BTMAT.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Post-Symposium developments:</B></div> <bR> <div> The Chief Pharmacist for the Cameroon Baptist Health Board, Nathan Wanyu, gave his presentation on December 8 2007, in which he outlined the care and control of anti-cancer drugs in general – and ours in particular. We have taken his advice, with the result that a much tighter record of drugs donated to each hospital, and an equally tight record of every dose administered, to every child – is noted,</div> <div> and can be monitored at any time. This</div> <div> will be of interest also to our donors at</div> <div> Baxter Oncology (Germany), and at</div> <div> Genus Pharmaceuticals (UK). It will also</div> <div> enable the Trust to estimate the likely date</div> <div> at which our most important first-line drugs</div> <div> will be exhausted. This in turn will enable</div> <div> us to arrange for fresh supplies to be</div> <div> ordered by the Trust. The transparency of</div> <div> this arrangement will no doubt also be</div> <div> appreciated by our generous donors of</div> <div> Cyclophosphamide and Vincristine.</div> <bR> <div> Along similar lines the Trust has opened</div> <div> dedicated Accounts at the three hospitals</div> <div> we serve. We will thus be able to see on a</div> <div> regular basis, per emails, how our money</div> <div> is being spent. </div> <div> This will also obtain for our Clinical Director Prof Peter Hesseling who has located donors for our newly established Parent Support Programmes at all three hospitals. This will not be the responsibility of BTMAT, but will be closely allied to it.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Child Cancer Registries:</B></div> <bR> <div> The December 07 Bulletin mentioned these. The equipment for them is already in</div> <div> Cameroon, but at the time of writing have</div> <div> not been released from the port of Douala,</div> <div> where they - and many other donated</div> <div> items - have been immobile since March</div> <div> 24 2008. This sort of frustrating delay is</div> <div> commonplace; we need to be very patient!</div> <div> I hope that in the next Bulletin I will have</div> <div> better news for you.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Clinical Studies:</B></div> <bR> <div> We have four such Studies in progress:</div> <bR> <div> <B>The new Protocol for the management</B></div> <div> <B>of Burkitt’s lymphoma (Cameroon 2008</B></div> <div> <B>Protocol) </B>went live in March and April</div> <div> 2008, during my recent visit (March 16 –</div> <div> April 16). Cases have already been</div> <div> enrolled into this Study.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Wilms’ Tumour Study</B> is progressing, though the number of cases</div> <div> of children with this disease turns out to</div> <div> be smaller than we had anticipated. All 6</div> <div> patients enrolled to date are doing well.</div> <div> Research Assistant Nurse Mercy Kigha</div> <div> and I visited one of them; <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" >Cedric, a one year survivor, during my recent visit.</FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="255" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 334 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="3d0f7480.png" border=0 width="247" height="328" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 38 WIDTH="249"><div> Nurse Mercy, with Cedric, one year after his treatment for Kidney cancer</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="300"><div> <I><B>The Parents’ Support Programme </B></I>is in</div> <div> action at Banso Baptist Hospital. Soon it</div> <div> will start at Mbingo Baptist Hospital. Later</div> <div> this year we anticipate it will also commence at Baptist Hospital Mutengene.</div> <div> The Programme aims to assist the poorest</div> <div> of parents of our BL cases with a food and</div> <div> cash allowance whilst their children are in</div> <div> hospital. It also will provide transport money for them. As mentioned earlier these programmes run in parallel to the work of BTMAT.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>The Ultrasound Study </B></I>is already</div> <div> showing us that our treatment for BL can</div> <div> be modified according to the U/S findings</div> <div> (an integral part of the Cameroon 2008</div> <div> Protocol), and can be monitored by repeat</div> <div> U/S examinations at specified times. This</div> <div> Study has the full co-operation of the U/S</div> <div> technicians at all 3 hospitals.</div> <bR> <div> The results of all these Studies are</div> <div> recorded diligently. All will be presented at</div> <div> conferences of the International Society of</div> <div> Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) in the years</div> <div> ahead.</div> <bR> <div> In addition to the above, Professor</div> <div> Hesseling and I will be at the SIOP Africa</div> <div> conference, in Tunis, later this month. </div> <bR> <div> We will be presenting the results of our now</div> <div> completed BL Rescue Protocol (called</div> <div> Malawi 2005), where we will demonstrate</div> <div> to our colleagues from around the world</div> <div> that a low-cost 15 day course of</div> <div> treatment can rescue 40% of patients who</div> <div> failed to respond to our standard Protocol.</div> <div> This brings to almost 70% the number of</div> <div> children to whom we can offer long-term</div> <div> survival. We approach the developed</div> <div> world figure of 80% survival rates, and of</div> <div> this we are justly proud.</div> <bR> <div> Not only do we provide daily care for our</div> <div> sick children to a high degree, we also</div> <div> engage in scientific work of the highest</div> <div> standard possible in sub-Saharan Africa.</div> <div> This could not happen without expert</div> <div> leadership from Professor Hesseling, and</div> <div> it could not happen without the extreme</div> <div> dedication shown by our colleagues in the</div> <div> field. Furthermore it could not happen</div> <div> without donations from well-wishers in the</div> <div> United Kingdom.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Weekley Room at Mbingo Baptist</B></div> <div> <B>Hospital:</B></div> <bR> <div> Banso Baptist Hospital (BBH) has enjoyed</div> <div> the privilege of the Warkton Room for</div> <div> several years. This is a small room</div> <div> refurbished by the Administration of BBH</div> <div> at my request. It is at once a bedroom, an</div> <div> office, and a library of paediatric books</div> <div> and journals. We have recently been</div> <div> granted a similar room at Mbingo Baptist</div> <div> Hospital (MBH). It is near completion. It</div> <div> will have a shower and toilet. Adjacent to</div> <div> this accommodation will be the Cancer</div> <div> Registry/Parent Support Programme</div> <div> Office. It is close to the Children’s ward. It</div> <div> will be called the Weekley Room. The</div> <div> Administration at both hospitals are ever</div> <div> sensitive to our concerns for their sick</div> <div> children, and this is greatly appreciated.</div> <div> For those folk who are unaware of the</div> <div> topography of Northamptonshire, Warkton</div> <div> is my village, and Weekley is a</div> <div> neighbouring village.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Breastmilk Banks</B>:</div> <bR> <div> The Trust has provided 5 in all. Three at</div> <div> the Baptist hospitals, and two at</div> <div> Government hospitals. All are proceeding</div> <div> well, and giving a much appreciated</div> <div> service. The exception was the</div> <div> Government Hospital Buea, which</div> <div> received a bank from us a year ago, but</div> <div> due to lack of a few basic laboratory</div> <div> items, has not yet gone into action. This</div> <div> was disappointing; we will be following it</div> <div> up.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 2 WIDTH="601"><div> Page 1</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="1" CELLPADDING="10" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="647" HEIGHT="10%" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 2 WIDTH="300"><div> The situation is particularly good at the</div> <div> Baptist Hospitals, as the picture shows.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="257" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 194 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="3e0fabc0.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="188" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 76 WIDTH="251"><div> These three tiny preterm babies at Baptist Hospital Mutengene all received donor breast milk in the early days of life</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> I took the opportunity to visit two other hospitals with a view to providing them with banks; St Mary’s Catholic Hospital, Bamenda, and Provincial Hospital, Limbe. Much interest was shown by the Administration at both hospitals. It is likely that Dr Paul Wharin will follow-up this issue at both hospitals, show them a powerpoint presentation on the subject, and hear from them whether or not they wish to proceed.</div> <div>  </div> <div> <B>Patronage:</B> </div> <bR> <div> Having searched diligently for a Patron for BTMAT since our inauguration 2 years ago – (there were 7 ‘possibles’ in all) – and not having been replied to by most of them – it came as a surprise to be contacted whilst I was in Cameroon in April, by Patti Boulaye. Patti is a singer of modern music, a dancer, an actress, and an artist, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.pattiboulaye.co.uk" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.pattiboulaye.co.uk"><B>click here</B></A></FONT> to visit Patti's website. Hitherto I had never heard of her (shame on me!). She is Nigerian, but has been in the UK since age 16. She is a committed Christian and a busy Charity worker. She has erected 3 medical clinics in rural areas of Nigeria, and recently one in Cameroon. She had been put in touch with me to help in the equipping and staffing of her Cameroonian clinic. Plans are afoot now for The Cameroon Baptist Health Board (CBCHB) to run this clinic; an arrangement agreeable in principle to the Director of CBCHB (Professor Tih Pius Muffih), and to Patti. As a ‘thankyou’ she agreed to be our Patron.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="159" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 125 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="3d67d770.jpg" border=0 width="125" height="119" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Patti Boulaye FRSA</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Something tells me this could be very wonderful for BTMAT. What say you?!</div> <bR> <div> <B>Charity Commission Award 2008:</B></div> <bR> <div> On March 14 2008 – just before I left for Cameroon, I filled in a Nomination form for the Charity Commission’s Award for 2008. The Award recognises and celebrates excellence in leadership and management of Charities of all sizes in the UK. On returning from Cameroon I learned that BTMAT had been shortlisted for an award. This alone entitles two of our Trustees to a presentation banquet at London’s Battersea Evolution on June 19. Only fellow-Trustee Michael Jeans and I will be able to attend. Sadly Patti Boulaye is out of the country in June. We only learn on the night if we are winners; keep your fingers crossed!</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="300"><div> <B>Skydive!</B></div> <bR> <div> The December 2007 Bulletin advertised it.</div> <div> Dozens of you sponsored me. A few</div> <div> preferred to sponsor me not to jump; but</div> <div> the pro-jump numbers were better!</div> <bR> <div> Several Leeds University Medical School</div> <div> students contacted me whilst I was in</div> <div> Cameroon. They expressed an interest to</div> <div> join me in the jump. All but two of these</div> <div> young people withdrew – largely on the</div> <div> grounds of the cost of travel and the cost</div> <div> of the jump.</div> <div> Two students however stood their ground;</div> <div> Lorreta Chindo from Cameroon, and</div> <div> Barbara Onen (Lorreta’s best friend) from</div> <div> Uganda. </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="266" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 194 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="3dbfabc0.png" border=0 width="250" height="188" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 57 WIDTH="260"><div> Barbara from Uganda, being prepared for her jump at Sibson airfield.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> This was wonderful; two young medical students from the UK, so concerned about children with cancer in Africa, that they were willing to express their dedication to our cause in this adventurous way – with the old</div> <div> Englishman! We waited all day on April 30 for the weather to be safe enough to permit the jumps; then we all did it. It was thrilling; it</div> <div> was safe; it was successful in that it has</div> <div> already raised £3000+ for BTMAT.</div> <bR> <div> Lorreta and Barbara had through their</div> <div> own efforts raised £450 and brought a</div> <div> suitcase full of coins with them!</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="257" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 194 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="3ddfabc0.png" border=0 width="250" height="188" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Peter and Lorreta at about 2000 ft.</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>In conclusion</B>:</div> <div> The March/April visit to Cameroon was</div> <div> successful. We continue – with the</div> <div> dedication of doctors and nurses in</div> <div> CBCHB hospitals – to function effectively.</div> <div> Children’s and babies lives continue to be</div> <div> saved. My fellow-Trustees are active and</div> <div> supportive. Funds continue to come to us</div> <div> thanks to the generosity of you all. I hope I</div> <div> will be able to report further advances in</div> <div> our next Bulletin at the end of this year.</div> <div> Many thanks to all of you for your concern</div> <div> and practical support.</div> <bR> <div> Peter McCormick</div> <div> Founder, Beryl Thyer Memorial Africa Trust.</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 2 WIDTH="601"><div> Page 2</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Go back to: </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Site Map"><B>Site Map</B></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> (Peter's Bulletin, May 08)</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id67_m.htm" TITLE="Bulletin May 08">top of the page</A></div> <div> Beryl Thyer Memorial Africa Trust, a UK registered charity  ~  1112603</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>