Adliya Rotarians recently visited the Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa Cardiac Centre (MKCC) where they launched the Gift of Life Bahrain initiative.

During the visit, the members of the Rotary Club of Adliya met with Dr. Resan Humoud Badran, MKCC’s Director, and Prof. Dr. Mary Lynch-Tareif, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist. RCA President Mahmood Al Yousif, Rotarians Khulood Al Qattan and Dr. Faiza Ghabrial were briefed on the incidence of Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) in Bahrain and the services provided by MKCC.

“We have previously wrongly assumed that no such centre exists in Bahrain, and that a CHD centre should be established from scratch. The visit to MKCC has abundantly demonstrated that a world-class facility does indeed exist which is highly sought after not only by patients in Bahrain, but from as far afield as Sudan and other international locations,” the club said in a statement.

However, it added, a diagnosis, monitor- ing and basic treatment facility is still required at the central medical hospital on the island, and although it may not be necessary to establish a second centre such as that available at MKCC, the Salmaniya Medical Centre (SMC) does require the necessary paediatric tools to enable it to conduct informed diagnosis and offer treatment to patients in cooperation with MKCC.

Rotary Club launches Gift of Life initiative - Members of the Rotary Club of Adliya are seen during their visit to the MKCC.

As part of its Gift of Life initiative, the club will raise funds to provide the SMC with the necessary equipment, with the first fund-raising activity being scheduled for October 1 in cooperation with Think Pink Bahrain. The first event will consist of a walkathon and several other events are already well into the planning stages with activities to take place regularly from October until June 2011.

The MKCC has been diagnosing, monitoring and surgically treating CHD patients since its inception in 1992. They have fully trained and world-renowned cardiologists and surgeons, such as Cardiac Surgeon Dr. Habib Tareif and Paediatric Cardiologist Dr. Neal Kallis. Surgeries are conducted at both MKCC and the SMC.

CHD prevalence rates worldwide aver- age between 3.75 and 4.3 out of every 1,000 live births. Bahrain has between 12,000 and 14,000 live births annually and a total of 826 patients with Congenital Heart Disease have been identified by the centre over a recent 4-year period. This translates to 15.88 per 1,000 live births – an average that is significantly higher than the global incidence rate.

10 per cent of these patients require surgery in their first year of life, while 4 to 5 per cent require surgery within the first 3 months of their lives.

The majority of operations are con- ducted at MKCC by qualified staff and a smaller number are conducted at SMC. A small number of complex cases are referred abroad.

The government covers all costs for Bahraini citizens sent abroad for treatment through the Overseas Treatment Committee.

The Centre has surgically treated 887 CHD patients since its founding, averaging 60 patients annually. It has also con- ducted over 11,000 echoes and actively monitors 3,246 patients on a regular basis, 297 of whom have undergone catheterisation interventions.

This article appeared with thanks in the Bahrain Tribune on 27 July, 2010.

Here’s the “Rotary Whispers” displayed in our meeting on 19 July, ’10, click the picture below to download it. Our thanks to Minister Nizar Al-Baharna who contributed the quotes, and our president Mahmood Al-Yousif or the photographs.

click the picture to download the presentation please - 3.9MB

Our newly inducted Rotarian Fareed Bushehri in the news:

صرّح المدير التنفيذي لمشروع «RECYCLE IT» أحمد بوهزاع بأن اللجنة الاستشارية للمشروع الذي تنفذه جمعية الكلمة الطيبة تحت رعاية سمو الشيخ ناصر بن حمد آل خليفة، عقدت اجتماعاً تشاورياً مع المنسق الإقليمي لبرامج الصناعة بالمكتب الإقليمي لبرنامج الأمم المتحدة للبيئة «UNEP» فريد بوشهري، إذ تم استعراض فكرة المشروع ومراحله، وتبادل الآراء بشأن أوجه التعاون المشترك، والدعم الذي يمكن أن يقدمه البرنامج للمشروع.

صحيفة الوسط البحرينية – العدد 2876 – الخميس 22 يوليو 2010م الموافق 09 شعبان 1431هـ

The United Nations Environment Programme and the Good Word Society’s Recycle IT project advisory panel reviewed co-operation, at the Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife, Sanabis. Regional Office of Industry programme co-ordinator Fareed Bushehri attended. The project aims to make available used computers for training to promote a greener environment. It was launched under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth first vice-president and Bahrain Olympic Sports Committee president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa

GDN · 25 July 2010 (pdf)

New ‘Recycle IT’ jobs plan
By FAISAL RAJA , Posted on » Monday, July 05, 2010

A NATIONWIDE initiative is being launched to train and integrate needy Bahrainis in the information technology (IT) sector with the use of recycled computers.

It will provide training to more than 100 young Bahrainis in its first year on how to instal new computers, including programming. The aim is to help them gain the skills necessary for jobs in the IT sector that can offer starting monthly salaries of up to BD300.

The ultimate goal is to set up a recycling and training centre to accommodate more Bahraini job-seekers.

The group has a temporary location in Manama and the students are being guided in co-operation with Al Ahlia University.

The Good Word charity group has finalised preparations for its new project Recycle IT to rehabilitate used computers for training purposes, while promoting a greener environment in the process.

The idea has received recognition and won the e-Government Excellence Awards 2010 for the best e-concept at the third Bahrain International e-Government Forum held at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre in May.

Project committee head Ahmed Buhazza said that it aimed to help improve the standards of living of less fortunate young Bahrainis.

“Although the project is called Recycle IT, the idea is much bigger than this,” he said.

“We want to help the segment of people who don’t have a university degree, but at the same time have the ability to work in jobs like being technicians.

“Through the use of recycled computers, we hope to provide them with the training they need to be able to install and programme new computers.

The project is being launched under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth first vice-president and Bahrain Olympic Sports Committee president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Mr Buhazza said that the initiative also had environmental objectives.

“Currently, there is no organisation in Bahrain specialised in recycling computers,” he said.

“Some companies will dispose of them in the trash, which can be an environmental hazard.

“When you go to leading countries like the UK and US, they have electronic waste companies set up to dispose of the computers properly.

The Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance has already supplied the charity group with more than 30 computers, while Al Ahlia University has pledged to donate soon.

Tamkeen is in talks with the Good Word on how it could contribute in finding the young Bahrainis employment, said Mr Buhazza.

He said the project needed financial backing to help support the group set up a recycling and training centre.

“We need the financial support to start the recycling and training centre,” said Mr Buhazza.

“Obviously we will need equipment, furniture and tools, so once we gain the full support, the project will get underway,” he said.

GDN · 5 July 2010

In the first formal Business Meeting of the new Rotary Year for the Rotary Club of Adliya held on July 19th, President Mahmood Al-Yousif summarised the preceding Board Meeting held on the same day and apprised the members of the club communications at hand. The Board earlier approved the major events, programs and campaigns scheduled for the year.

President Mahmood Al-Yousif honouring Rotaract President Ebrahim Al-Shaibeh

The Membership Development and New Generation Committee Chairman also presented his plans to the club, emphasising membership retention, new members induction and the creation of a foundation program to properly integrate new members into the club culture.

The Club then welcomed the visiting Rotaract President Ebrahim Al-Shaibeh and his delegation. President Ebrahim outlined the projects undertaken by the Rotaract Club of Manama & Salmaniya over the last few years, explained their main fund-raising program: Against The Clock [ATC] and pledged the full funds raised in this year’s ATC to the Rotary Club of Adliya’s Gift of Life Bahrain program. President Ebrahim expects to raise funds in the region of BD25,000 in this year’s ATC!

PP Talal Al-Mannai (L) drew the winning card of the weekly raffle!

There was also fun at the gathering, with PP Talal Al-Mannai winning the weekly raffle (the first time this has been won in this manner in more than a year!) resulting in his winning the “pot” of BD52, a sum he immediately and generously donated back to the Club.

Please click Play to listen to this week’s Podcast:
Download audio file (RA-100719.mp3)
and don’t forget to subscribe to our iTunes channel so you can download our Podcasts regularly as they are uploaded.

Photographer Mr. Santosh (R) being honoured for his services to the Club

President Mahmood Al-Yousif also took the opportunity to recognise photographer R. Santosh’s contribution to the club by always being there and unobtrusively taking excellent photographs of the proceedings. You can view his excellent work on the Rotary Club of Adliya’s Flickr Stream.

Next week’s meeting shall be the First Social Evening of the year and it will take place in President Mahmood Al-Yousif’s home. As spaces are limited, you are highly encouraged to reserve your place immediately by contacting the Club Administration Chairperson, Rotarian Laith Shukayr.

If you wish to view Rotaract President Ebrahim Al-Shaibeh’s or Rotarian Wesam Baqer’s presentation, please email us.

Have a lovely week!

We shall meet again in the Officers Club at the Elite Resort & Spa at 6PM on Monday 19 July, 2010 for the 2nd Business Meeting of the Rotary Club of Adliya.

Committee chairs will report on their progress so far achieved for their programs and goals for the year. We will also welcome special guests from the ROTARACT Manama & Salmaniya to share with us their plans for this year. Together, we will look for ways in which we can cooperate to benefit our community.

The agenda for the meeting will be as follows:

18:00 President: Meeting Called to Order: Inauguration Bell. Meal & Fellowship
18:30 Acting Sergeant-at-Arms: Welcome and Guest Introduction
18:35 President’s Welcome Remarks
18:45 Honorary Treasurer: Finances report
18:55 Membership Development Plan and Actions for 2010/2011
19:05 Humanitarian Subcommittee: GOLB status & update
19:10 SPECIAL PRESENTATION: ROTARACT President Ebrahim Al-Shaibeh
19:20 President: Recognition & Photo Op
19:25 Acting Sergeant-at-Arms: Fine/Fun Session
19:30 Secretary & Treasurer Report
19:30 President: Closing & Next Week Announcements

Officers of the Meeting:
Acting Sergeant-at-Arms & Fine Master: Rotarian Hameed Karimi

Have a pleasant day and we look forward to welcome you at our new meeting venue and even more to making your acquaintance once again.

LIFE EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD OF VEHICLES MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE

During our meeting for Monday 12th July 2010 in our new meeting location and in the first of the monthly Vocational Appreciation evenings at the Rotary Club of Adliya, we will be listening to the experiences of a company fleet manager and how the application of vocational training helped him achieve various successes in his field.

We will be joining Mahmood Fadhel on a journey spanning 35 years where he ended up managing Batelco’s 650+ vehicle fleet, and what he needed to do as far as vocational education is concerned to allow him to excel in this field.

SPECIAL MEMBER APPRECIATION

In another first, we will be appreciating one of our members for their exemplary service to the community through the Rotary Club of Adliya over a period of number of years. This will be another regular feature at the club in 2010/2011.

The President of the Rotary Club of Adliya together with Rotarian Khulood Al-Qattan, Service Projects Committee Chairperson, Rotarian Ahdeya Noor, PR Committee Chairperson and Rotarian Dr. Faiza Ghabrial, Humanitarian Subcommittee Head met with Dr. Amin Al-Saati, the Assistant Undersecretary for Hospitals and Dr. Waleed Al-Manea, Head of Services at the Salmaniya Medical Centre this morning in Dr. Al-Saati’s offices.

The Rotarians discussed the Gift of Life Bahrain project with Dr. Al-Saati and Dr. Al-Manea and apprised them of the programs and activities planned for RY10/11 to directly support and raise funds for the Gift of Life Bahrain project.

Dr. Al-Saati expressed his pleasure in cooperating once again with the Rotary Club of Adliya and emphasised its positive role in society and the help and assistance it tangibly provides the community. He noted the Club’s contribution of various equipment and services to the Ministry of Health in the past and felt confident that the Gift of Life Bahrain project would be a further milestone to this relationship.

President Mahmood Al-Yousif expressed satisfaction with the meeting and affirmed the Rotary Club of Adliya’s full commitment to this project and looks forward, together with the members and board of directors of the Club to continue their humanitarian and service work for the benefit of the community.

Rotarian Khulood Al-Qattan was especially pleased with the results of the meeting and together with Rotarian Dr. Faiza Ghabrial emphasised their continued commitment and shall continue to tirelessly and selflessly work toward the realisation of the project, seeking the assistance of every single member of the Rotary Club of Adliya to assure the meeting of the declared goals and aspirations to aid the recovery and habilitation of children with congenital heart defects, and bring the smile back to the faces of those inspirational children and their parents.

The three Rotary clubs in Bahrain jointly held a Hand-over Gala Dinner last night at the Golden Tulip during which the baton was passed on from outgoing to incoming presidents to lead the clubs through RY10/11.

The Rotary Club of Manama transferred the helm from Ussama Hamza to Raj Damani; Salmaniya’s Abdulrahman Fakhro to Rodolphe Melki and our very own Hasan Albalooshi to Mahmood Al-Yousif.

Rotarians once again contributed to charitable causes by participating in exciting raffles and auctions with funds raised exceeded BD1,500.

The incoming presidents pledged to coordinate their efforts, bring the three clubs closer in their endeavours and reiterated their determination to exert all efforts to serve the community.

 

images courtesy of Gulf Daily News

Starting from the 5th of July 2010, the Rotary Club of Adliya will meet at the Elite Resort & Spa in the O-Club on the 14th Floor.

The new location is easier to access, has plenty of parking, closer to the international airport and has breathtaking views of the two major islands of the Kingdom of Bahrain: Muharraq and Manama, as the hotel is situated right in the middle of the old Muharraq causeway!

Please click here for a map and more information.

Please come and visit!

In the last meeting of the Rotary Year 2009/2010 under the leadership of President Hasan Albalooshi, the Club, which strongly believe in continuity and sustainability, took the opportunity to look forward and build on past successes.

The meeting was well attended, and was presided over by PP Redha Faraj, who invited Incoming President Mahmood Al-Yousif to share his goals and aspirations for RY 10/11.

In the attached Podcast, you could listen to the Mahmood’s presentation and download the accompanying presentation (pdf) to see and hear the plans and aspirations for yourself.

Download audio file (RA-100621.mp3)

Briefly, the following are the major points presented which will be the backbone of RY10/11 for the Rotary Club of Adliya:

The main cause: The Gift of Life Bahrain [GOLB]

For the benefit of children with congenital cardiovascular defects. It aims to not only build and equip a new annex to the Salmaniya Medical Centre, but also equip it with the appropriate equipment and help train a doctor and nurses to ensure its viable and long term sustainability.

With the aim to raise BD100,000 (US$ 265,000) to enable us to achieve this goal, we are planning several major fund raising events throughout the year; some of which will be:

Fund Raising Activities for RY10/11

• Breast Cancer Walk • shared with Think Pink Bahrain
 • October 2010 – P. Mahmood Al-Yousif
• Cricket Tournament • Rotarian Zoher Taherbhai
 • November 2010
• RCA Bahrain Golf Invitational • PP Peter Muijrers • 
Jan 2011
• RCA BAHMUN XVII • Rotarian Fareed Bushehri • 
Feb 2011
• Earth Day / Art Competition
 • March 2011

IP Mahmood Al-Yousif also detailed some other events which the Club will take on as part of its community responsibility, including:

• Orphans Cinema Outing in cooperation with the Bahrain Cinema Club • Sept 2010
• Bahrain National Day • December 2010
• RCA Family Fun Day activity • December 2010
• DG visit • February 2011 • should coincide with BAHMUN
• Elderly & Orphans desert camp • March 2011

The members expressed full support for these programs and committed to exert all efforts at ensuring their success.

We look forward to RY10/11, please join us!