Bosnia

IDEALS gave assistance with general post war medical reconstruction with major specific projects:-

• Training was given in modern techniques that had lapsed during the conflict. This work included minimally invasive (keyhole) techniques and joint replacement and limb reconstructive surgery. IDEALS financially sponsored work and education in the UK for Bosnian surgeons.
• Research into and treatment of massive war wound infections.
• Purchase of ultrasound equipment for the detection of developmental displacement of infants' hips. IDEALS organised training in the UK and the visit of a world expert to Sarajevo, (Professor Graf), to undertake two full certificated courses in methods of diagnosis and treatment. This established a full clinical trial of the condition in Sarajevo.
• IDEALS sponsored a research programme at Imperial College London to investigate the biomechanics of an external fracture fixator (Sarafix) designed and used during the war. This work is now demonstrated in the Hunterian Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

India

IDEALS financially supported the first Primary Trauma Care course in Delhi at the Apollo Hospital in September 2005. This was the first of such courses that had taken place with a Pakistani teaching faculty, Indian doctors and IDEALS Chairman, John Beavis. It confirmed that warm friendship can exist between the two countries when politics is forgotten and was entirely within the founding ethos of the Charity.

IDEALS continues to support the very active teaching programme that this visit generated with the promise to purchase teaching aids for the numerous courses that have resulted form this initial activity.

Pakistan

Introduction of Primary Trauma Care training in to Peshawar in 2003 to improve initial care of injured patients in the border areas with Afghanistan. IDEALS sponsored this training programme with subsequent progress to the southern area of Sindh -- around Karachi - and then to Lahore and Quetta in Baluchistan. Hundreds of medical staff have been trained and formed a fellowship across Pakistan.

In May 2004 the Pakistan Military requested that we should extend the training to senior medical service personnel and this was accomplished with a three day course in Rawalpindi.

At the time of the earthquake in October 2005 the "fellowship" united to assist the injured in the North West Frontier Province and Kashmir.

In association with the Peshawar based NGO, Community Appraisal and Motivation Programme (CAMP), and assisted by Ghandara University immediate aid was given to victims. This consisted of bedding, water, food and medicines transported to remote villages.

An appraisal off injured patients in various hospitals showed that many patients needed expertise plastic surgical treatment for the terrible wounds that had occurred. IDEALS paid for two teams of Plastic Surgeons and theatre to staff (one from Oxford and the other from Morriston Hospital Swansea) to visit Pakistan in December 2005 in order to undertake numerous complex and essential procedures. Ties between the two countries were strengthened by establishing teaching and research links in this speciality (see Burns Research Fellowship)

IDEALS stayed on after the early massive publicity had died down and united with CAMP to continue assisting the villagers of Bedadi in the North West Frontier Province. IDEALS paid for the resettlement of the destitute population of Bedadi (60 families) into a temporary tent village of high quality that allowed them to survive the succeeding winter with a high standard of living that was disease free and allowed them to thrive. The children's education was also attended to with a temporary school.

In September 2006 IDEALS paid for CAMP to purchase new land for the families that frees them from a feudal dependence on landlords. This permanent resettlement has been described by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees as a unique venture. A legal trust between IDEALS and Camp has been drawn up that will eventually allow the families to own the land. The families moved in on Octoger 17th 2006. The project has been delayed due to administrative hold ups in planning but initial work began on water ad sewage installation began in August 2007

In the post earthquake period IDEALS, with its special knowledge of the region, assisted the Cambridge University Department of Architecture and Cambridge Architecture Research Ltd to examine the relationship between the geographical sites of the quake, the building damage and the injuries sustained. In collaboration with the University of Peshawar department of Geography this project has yielded interesting results that will certainly assist in future planning of buildings in earthquake zones.

IDEALS with support from Old Varndeanian Association created a Fellowship to allow Professor Shariq Ali, Director of the Burns Unit at Dow Medical College Karachi, to spend six weeks working in Morriston Hospital Swansea during the summer of 2006. Prof Shariq was instructed in the most modern methods of burns care and began a teaching and research association that will benefit Pakistani patients in the future.

Afghanistan, Pakistan Border Area

Immediately after the war in 2003 IDEALS financed a survey of medical education needs in Kabul with the aim to redevelop the ruined medical school.

In association with CAMP a survey of land mine injured survivors and other seriously disabled by all forms of injury was completed. It is hoped that this will lead to rehabilitation programmes including provision of prostheses, physical aids and re-training for work.

In December 2007 a training programme for doctors in the Afghan Border area will begin for the management of major trauma. This will be fully financed by IDEALS.

Sri Lanka

Substantial support was giving in regeneration of the economy of a small town Tangalle on the south coast of the island. In addition the local school for Blind and Deaf children benefited from a large donation for food and a contribution towards a new water supply and kitchen. In Tangalle the school wall was damaged and dangerous so IDEALS paid for its reconstruction.

A deep sea trawler was purchased by IDEALS to replace one that was destroyed in the Tsunami. This allowed the crew of ten to be employed and for their families to be supported - up to one hundred people in total.

The administrative cost for the entire Tsunami project was estimated as £1.80 per £1000 spent directly on the victims.

Azerbaijan

Provision of neonatal infant incubators for the hospitals in Baku

Donation to Leonard Cheshire Centre for Conflict Recovery for its work in the fast track surgical programme for refugees.

Sierra Leone

Support for work to manufacture locally made limb prostheses