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The MEC Project

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23.01.2022 Those wonderful French surgeons have been back in Phnom Penh where they have recently completed 8 surgeries changing the lives of these children. Last Rotary year as continued support for this project the Rotary Club of Bendigo Strathdale contributed $20,000.00 helping to change these young lives.

19.01.2022 This young man is the first of three patients incoming to Phnom Penh from Laos. We know that Meningoencephalocoele does not stop at the Cambodian border. Hopefully in time we can get these young people treated in Laos their home country. The aim is to do the first few patients in Phnom Penh to show the people of Laos that we have honesty and integrity and have a genuine desire to help them and prove that the system operating in Phnom Penh works.

18.01.2022 The MEC PROJECT is our signature international project of Strathdale Rotary. To support future surgeries Tax Deductible donations can be made to rawcs.org Project No 40 of 2016 2017

18.01.2022 One of the Rotary Club of Phnom Penh’s signature projects is our effort to find and offer free surgeries to Cambodians suffering from a rare birth defect known ...as MEC, in which the front of the skull does not close fully, resulting in a disfiguring herniated growth in the region of the nose. This week I joined our Cambodian MEC coordinator and his wife on a trip to Kampong Thom and Preah Vihear provinces looking for patients we can help. Often it takes good luck and long rides down dusty roads to find patients. We got a tip on the first child below at a roadside stand, and went deep into the countryside to find him. We found the second, an 18-year old girl, when she walked into a small roadside restaurant where we were eating lunch. Not all have the courage to go to Phnom Penh for the operation, but the ones that do are grateful for our help, as MEC is not only disfiguring but can also be life-threatening. See more

16.01.2022 Michael Wright and Jock Struthers recently crossed the border into Laos looking for kids with MEC. Michael went north and Jock went south. Michael did not find anyone with MEC and people who live in these areas buy and consume sticky rice. However down south Jock found 5 kids with MEC’s. These kids live in poorer areas where rice is farmed and lends weight to the theory that the cause of MEC is the fact that mothers consume mouldy rice in the early months of pregnancy. Efforts are being made to raise funds to bring these kids by bus to Phnom Penh for surgery but long term it is hoped to find the solution for surgeries to be undertaken in their home country Laos for we know that MEC does not stop at the border. Pictured are the most recent kids who presented for surgery this round.

15.01.2022 Great thanks to the French Surgical Team who are in Phnom Penh doing what they do best for Cambodian children at the Children’s Surgical Centre.

14.01.2022 Our team in Cambodia led by BT Lucky found this guy today. Hopefully he can be seen and have surgery when the French surgeons arrive back in June you can donate at rawcs.org Project No 40 Of 2016 2017. Donations are Tax Deductible in Australia.

07.01.2022 Before and after photos of this young lady from Laos who underwent MEC surgery last year. Lovely to see a happy smile. Hopefully French Surgeons will be able to go back into Phnom Penh in November to continue their great work.

07.01.2022 Nonh from Laos enjoying life to the full. He had his MEC fixed at Children's Surgical Centre in Phnom Penh in April 2017.

06.01.2022 Greg Penno spoke about the MEC project in Cambodia to members of the Echuca/Moama rotary club who generously donated $500 towards the project.

05.01.2022 Great teamwork making a huge difference to so many lives.

02.01.2022 Another MEC outreach trip started today. The plan is to travel about 1400km through three Provinces. But with bridges like this to negotiate, who knows? We usually find 3 - 5 new MEC patients on these trips as well as counselling waverers and calling in on old patients to see how they are getting on. The project runs on donations from Rotarians and their Clubs though anyone can donate through our RAWCS project. Go on, you know you want to!