Author: Lance Anderson
Posted on myKawartha.com
It’s crunch time for a group of Peterborough paramedics who are planning to leave for Cambodia on Sunday.
The paramedics need to raise $4,000 to fund the trip and they are looking for help from the public.
“We are going to provide medical care and formulate a plan for paramedics over there,” says Mark Cameron, one of the paramedics heading over to Cambodia.
But lack of funds is the only thing standing in the way of this humanitarian mission. Recently, Peterborough County Council turned down a funding request, a disheartening decision that put a wrinkle in the plans, says Mr. Cameron.
Mr. Cameron adds the paramedics have agreed to pay out of pocket for some of the trip in light of this. They are also using personal vacation time, but that too is leading to worry.
“We’ve had trouble taking time off for vacation. I’m approved for everything but Nov. 11 and 12,” says Mr. Cameron.
“I don’t know what will happen if we go, but I paid for my ticket so I’m going.”
Pastor Bill Martin, paramedic and chaplain of Peterborough Emergency Medical Services, has organized the majority of the trip for the group. He says the mission is a great opportunity to see the world in a different way.
“We get so caught up with what we do every day. This takes us out of the norm and puts us in something totally different that will make us better people,” adds Pastor Martin.
The goal of the Cambodia trip is to create an educational and teaching strategy for the Cambodian Ministry of Health. The ministry runs a river ambulance out of the capital city, Phnom Penh, which transports medical personnel and supplies to various villages and medical clinics along the Mekong River. The ambulance is also used to evacuate seriously ill or injured people hospital in Phnom Penh.
Mr. Cameron says local paramedics will board this boat and help in a various villages. He expects they will come across a several of ailments from burns to snake bites.
“With the simplest of injuries, people die from them there,” says Mr. Cameron.
The trip is organized through Asian Outreach with its sole purpose of training the people of Cambodia. Pastor Martin says they will be teaching basic first-aid skills and develop a plan to continue their help in 2007.
If you can donate, contact Asian Outreach in Peterborough at 741-2742 or Pastor Martin at 876-1696.
The paramedics need to raise $4,000 to fund the trip and they are looking for help from the public.
“We are going to provide medical care and formulate a plan for paramedics over there,” says Mark Cameron, one of the paramedics heading over to Cambodia.
But lack of funds is the only thing standing in the way of this humanitarian mission. Recently, Peterborough County Council turned down a funding request, a disheartening decision that put a wrinkle in the plans, says Mr. Cameron.
Mr. Cameron adds the paramedics have agreed to pay out of pocket for some of the trip in light of this. They are also using personal vacation time, but that too is leading to worry.
“We’ve had trouble taking time off for vacation. I’m approved for everything but Nov. 11 and 12,” says Mr. Cameron.
“I don’t know what will happen if we go, but I paid for my ticket so I’m going.”
Pastor Bill Martin, paramedic and chaplain of Peterborough Emergency Medical Services, has organized the majority of the trip for the group. He says the mission is a great opportunity to see the world in a different way.
“We get so caught up with what we do every day. This takes us out of the norm and puts us in something totally different that will make us better people,” adds Pastor Martin.
The goal of the Cambodia trip is to create an educational and teaching strategy for the Cambodian Ministry of Health. The ministry runs a river ambulance out of the capital city, Phnom Penh, which transports medical personnel and supplies to various villages and medical clinics along the Mekong River. The ambulance is also used to evacuate seriously ill or injured people hospital in Phnom Penh.
Mr. Cameron says local paramedics will board this boat and help in a various villages. He expects they will come across a several of ailments from burns to snake bites.
“With the simplest of injuries, people die from them there,” says Mr. Cameron.
The trip is organized through Asian Outreach with its sole purpose of training the people of Cambodia. Pastor Martin says they will be teaching basic first-aid skills and develop a plan to continue their help in 2007.
If you can donate, contact Asian Outreach in Peterborough at 741-2742 or Pastor Martin at 876-1696.
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