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Dear Colleagues

It has been one week since Doctors Day In May. Many of you have given generously and we have collected $50,000 so far.

There is still time to make your contribution for this year’s campaign.

While giving here you support health professionals in Africa thereby being Twice the Doctor. Moreover your donation is greatly leveraged in the developing world because of the huge discrepancy in wages.

Make your contribution at:

www.twicethedoctor.org.au

Regards to all

Rob Baume

On behalf of the Directors of Twice the Doctor Foundation.

PS: Remember there is a whole other world of patients out there who are much less privileged than our own.

Dear All

On Thursday 21^st May, numerous doctors from Gosford and Wyong hospitals will be donating a day’s pay to help fund the work of doctors and nurses in Africa, thereby being “Twice the Doctor”. There will also be a major launch at Royal Prince Alfred hospital with media attending. There has been quite a buzz about this. All healthcare workers are welcome to participate. Donations to the various projects we support in Africa can be made via the website:

www.twicethedoctor.org.au

or by completing the attached pay deduction form. Morning teas will be held at Gosford and Wyong hospitals from 10.30 to 11.30. Please come along … have some cake and please consider making your contribution.

Regards

Rob Baume

On behalf of the Twice the Doctor Foundation.

Dear colleagues and supporters,

 

Thank you for your generous support of the Twice The Doctor Foundation which has raised approximately $1/4 Million for boosting Sierra Leone health infrastructure, combating Ebola and treating reversible blindness in Kenya (with funds being administered by UNICEF and the Fred Hollows Foundation)

 

UNICEF’s Chief Executive Norman Gillespie asked me to pass on this message:

“Daily we were receiving heart-wrenching reports of the impact of the Ebola outbreak. Children were among the most susceptible to not only death but the knock on effects of the disease. We could also see the growing burden on health workers. How does a health professional comfort a child who has lost both parents when you can’t touch them for fear of spreading the disease? 

I would like to thank you who have contributed to the Twice The Doctor Foundation, for understanding the magnitude of this crisis and for taking your role as a doctor to another level. Thanks to you we were able to mobilise quickly to do precisely what we’re here to do. You helped provide lifesaving assistance to reach children and their families as well as those on the frontline of the battle against this epidemic. Thank you.”

 

We are gearing up for our next Doctors Day in May – remembering that the aim is eventually to have a national day of doctors “virtually volunteering” thereby issuing a challenge to other professions and perhaps doctors in other countries to follow our lead.  Plans include a major launch at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital where we anticipate significant media support. You will recall that our concept had coverage on the ABC TV 7.30 report, on national radio and in national medical journals. We had written support and endorsements from the AMA and from foreign minister, Julie Bishop.

 

However, despite the extensive media coverage, we have found that by far the best way to enrol medical supporters/virtual volunteers is by face to face presentations to our colleagues. In a recent presentation to interns at Gosford Hospital, 90 % “signed on”. Therefore, if you feel you are in a position to help organise talks to groups of doctors, say for 15 minutes or so, please let us know. Better still, if you feel you may be able to deliver the talk yourself and thereby champion the concept at your own hospital, we can certainly provide you with PowerPoint presentations. This was done very successfully last year at Royal North Shore Hospital. Eventually we would like to establish 2-3 “champions” in every major hospital in order to sustain the momentum. Remember, this is a most worthy exercise!

 

A number of RMOs in particular have pointed out the benefits of direct pay deduction forms as a way to support the Twice the Doctor Foundation. I’m delighted to announce that after considerable effort by one of our directors, Jules Willcocks , this is now available for you to use if you wish – rather than making a lump-sum contribution each May. Also, this way, the tax- deduction is all done. The forms are good throughout NSW Health. This convenient facility should also help us recruit new doctors. (See attachment).

 

For those who supported last years Doctors Day in May – I am pleased to say that your certificates of appreciation have now been produced,(sorry about the delay),and will be distributed shortly.

Regards to all

 

Rob Baume

(on behalf of the directors of Twice the Doctor Foundation)

Dear Colleagues

Thank you for your response to D-Day for Ebola. We have raised close to $40,000 which means the Twice the Doctor Foundation has raised a total of nearly a quarter of a million dollars in its inaugural year.

The epidemic, particularly in Sierra Leone continues to grow so for those who have not yet made their contribution for D-day for Ebola but wish to do so, please go to:

www.twicethedoctor.org.au

Kind regards

Rob Baume

(On behalf of the Directors of Twice the Doctor)

Dear Colleagues

D-Day for Ebola is this Monday 8^th December 2014.

This campaign is endorsed by the AMA.

The campaign is also endorsed by Julie Bishop, Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Campaign Poster – See attachment.

7.30 Report:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-28/doctor-calls-on-gps-to-give-a-days-pay-to-ebola/5927254

Please consider joining your colleagues and contributing to this emergency by going to the website. www.twicethedoctor.org.au

Kind regards

Robert Baume

On behalf of the Directors of Twice the Doctor Foundation

PS: Please forward this email to all your medical colleagues.

Dear colleagues,

Just in way of feedback for your previous generosity:

There will be a piece on the Twice The Doctor/ UNICEF D-Day for Ebola project on the 7.30 Report( ABC TV) on Friday 28th November

Regards

Rob Baume

(on behalf of the directors of TTD)

PS: Please forward this email to your medical contacts. Spreading the word amplifies our effect.

AUSSIE DOCTORS BECOME VIRTUAL AID WORKERS

An innovative medical volunteer program will allow Australian doctors to ‘virtually volunteer’ in international relief efforts.

The Twice The Doctor Foundation allows health professionals to volunteer without ever leaving Australian clinical practice.

In partnership with UNICEF and The Fred Hollows Foundation, Twice The Doctor Foundation involves health professionals volunteering a day of pay per year which goes towards employing doctors and other healthcare workers on the ground in Africa.

Many doctors have already volunteered with funds going toward programs around the world including Sierra Leone where infant mortality is almost 8 per cent and one per cent of mothers die during childbirth.

UNICEF Health Programme aims to reduce these deaths by training over 4000 health care providers.

Twice The Doctor Director, Dr Robert Baume said the program is a way for health professionals to volunteer from their current practice.

“Many doctors and health professionals would love to volunteer in Africa or similar developing world program,” Dr Baume said.

“The realities of a busy practice and family life often prevent them from ever actually making the journey.”

The Twice The Doctor program allows doctors and other health professionals to simply donate the income from one day (about 0.5% of your annual income). Those funds are used to employ doctors and primary healthcare workers in Africa.

“It’s a way to ‘virtually’ volunteer to make a real difference and one day of pay for an Australian doctor goes a long way in Africa,” Dr Baume said.

The Twice the Doctor Foundation provides doctors with the vehicle to “virtually” make this important journey in an incredibly efficient and effective way.

“There is an enormous disparity in doctors wages between Australia and the Third World. A doctor in Africa gets about $12,000 per year and a nurse about $2,000 annually.

“One day of pay for an Australian doctor is equal to about one month for an African doctor and about six months for a nurse.

“The Twice The Doctor program allows us to amplify the power of Australian doctors.

“It’s about using our heads and our hearts to really make a difference.

Doctors Day in May ( May 21, 2015) marks the annual fundraising day for Twice the Doctor Foundation with more than 800 doctors expected to participate, with a goal of raising over $I million and thereby  providing the funding to train over 2500 primary health care workers in Africa. Doctors who volunteer can choose the program they wish to help. General public can also donate towards the program.

For more information go to www.twicethedoctor.org.au

ABOUT THE TWICE THE DOCTOR FOUNDATION

The Twice The Doctor Foundation allows doctors to work for a day in their own practice and effectively be twice the doctor for a whole month.

Twice The Doctor is a unique virtual volunteering program where doctors donate their earnings for one day per year and their earnings go towards employing a doctor in Africa for a month (or a nurse for up to six months).

More than 330 Australian doctors have already volunteered with a special annual event, Doctors Day in May planned for May 21, 2015.

Funds will go towards UNICEF Health Programme and The Fred Hollows Foundation on programs in Sierra Leone and Kenya.

In Sierra Leone, funds will go to training up to 4,000 health professionals to help reduce infant and maternal mortality. Almost 8 per cent of infants die within their first year and one per cent of mothers die during childbirth.

In Kenya, funds will go towards training local eye surgeons and eye health workers to restore sight to those who are needlessly blind. Four out of five people who are blind don’t need to be. The Fred Hollows Foundation can restore sight for as little as $25.

Doctors who volunteer can choose the program they wish to help. General public can also donate towards the program.

FUNDRAISING: AUSTRALIAN PHILANTHROPIC SERVICES – CFN/23162

For more information go to www.twicethedoctor.org.au

Ends#

Media:

Sophia Day             0425 338 410 / 02 9369 5544                                sophia@brandnewsolutions.com.au

Brittany Bennett   0423 893 531 / 02 9369 5544                                brittany@brandnewsolutions.com.au

Gill Fish                  0400 200 441 / 02 9369 5544                                gfish@brandnewsolutions.com.au

Another great article!

http://newslocal.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx