Australian ambulance to grant patients' dying wishes

Yahoo – AFP, July 26, 2019

92-year-old Betty Dowsett benefits from a new Australian initiative to fulfil the
wishes of people in palliative care (AFP Photo/HANDOUT, Ange COSTES)

Inspired by an Australian ambulance crew who took a dying woman to the beach on her way to hospital, officials have announced a dedicated vehicle to grant final wishes to terminally ill patients.

In late 2017, ambulance officers in the northern state of Queensland took a detour on the way to hospital as per the wishes of a dying patient who wanted to see the ocean one last time.

The touching gesture was captured by a photo showing a paramedic beside a stretcher facing the ocean at Hervey Bay, on Australia's northeast coast.

Paramedics on the way to hospital in late 2017 made a detour via Hervey Bay, on 

Australia's northeast coast -- to respect the wishes of their dying patient (AFP Photo/

HANDOUT)

This week the Queensland state government announced it was dedicating a decommissioned ambulance to granting dying wishes of terminally ill patients, such as visiting their pets, their children, their grandchildren or visiting an art gallery or museum.

"Fulfilling the final wishes of people can be challenging as you could be transporting someone who can't walk, or sit in a chair, or who might require continuous oxygen or other medical appliances and support," Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles said in a statement.

The Australian-first initiative is modelled on a similar programme run in the Netherlands.

"With the Ambulance Wish Queensland programme medically trained volunteers, adapted ambulances, and necessary equipment will transport people to fulfil their wish successfully and safely," Miles added.

Palliative care patient Betty Dowsett enjoys the sunshine in Brisbane’s City 

Botanic Gardens (AFP Photo/HANDOUT, Ange COSTES)

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The moment a giraffe 'says goodbye' to a dying zoo worker

The touching moment was captured on film. Photo: Stichting Ambulancewens

Medics in pink: Dubai launches women-only ambulances

Yahoo – AFP, Natacha Yazbeck, July 13, 2017

A pink ambulance of the Women Responders team is seen in Dubai on July 13,
2017 (AFP Photo/GIUSEPPE CACACE)

Dubai (AFP) - Four women in pink remain on standby 12 hours a day, seven days a week, to come to the aid of their "sisters" in the Gulf emirate of Dubai.

The four -- two medics and two drivers -- are leading a pilot project for a women-only pink ambulance service that aims to expedite medical care by helping patients feel more at ease.

"In our society, Arab Muslim society, when patients call for help, they want privacy and they want to feel comfortable," said Bashayer al-Rimm, an emergency medical technician (EMT).

"A male first responder can and of course does respond to all patients," she told AFP.

"But the logic behind this was, 'How can we make women feel more comfortable?', to speed up giving them medical care."

The government-run Women Responders unit operating in the district of Deira has had 25 callouts since it launched three weeks ago, none of them major emergencies.

Staff specialise in obstetrics and gynaecology and pediatrics, and they refer to each other -- and their patients -- "sisters".

Ten years ago, Dubai launched "Ladies and Families Taxis," a pink fleet of cabs driven by women and serving women and their children.

Maria Lagbes, a Philippines doctor with the Women Responders team, leaves 

the ambulance service headquarters after receiving an emergency call, on 

July 13, 2017, in Dubai (AFP Photo/GIUSEPPE CACACE)

The service is still available, and popular, across Dubai, a member of the United Arab Emirates.

Maria Lagbes, a longtime medic who was tapped to join the Women Responders team, said the ambulance service has already helped improve patient care.

"Female patients, especially in this country, are more hesitant when there are male medics around," said Lagbes, who is originally from the Philippines.

"I can tell the difference, having worked before with a male partner and now with a female partner," she said. "I think an all-female team can provide more efficient medical service here."

For now, the pilot project targets Deira, a bustling, old district of a city state known globally for its modern opulence.

The next step is to expand to Bur Dubai, another of Dubai's older quarters that lies across the Dubai Creek, a water canal historically used by fishermen and pearl divers.

"We've had so much positive feedback," said Rimm. "People have been saying this is really helpful".

But despite temperatures soaring above 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit), the next batch of EMTs is trained and eager to join the pink fleet.

"We're all used to it. Not just as first responders -- as Emiratis," Rimm chuckled. "Keep hydrated."

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"Listening to the Voice of Spirit" (2) - Feb 20, 2016 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Carroll) - (DNA Efficiency is on average at 35 percent now)

“… With free choice, the percentage of DNA efficiently started to go down as humanity grew. As soon as the DNA started to lose percentage, the gender balance was dysfunctional. If you want to have a test of any society, anywhere on the planet, and you want to know the DNA percentage number [consciousness quota] as a society, there's an easy test: How do they perceive and treat their women? The higher the DNA functionality, the more the feminine divine is honored. This is the test! Different cultures create different DNA consciousness, even at the same time on the planet. So you can have a culture on Earth at 25 percent and one at 37 - and if you did, they would indeed clash. …”

“… You're at 35. There's an equality here, you're starting to see the dark and light, and it's changing everything. You take a look at history and you've come a long way, but it took a long time to get here. Dear ones, we've seen this process before and the snowball is rolling. There isn't anything in the way that's going to stop it. In the path of this snowball of higher consciousness are all kinds of things that will be run over and perish. Part of this is what you call "the establishment". Watch for some very big established things to fall over! The snowball will simply knock them down. …”

Thirty Disaster-Prone Villages Receive Ambulances

Friday, 13 November, 2009 | 14:32 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Lumajang: A total of 30 villages prone to disaster in the Lumajang Regency will receive ambulances in 2010.

The Lumajang Regency Government and Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) at present is holding a discussion about this project.

Lumajang's regency secretary, Abdul Fatah Ismail, said today (13/11) that the ambulances are prioritized for villages that are located far from cities.

This project is allocated already in the 2010 regional budget. “We have selected which villages that will receive the ambulances,” said Fatah.

The ambulances will become property of the villages. “Each village will be responsible for the maintenance,” he said.

Fatah is optimistic that the village will be able to do this. “The ambulances will not be used every day,” he said.

Based on information gathered by Tempo, many villages in Lumajang are prone to disasters, especially those located in the ravine of mount Semeru.

DAVID PRIYASIDHARTA

Representatives from Indonesia, Israel sign medical agreement

Muhammad Nafik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta |  Fri, 11/07/2008 10:54 AM  

Indonesian delegates signed a medical cooperation agreement with Israel's national emergency medical service Magen David Adom (MDA) and the American-Israel Joint Distribution Committee in Tel Aviv last week. 

The US$200,000 agreement involved Sudibyo Markus, deputy chairman of Muhammadiyah, which, with some 30 million members, is Indonesia's second largest Muslim organization. 

The Indonesian delegation was led by Prof. Aryono Pusponegoro from the University of Indonesia, who chairs both the 118 Emergency Ambulance Service Foundation and the Indonesian College of Surgeons. 

"I was invited there (to Tel Aviv) to sign the agreement only as a witness. It was Pak Aryono who was directly engaged in the cooperation," Sudibyo told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. 

"There was no a memorandum of understanding between Muhammadiyah and Magen David Adom," he stressed. 

However, Sudibyo said Aryono currently serves as an health advisor to Muhammadiyah. 

"Muhammadiyah is interested in such a program," Sudibyo added. 

The Muhammadiyah runs dozens of clinics, hospitals, orphanages, schools and universities across Indonesia, which are recognized by the government as well as international organizations. 

Sudibyo said the accord, signed with MDA chairman Noam Yifrach on Oct. 30, was a cooperation between Israel and Indonesia regarding humanitarian emergency health services. 

The visit was also intended to promote an "interfaith" dialog between the Jewish state and the world's largest Muslim nation, he added. 

He said the visit would not have happened if the MDA had not been recognized as an equal member of the International Committee of the Red Cross two years ago. 

The agreement was preceded by a week-long MDA course on the "management of multi-casualty incidents", something that the two countries sadly share a need for. A group of 23 leading Indonesian health system professionals attended the course. 

Yifrach and the MDA coordinator of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, David Abadi, came to Jakarta in September to finalize plans for the Indonesian doctors to take part in the training. 

Both Yifrach and Abadi held meetings in Jakarta during the visit, The Jerusalem Post reported. 

Sudibyo said the cooperation was made as Israel is home to the world's leading experts in medical emergencies. 

"I was interested in going there to learn about its medical emergency services system," he said. "In India it takes some 30 minutes for an ambulance to bring a victim to hospital, while in Israel it takes a maximum of 10 minutes," he added. 

"It's easier to order a pizza in Indonesia than an ambulance," Aryono was quoted by The Jerusalem Post as saying to the laughter of his colleagues. The dismal paramedic units he alluded to face severe financial difficulties and were hit hard by the tsunami that devastated Southeast Asia in 2004. 

"People don't know what a paramedic is in Indonesia. "But after this trip, they will," he continued. 

The accord will lead to the training of Indonesian medics and paramedics in Israel and at home. 

Sudibyo said the Indonesian doctors who were trained in Tel Aviv would pass their knowledge on to other paramedics upon returning home. 

The recent exchange visits between Indonesia and Israel are rare events, since the two countries have no diplomatic ties. 

"When there are people-to-people interactions, and personal relationships being built, things start happening," Aryono said. 

"This is how you make peace. As soon as politics comes into it and politicians get involved the whole thing falls apart," Yifrach was quoted as saying. 

"I believe this could lead to a process of eventual diplomatic relations between the two countries," he added.

500 medical staff provided for UNFCC

DENPASAR (The Jakarta Post): As many as 500 doctors and paramedics will be ready to provide medical services to delegates of the United Nations Frameworks Convention for Climate Change (UNFCC) conference here next week.

Dr. Kuning Atmadjaya, coordinator of the medical team, was quoted by Radar Bali as saying there would be four areas focussed on. The first would be the venue of the conference; Westin Resort in Nusa Dua.

"We will provide a number of specialists including internists, cardiologists, surgeons and professional paramedics," Dr. Atmadjaya said.

"The medical team from Bali will also have the support of doctors and specialists from Jakarta and other cities. The second service area will cover the Nusa Dua resort complex, where we will set up a fully equipped field hospital," he added.

The third area will be in Kuta.

"We will establish a medical post at the Kuta Community Health Center," the doctor said.

The fourth area of service will be a mobile hospital. "Our medical team will accompany delegates visiting certain areas in Bali," he said, adding 39 ambulances had been prepared to support the mobile hospital. -- JP