Dr Ishak Abdulrahman runs a specialised paediatric clinic – SAM Medical Centre - which includes gynaecological, obstetric, and minor surgical procedures (SAM – Severe Acute Malnutrition). This also includes making sure the patient is fit for an operation. Cases are referred from and to the clinic from other clinics and hospitals, for local and worldwide consultations, mainly to Swinfen Telemedicine.

The clinic also runs an emergency service: resuscitation (including newborn infants); treatment of moderate and severe forms of dehydration and epilepsy attacks. There are on average about 120 cases per week; approximately seven firms have a health insurance contract with the clinic, and this is supported by other lab and hospital facilities outside the centre. There are 4 doctors, 3 nurses, a medical assistant and 2 pharmacists.

Why did you get involved with the trust? AND what is the need for the trust

Following a period of trial of about 3 years to get telemedicine services from overseas, characterised by failure and success, I was lucky to get in touch with the Trust. It was like a glimpse of light in the darkness of the harsh realities of life in the field of health and health related services. I found a treasure of highly qualified doctors providing a free service for cases, for patients suffering from conditions in need for consultation which was not available in my country. The value of the services in terms of medical care and educational value for both the doctor and the patient is beyond possible measurement.

The need for the Trust arises from the fact that it is a channel for help for the needy patients who happened to be in a condition of lack of medical care, in addition to poverty and in many situations, social disturbance. The Trust represents a good example of true human nature which paves the way for prosperity and pace among nations.

I think the support of the Trust is vital for the role it plays in several countries; therefore, I hope the Trust will get more and more support from the public and from regional, national and international agencies in order to bridge the gap in the field of health and health related services between poor and rich countries.

One of my patients who now lives in the USA, who was treated before I was able to link in with the Trust and without the use of telemedicine, but with the same spirit of the Trust’s approach to healthcare - Swinfen Telemedicine “Is a case of treatment beyond borders, treated by doctors and nurses of different specialties, different nationalities, different religions – Jewish, Christian and Muslim”.

The number of cases served by the Trust for patients at our clinic have exceeded 200 cases. Many of them have had on average 5-10 follow up consultations; and some have had more than 30 follow up consultations. We’ve included a few examples.

A 55-year-old female who was suffering from Rheumatic heart disease and for whom a tissue valve replacement was used twice within a period of 3months, due to the failure of the first operation (operative and postoperative significant defects) which ended in a nonfunctional valve. The operation was complicated by postoperative coma for 4 days. An infarct on the brain has ended in visual problems and mild degree of amnesia. Another attack of SBE (Subacute bacterial endocarditis) developed a year ago. A second opinion during the whole illness was supported by the Trust in several consultations especially for the use of medications and the interpretation of investigations. The patient is now doing well except for partial loss of peripheral vision.

A 12-year-old boy with chronic myeloid leukaemia who developed CNS (Central Nervous System) manifestations in the form of a severe increased intracranial tension for which local opinion was to do neurosurgery. A second opinion was sought from the Trust and with the participation of several experts, the child was saved from possible operative complication which was lifesaving. Medication was used, the child recovered from the severe effects of increased intracranial tension, and he could walk and pass urine normally etc.

Images supplied by Dr Abdulrahman.