Winning by Twinning

Our guest speaker on Tuesday 14^th November 2023 was Dr Rob Baume who gave an inspiring talk titled “Winning by Twinning: Helping yourself by helping others”.

Dr Rob Baume

Dr Rob was introduced by Heather Sare who first met him in the Whitsundays some 18 months ago. Rob is a Rheumatologist with many years of clinical experience but also is also the founder of the Twice The Doctor Foundation which has raised close to $1 million for training of medical workforce in Africa.

Rob explained that his charity - mainly aimed at practicing doctors in Australia is a new concept in effective volunteering. He explained that a doctor can work for 1 day in his/her own practice and pay over 1-month’s wages of medical workers in much of Africa.

Rob compared this funding to a medical professional volunteering in Africa where frequently one doesn’t speak the language, often doesn’t have the required skill set, and cannot take 9 months off from one’s practice and family - Médecins sans Frontières that requires 9 months signing up.

Another consideration is SAFETY - 534 attacks on healthcare facilities were reported across 6 Eastern Mediterranean regions from Jan 1 – Nov 19 in 2018.

The difference from other donations is the training and empowerment of healthcare workers – they are working there for you instead of one going there yourself. It is a lot more like true volunteering but, unless one possesses a specifically required skill, happens to be a lot more effective than going. Moreover, this form of charitable assistance is over 30 times more cost effective when compared to salaries in remote rural Australia. Administration costs of Twice The Doctor are covered by the medical directors and cost of partners significantly reduced since large single sums are passes on.

Fundamental Facts:

· Doctors generally have a desire to help patients in greatest need.

· Less than one day’s work here can translate to 3-6 months’ work by an African medical provider.

· Volunteering in ones’ own workspace may be the most effective way.

· Funds to train African medical staff have numerous flow-on benefits.

Key Metrics – the significant financial savings are often better quantified with two significant measures in medicine:

QALYs = QUALITY ADJUSTED LIFE YEARS

DALYs = DISABILITY ADJUSTED LIFE YEARS

The QALYs generated (DALYs averted) by an average doctor working per year is shown below

QALYs - Australia v Africa

Twice the Patient: Rob also outlined a donor program that operates in surgeries and partners with patients to provide medical services to the developing world.

This benefits both Doctor and Patient.

Doctors:Satisfaction of helping some of the most disadvantaged patients in the world by leveraging your medical skills and status.

Plus receive affirming comments such as, “That’s a great thing you’re doing doc. Those people need all the help they can” and,

Build a stronger alliance with the patient.

Patients: Has the opportunity to contribute to a specific projects within a medical charity that is trusted, supported and administered by doctors.

Is reminded of a whole other universe of medical needs which may help to put his/her problems into greater perspective.

Builds a stronger alliance with the doctor.

SO IN SUMMARY

The audience thanked Dr Baume for a most inspiring speech and he was presented with a certificate of appreciation by Dr Di Hart.

--ooOOoo--

A big thanks:

To all our wonderful Balgowlah Rotary volunteers and contributors....and their friends.....

Look how much you have made a difference.....multiply these comments below by 185+ bags = 185+ women helped, feeling cared for, dignity restored, some hope!!

Thank you all !!

Forwarded by Sue Terry. (see msg from Share the Dignity below).

( by the way All Bunnings stores are still collecting bags and any extra contents such as sealed packets of tampons , pads, etc until 25 Nov....if you have any late donations, take them along.).

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Share the Dignity <noreply@sharethedignity.org.au>
Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2023, 1:00 pm
Subject: The difference an #ItsintheBag can make ❤
To: <sandjterry@gmail.com>

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Hello Supporter

My name is Simone and I am a dedicated Share the Dignity volunteer in Tasmania. I am currently collecting It’s in the Bag donations from Bunnings and I have the heartwarming job of delivering them to local charity partners.

As a domestic violence survivor, volunteering with Share the Dignity is so important to me. My girls and I were in a domestic violence shelter before Share the Dignity started and I experienced how degrading it can be not being able to afford basic hygiene items.

That’s why I chose to volunteer and for that reason, It’s in the Bag is a cause so close to my heart. As a domestic violence warrior I know the difference having basic essentials would have had on my confidence, it would have been life-changing.

It’s in the Bag collection points are now open at Bunnings stores Australia-wide until November 26 and I encourage you to fill a bag with basic essentials and perhaps some extra luxuries to change a woman or girl’s life.

Donate to It’s in the Bag before Nov 26

Once when I was dropping off It’s in the Bag donations to a charity I was lucky enough to meet a mum and her two daughters who fled domestic violence and were rebuilding their lives in a remote part of Tasmania.

They felt displaced and isolated so to be given It’s in the Bag donations on Christmas made them feel loved and gave them hope. The teen bags contained extra special items like hair scrunchies, water bottles and stationary so her girls were over the moon.

She gave me the biggest hug to show how grateful she was for Share the Dignity and for people like you who put together a bag knowing you will likely never meet the woman or girl whose world was changed because of your donation.

I would be so grateful if you could consider putting together an It’s in the Bag donation before Bunnings collection points close on November 26, as you can see, every single bag makes a huge difference.

With deep gratitude,

Learn more about It’s in the Bag