KELSEYVILLE ? A fundraiser to support a humanitarian mission to Tchad, Africa will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Moore Family Winery in Kelseyville. The event will assist in sending a team of four to Africa where they will provide much-needed medical care to women of the area.
“This is a place where nobody goes,” Dr. Paula Dhanda said. “One of the huge problems is a lack of prenatal care. Many of these women will labor in the bushes for days. There is a high infant mortality rate and one in five children dies before the age of five.”
Dr. Dhanda, who currently serves as Chief of Staff at Adventist Health St. Helena Hospital ? Clearlake, will lead the mission. Dr. Dhanda has served the women”s needs of Lake County for more than 18 years. She is the first woman to serve as chief of staff at St. Helena Hospital ? Clearlake as well as the only woman to ever serve as such in Lake County.
Dr. Dhanda will be leading a hand-picked team specializing in the type of care that is greatly needed by women in Tchad. The team will travel to Adventist Health B?r? Hospital where they will perform surgical procedures and provide education and training for prevention and improved health care.
“We will be spending two weeks doing surgery, which is important, but the bigger issue is teaching the midwives there how to prevent these problems and how to care for high-risk obstetrics,” Dr. Dhanda said. “Midwives and nurses will be trained to identify and manage high-risk pregnancies. Educational programs will emphasize methods to prevent sexually transmitted infections and encourage safe sexual practices. Our occupational therapist will focus on pelvic floor muscle strengthening as an adjunct to surgery.”
According to Dr. Dhanda, women in Tchad suffer immensely from a variety of gynecological and obstetric conditions that often lead to ostracism from their families and communities. One of the leading problems, she said, is incontinence, which often occurs as a result of recto-vaginal and vesicovaginal fistulas. Fistulas, which are abnormal connections between the urinary tract and the vagina, are preventable medical conditions that can be treated with surgery and therapeutic exercises.
Peggy Landini who is a licensed occupational therapist specializing in urinary incontinence, will be joining the mission. Landini has practiced in Lake County for the past 28 years. Two years ago she implemented a treatment program for urinary incontinence and pelvic floor weakness, which has reportedly been well-received by medical staff and patients in the community.
Medical Assistant Carol Broughton and pre-med student Shan Dhanda, who is Dr. Dhanda”s brother, will also be joining the mission. The majority of the team will be staying for two weeks while Shan Dhanda will be staying for two months.
Saturday”s fundraiser will feature a silent auction of many generous prizes. Dr. Davies has contributed a private flight around the lake. Dr. Steven Herber has donated a cosmetic consultation and certificate toward a surgical procedure and a gift basket full of dental care products has been contributed by Dr. Kinsell. Adventist Health St. Helena Hospital ? Clearlake has provided a bone density and mammogram test along with a Well Woman visit with Dr. Dhanda valued at $800. A variety of other prizes have also been contributed including an original painting by renowned Lake County artist John Clarke. It is possible the painting will be awarded through a live auction.
Moore Family Winery is located at 11990 Bottle Rock Road in Kelseyville. Tickets, priced at $25 apiece, are going fast. For ticket purchase please call 279-8733. The Mission to Tchad charity event will also include hors d”oeuvres catered by the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro and a glass of champagne.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
