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Hi all,

bit of a plea for contact details or members who are in the "know".

I'm looking at travelling to Malawi / Papua New Guinea treating clubfoot with a local orthopaedic surgeon (steve mannion)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7572792.stm.

We are trying to get a company to sponsor gait analysis equipment for pre and post op TEV patients.

Anybody interested or know someone to contact?

The company could potentially have a lot of marketing through the charity we are going wth.

Thanks,

George

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Hey George,

You could try Jonathan Hedges at MAR/Contemplas? Nice chap and is on the arena so he may see this in any case.

Cheers Ian, i'll give him a call tomorrow. I've got a few who are 'getting back to me' so we shall see.

George

I am not sure about how experienced you and your team are with PNG and medical missions.

I have had many long chats to colleagues who have done this in the Phillipines, Vietnam and other places.

There are many stories about bribery, corruption, security concerns etc. Be sure that you have plenty of "cash" to grease the wheels of people, particularly at customs - who often require "special fees" be paid to release medical equipment for charitable use on their countrymen/women. Expect many specialist items that may need to come home with you to be never seen again.

The ACPS has run a clubfoot project in Vietnam for many years, and may be an excellent source of advice - Andrew van Essen (podiatric surgeon) in Adelaide in particular.

As an Australian, I shudder at the thought of safety concerns for your team in PNG.

LL

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Remember, it's just a foot.

LL,

thanks for the advice. The gait analysis equipment will actually initially be used in Malawi, somewhere Steve has had established for quite some time. PNG is a new venture though, so given your sentiments it should be a challenge to say the least.