Presentations:
Joe Coons introduced Marj Reichardt and Corey Priddy, who represented the North Cascades Concert Band, recipients of a $200 grant from the Service Fund. The band was formed in 1993 and participants come from as far north as Blaine, and as far south as Olympia. Both Marj and Corey spoke briefly to the Club, providing information about the Band, thanking our Club for its generous support, and asking our members to "spread the word" about the Band. Admission to their concerts is “by donation.” Their website has information on coming concerts: nccband.org.
Program: Dr. Mike Mallahan - Guatemala Audiology Program
Dr. Mike Mallahan, a member of the Mill Creek Rotary Club, presented a program titled “Healing the Children.” HTC is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to assisting children who cannot receive the medical care they need because of inadequate medical resources or funds where they live. As an audiologist, Mike’s specific involvement has been in Guatemala, a country of 15 million (similar to the population of Washington), where 50% of the population is less than 18 years of age and 60% of the population lives on less than $250 a month. The combination of a poor economy and years of political upheaval has resulted in an acute lack of medical care.
Child-related hearing loss in Guatemala is ten times the rate of that in United States. This is an unfortunate result of a lack of medical care (so short-term medical conditions, like ear infections, become long-term disabilitieis), a lack of resources to get medical care, and a shallow genetic pool, resulting in hearing-impaired genes being passed on generationally. Since 2003, when HTC began operations in Guatemala, over 2,000 children have been tested, treated and/or fitted with hearing aids. On their most recent 10-day trip, 91 surgeries were performed. HTC is also training locals to conduct hearing tests, and the goal is to train themselves out of their job in Guatemala (with locals providing the necessary care), and turning their attention to other countries throughout Latin America. It costs approximately $250 to fit a hearing aid, and $75 for medical supplies. So far, most of this funding has come from contributions from Rotary clubs in Washington state.
Dr. Mallahan then entertained questions from Club Members.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)