Dr. William Grut AMDA Canada

AMDA Canada - Synopsis and History

AMDA Canada has been in existence for 16 years, since the founding of the Chapter system. It coalesced through a group of enthusiasts in Vancouver B.C. most of whom who had had previous experience in overseas development, aid and project work of various forms, ranging from formal institutional contacts to direct hands-on field work.  Since its foundation, the organization has gone through a number of changes of goal and focus leading to it role now in Vancouver as a support organization for the emergency relief efforts of AMDA HQ. 

AMDA Canada members have a wide range of project interests and involvements several of which have on occasion interacted with formal AMDA field projects and all of which remain open for any future AMDA involvement if desired by HQ or any AMDA chapters.  These include sight restoration, and rehabilitation surgery (cleft lip and palate, acid burns, land-mine injuries etc) for the poor of Cambodia, micro-credit, education (all ages including tertiary), post traumatic stress counseling, palliative care, sports-for-peace (Sri Lanka), assistance for disability, particularly the blind (Vietnam),  drug and alcohol rehabilitation and anti trafficking program (Nepal). There is also a film editing training program for N.American First Nation youth,  small scale community programs in Madagascar, Kenya and Uganda and an Africa focused trust for medical training.

Emergency relief has been the area where AMDA Canada members have been most
directly involved with the AMDA world network.  Members have been on AMDA teams  in missions to hurricane relief (Rossing) in the  Philippines, earthquake in Mexico (Colima and Jalisco Provinces),  as well as central America (Hurricane Mitch).   A Vancouver wide paediatric medical response team was sent to south east Sri Lanka arriving  days before the national Canadian relief  team (‘DART’) who they were able to advise on arrival.  This team was sent under the name AMDA Canada, following consultation with already existing AMDA Sri Lanka / HQ project leaders.  At the same time a team of three medical professionals flew to join the AMDA AMM response team in Aceh. 

Further assistances  in the past 5 years were links with  AMDA emergency relief efforts though the sending of  a nursing professional to join the AMDA Hurricane Katrina relief (2005) team and a physician, Dr Pirzada for Pakistan Earthquake relief (2005).  Though neither of these initiatives resulted, for various reasons, in direct work with AMDA teams on location, excellent relief work was, in both cases able to be fulfilled.  And in 2006 personnel were again sent to join AMDA Indonesia / HQ in earthquake relief in Jogjakata and Solo.  In 2007 a joint AMDA/Rose Charities Canada and AMDA Nepal  relief initiative supplied emergency provisions and medical aid to flood victims in the terrain region.

Current situation

AMDA Canada currently sees itself as a support organization for AMDA HQ (and Chapter) emergency relief initiatives.  For the recent  Myanmar Cyclone, some funds were raised to assist with the AMDA Myanmar / HQ initiative, and a medical team was raised through, mainland China registered medical professionals in Hong Kong to assist in Sichuan, along with ethnic Chinese Vancouver based counselors. 

Future

AMDA Canada is in a transition mode. It runs currently very closely with a sister organization Rose Charities which provides almost all its logistical and financial support but it is envisaged that this is only a phase in a pathway to a more autonomous self sustaining scenario.