27 March 2008
The Realitatea TV report
I decided to go out to Mina 1 Mai again, even I was not feeling very well, but I needed some answers. Yesterday, someone mentioned that around 12.00 noon in the news it was presented the Mina 1 Mai hospital. I have not seen, was not even home at that time, and I found out that it was shown the building form the outside, the yard just around the building, and the reporter. No familiar faces, no staff or patients.
I was curious how can they broadcast live from there, as you have to protect the faces of the patients, and how can you protect them if you are live? Obviuosly, by not showing them.
What I knew yesterday is that only the outside building was shown, no people, it was mentioned that the hospital is struggling because of lack of money and lack of staff, and also that charities from abroad came over to do work and help the hospital. The report itself was also quite short just a few minutes.
Today I went to see Garofita in the kindergarten, as I missed her yesterday and than went up straight to the hospital. As it was Thursday morning I met the Dr. Iordache too and the head nurse. I got a clear picture now of what happened.
On Wednesday morning Dr. Grigoriu apparently phoned the head nurse telling her that a TV crew will arrive. So they only knew about the arrival about some hour before. All the hospital was clean, heating working, patients OK, and for the surprise of the TV crew they did not find anything which would be worthy to go on the news (something really bad).
So they talked to the staff and the head nurse told me that they only took bits and pieces out what the staff told them and did not told the whole story in the front of camera.
What was told in the front of camera is that the building itself is not a proper hospital building, it would need many reparations, especially the outside. Also it was filmed the rubbish outside and some footage on the yard. Mentioned the dentist too and the lack of staff, and the male staff do all sorts of work there because they do not have enough people and enough money...
The head nurse told me that they were unhappy because the wards were nice and clean, mostly refubished, and the journalist reporter asked the head nurse "Do you have any wards which are not as nice and are not decorated? We would like to tape those"
What a shame that they only try to see what is bad and when is nothing bad they try to make something bad.
I was told that in Bucharest some psychiatrists have resigned because the Ministry of Health does not give them enough money and by this they tried to force the minister of health to allow more funds towards these hospitals. Also the head nurse told me that this TV station is now doing a campaign on all psychiatric hospitals in the country to show to the public to bad situation.
This TV station is famous as they make many different campaigns by which they try to force the present government in changing the laws, one of their most famous campaign was the car tax one.
I have not seen anything in the TV, not in their website regarding this hospital. The head nurse told me that they were filming indoors too, so it may be possible to air certain footages later in the following days, but I am not sure.
As a final word, the hospital was looking better than as it was expected. So the head nurse had her reasons to be happy today...
The Realitatea TV web site is www.realitatea.net
I was curious how can they broadcast live from there, as you have to protect the faces of the patients, and how can you protect them if you are live? Obviuosly, by not showing them.
What I knew yesterday is that only the outside building was shown, no people, it was mentioned that the hospital is struggling because of lack of money and lack of staff, and also that charities from abroad came over to do work and help the hospital. The report itself was also quite short just a few minutes.
Today I went to see Garofita in the kindergarten, as I missed her yesterday and than went up straight to the hospital. As it was Thursday morning I met the Dr. Iordache too and the head nurse. I got a clear picture now of what happened.
On Wednesday morning Dr. Grigoriu apparently phoned the head nurse telling her that a TV crew will arrive. So they only knew about the arrival about some hour before. All the hospital was clean, heating working, patients OK, and for the surprise of the TV crew they did not find anything which would be worthy to go on the news (something really bad).
So they talked to the staff and the head nurse told me that they only took bits and pieces out what the staff told them and did not told the whole story in the front of camera.
What was told in the front of camera is that the building itself is not a proper hospital building, it would need many reparations, especially the outside. Also it was filmed the rubbish outside and some footage on the yard. Mentioned the dentist too and the lack of staff, and the male staff do all sorts of work there because they do not have enough people and enough money...
The head nurse told me that they were unhappy because the wards were nice and clean, mostly refubished, and the journalist reporter asked the head nurse "Do you have any wards which are not as nice and are not decorated? We would like to tape those"
What a shame that they only try to see what is bad and when is nothing bad they try to make something bad.
I was told that in Bucharest some psychiatrists have resigned because the Ministry of Health does not give them enough money and by this they tried to force the minister of health to allow more funds towards these hospitals. Also the head nurse told me that this TV station is now doing a campaign on all psychiatric hospitals in the country to show to the public to bad situation.
This TV station is famous as they make many different campaigns by which they try to force the present government in changing the laws, one of their most famous campaign was the car tax one.
I have not seen anything in the TV, not in their website regarding this hospital. The head nurse told me that they were filming indoors too, so it may be possible to air certain footages later in the following days, but I am not sure.
As a final word, the hospital was looking better than as it was expected. So the head nurse had her reasons to be happy today...
The Realitatea TV web site is www.realitatea.net
26 March 2008
Vulcan report and TV crew
Today morning I visited The school in Vulcan and had a meeting with it's new director Roxana Fagaraseanu. It was a pleasant meeting, she is very thankful for what the charity has done for the school in the past years, and for now we discussed the new project of the new cupboards for milk and croissants.
I have told her that the charity agreed in purchasing these furniture for them and they will be made locally. Also told her that we want these cupboards to be used both for school and kindergarten in Mina 1 Mai, and when we deliver them we need a letter of acceptance of donation.
I visited the furniture workshop in Vulcan, met the boss as well, they started today to work on the new cupboards. Mr. Manitiu sends his best wishes to the team members.
Than I was in Mina 1 Mai. Visited the John Roche dispensary, which was on duty today. Met the doctor there, the nurse and there were 2 patients inside and about 3 outside in the waiting room. She said that this was her second visit in this dispensary in March.
I went to the school, but it was ... just the guardian. They all went today to a children's theatre play. Garofita called and apologized for not being there, she said that this event was a last minute one. However I went in and took a photo about the wall, they plan to put the new cupboards.
Finally went to the hospital. The dentist was there too today, so I saw a bit of action there. She also gave me a list of required items for the surgery like: anesthetics, plastic gloves, some medicine, and I will get this in the following week or so to have them on the next visit.
Surprise, suprise! Who was visiting the Hospital? The main TV station from Bucharest, Realitatea TV (like a Romanian CNN), as they broadcast news 24 h a day. See the attached photo as they broadcast live form Mina 1 Mai. I don't know more about this, as I haven't been too long there, perhaps next time, a visit which I will make it soon, I will get more information on this.
I have told her that the charity agreed in purchasing these furniture for them and they will be made locally. Also told her that we want these cupboards to be used both for school and kindergarten in Mina 1 Mai, and when we deliver them we need a letter of acceptance of donation.
I visited the furniture workshop in Vulcan, met the boss as well, they started today to work on the new cupboards. Mr. Manitiu sends his best wishes to the team members.
Than I was in Mina 1 Mai. Visited the John Roche dispensary, which was on duty today. Met the doctor there, the nurse and there were 2 patients inside and about 3 outside in the waiting room. She said that this was her second visit in this dispensary in March.
I went to the school, but it was ... just the guardian. They all went today to a children's theatre play. Garofita called and apologized for not being there, she said that this event was a last minute one. However I went in and took a photo about the wall, they plan to put the new cupboards.
Finally went to the hospital. The dentist was there too today, so I saw a bit of action there. She also gave me a list of required items for the surgery like: anesthetics, plastic gloves, some medicine, and I will get this in the following week or so to have them on the next visit.
Surprise, suprise! Who was visiting the Hospital? The main TV station from Bucharest, Realitatea TV (like a Romanian CNN), as they broadcast news 24 h a day. See the attached photo as they broadcast live form Mina 1 Mai. I don't know more about this, as I haven't been too long there, perhaps next time, a visit which I will make it soon, I will get more information on this.
22 March 2008
12 March 2008
Link European
Eric Escott, the manager from Link European was a guest in our church at the morning service this Sunday. He mentioned that the Link European is in close contact with a charity named Link Romania. Also he mentioned that Link European is sending over to Romania many shoe boxes with all sorts of gifts just around Christmas time.
In private I had a little chat and I was told that in case we need similar shoe boxes for the hospital, than he can be contacted and asked for. He remembered the North Nibley Romania Team.
If you want to follow the idea, you can talk to him about this...
In private I had a little chat and I was told that in case we need similar shoe boxes for the hospital, than he can be contacted and asked for. He remembered the North Nibley Romania Team.
If you want to follow the idea, you can talk to him about this...
08 March 2008
Survey team
Mina 1 Mai, these days
Between the 27 February and 5 March the NNRT team visited Romania. Matt Bigwood and John Anyon, came to do the survey trip, discuss with hospital officials, taking many photos and videos...
We had a productive meeting with the head nurse. They also had the chance to meet Dr. Iordache, even just for a short time. Also met Dr. Boesan (Ropotan's daughter), and the majority of the staff.
The head nurse was thankful for all she received, as for the summer projects it was suggested to capture more springs to add them to the existing water reservoir, a new drying area for clothes with roofing on it, more roof tiles for the 2 buildings, reparations on dining room tables and perhaps a few new chairs, continuing the rewiring of the hospital, new sockets, switches and tubes, perhaps more food...
While the team was here, I met the Mormon team (LDS church) led by Mr. Val Lofgreen, who came over, did the shopping at the Metro 1 and Metro 2, bought the following things for the hospital: big industrial sewing machine, second hand sewing machine, second hand knitting machine, circular saw blades, big pots with lids, stainless steel mugs, industrial ironing machine, a household ironing machine, cloth dryers, plastic buckets...
I am happy that between the shoppings I got a new digital camera Panasonic, which I am going to use from now on. I am thankful for the Mormon team on behalf of the hospital, who came over from Bucharest just to help buying the above items to the hospital.
I had a very good week with Matt and John. The weather was good to us most of the time, except the last 2 days. I must say that I admire the dedication of Matt and John who came here for a week, do the charity work. It was quite obvious that Matt is a famous person back home, receiving many phonecalls while in Romania, even on the road back to Bucharest... I am not saying that John is not as famous, as far as I know John left his phone back home.
We have visited all the hospital, many of the wards, the new carpenter workshop, the former carpenter workshop, the new boiler house... Our old burner, fuel injector is now rubbish, including the the old boiler too. In fact just outside of the hospital is a pile of rubbish, mostly heavy iron, they need some machinery to lift that up and remove it.
It is true that the head nurse suggested that we could use some old iron for the new drying area, but I do not reccomand it really: firstly because they are old and very rusty, and secondly because the management form Brasov might just take it from there and sell it by the summer.
The hospital now wants to buy many trees to make an orchid out there.
Matt and John gave out cigarettes for patients. It is true we do not encourage anyone to smoke, quite the opposite, but it seemed these poor fellows would give anything for a cigarette.
Also on the last day we have been shopping food from Metro 1 for about 240 Pounds plus some gifts for the staff, and they were very happy.
Matt signing documents
When we left they did not knew where exaclty will install the new sewing machine. At the beginning it was said that they will install at the sewing ladies room , but there is no 380V required and they would need about 40m cable plus socket to make it. That's why they said that is possible to install it at the existing OT room, where actually it seems they do have the 380V.
That would certainly raise the question if the exisiting OT room will remain as it is now?
Also at the transport a plastic handle of the machine has broken and they would need a very strong glue to fix it.
We have been in the new dispensary, fixed the pipe under the toilet sink. With the mould there is a bigger issue, it can not be cleansed just like that.
We have been at the school and kindergarten, met Garofita there.
Within the week we only had 1 day off on Saturday 1 March, when we were in Poiana Brasov and later in Brasov and on the mount Tampa.
John's photo - our family
Matt and John also been at our place and John did many photos of our family, for what I am very thankful.At the Sergiana
We have been at the Sergiana restaurant from the center of Brasov which did not seemed as nice as it is advertised. If you have claustrophobia you certainly must avoid it, as it's like an underground cellar. The usual Casa Tudor is a much nicer place.
The refurbished boiler room
I do not want to forget that the road now between Mina 1 Mai and Codlea is very bad. It's true last October they repaired it parts of it, but on areas where no reparations were made, are just absolutely disaster to drive. Especially in Coldea next to the paint factory's corner, and around the entrance to Mina 1 Mai. Here we had to drive VERY slowly. As local elections are due on 1 June 2008, who knows perhaps it will be repaired? If not, perhaps in 2012?
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