... a non-profit voluntary organisation seeking to assist health work in developing countries through supplying surplus
medical and dental supplies and equipment as well as providing backup support where appropriate.

2007 Annual Report Published

MAA encourages health education by the provision of medical literature

Dear Supporter

 Welcome to our new-look newsletter, “CommunicAid”.  Good communication is vital so that you are kept up to date and in touch with developments in Medical Aid Abroad (MAA) through the year.

 What’s on in 2000?

We have an exciting and challenging year ahead.  There are several large projects for MAA in 2000:

 ·   Vietnam –another container of medical supplies

·    Bougainville – another shipment to VSA health workers, care of the RNZAF

 In addition, we are facing organisational changes.  These include undertaking a review of MAA’s now rather dated constitution, together with setting up a framework for a national organisation.  

Why change?

It is now over 30 years since MAA was first incorporated.  The charitable medical supplies ‘industry’ has changed dramatically, particularly over the past decade.  We are seeking to comply with international guidelines for donated pharmaceuticals, to meet the tightening requirements of receiving countries, and to comply with stricter waste disposal regulations at this end.

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 Rather than viewing these as obstacles, we prefer to see them as challenges and goals for enhanced quality and better service

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 MAA has always had a strong insistence that recipients are in the best position to define their drug needs, and on the involvement of health professionals in ensuring the quality of any stock sent offshore.  This philosophy will not change.  

A national organisation

MAA’s other branches in Christchurch, Dunedin and Wellington have gone into recess over recent years for a variety of reasons.  The time seems right for setting MAA up more formally as a national entity.  

If these tasks are not enough, we will also be exploring the possibility of investigating the following areas of activity  

·    setting up a ‘Book Aid Abroad’ arm

·    purchasing bulk medications

·    resurrecting the job matching scheme MAA operated successfully a number of years ago

New name?

Finally, it’s been suggested that we should consider a new name to go with the new-look organisation.  

Get your creative juices flowing and let us know of your ideas!

 Support needed

In order to make a start on these projects, as well as keeping up with our regular activities, we will need additional support.  For a number of years we have been able to operate in a fairly low-key way, and have not actively sought membership subscriptions or donations. 

With the various projects on the drawing board this year we will need more financial resources. Donations of $20 would be gratefully received!

 MAA’s website

Have you checked out MAA’s web site (www.maa.org.nz)?  With the help of Larry Robbins, we now have a web site and running.  Already we have had a number of expressions of interest and requests through this means.  There are a number of useful links to other medical aid-related sites.

 E mail connections

Help wanted!

Can you spare a few hours here and there?  We need extra hands from time to time to help with sorting and packing orders, and clean up days. 

If you have any interest in taking on one of this year’s projects – for example, re-establishing the job matching scheme - please get in touch.

Annual Report

The Annual Report presented by Chair Graeme Woodfield at the recent AGM is enclosed for your information.  If you weren’t there, you missed a most enjoyable and stimulating evening. 

Farewells and welcomes

We were sorry to farewell John and Audrey Steven from the Executive after many years of outstanding service to MAA. Bernie Brenner and Pat Alley have come on board, Pat as NZ Medical Association representative.

 Food for thought

 “Uncontrolled donations of medical supplies can endanger lives while wasting time and money”

- Mark Raijmakers, Programme on Pharmaceuticals, Wemos Foundation

 “Health sector supply is a complex field of humanitarian procurement and one requiring particular levels of care”

-        Manjit Kaur, ECHO International Health Services

 “...a  key future challenge will be to bring together and combine the strengths of both business and aid into lean and highly effective operations.”

- Nick Cater, WorldAid

 Thanks for your interest, support and help.

Chris Bullen
Secretary

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