Dear Editor – In early May this year I read the story in the Solomon Star of a sick child, 16 year old Linta from Guadalcanal Province who was reported to be suffering from a heart condition that could not be treated in the Solomon Islands and her anxious family wanted her be able to go to Australia for surgery.
I was touched by the story and made an appeal for the child through the local media.
A group of local photographers took up the girls, cause and managed to raise S$30,000 to meet the expenses in getting the child to Australia where she could possibly get life saving surgery.
I thanked the photographers known locally as ‘One More Shot’ for their fund raising efforts.
Pursuing the need to raise more money, a potential donor got in touch with me with the offer of helping to get Linta to a hospital in Australia if she could be referred.
Once I gave that information to Linta’s doctor at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) I believe a meeting of the NRH’s ‘Referral Committee’ was to sit last Thursday to look into the possibility of Linta being flown to a hospital in Australia where she could possibly have the life saving operation she is said to need.
I haven’t heard as yet whether the Referral Committee did meet and, if so, what might have been decided.
Meanwhile, I know Linta’s family remain very anxious for news as I do.
The potential donor stands ready to help and is awaiting advice from me on whether or not Linta can be referred to a hospital in Australia and what additional financial help will be needed, including air fares, visas and hospital charges.
I would please request the head of the NRH’s Referral Committee to advise Linta’s family of the outcome of a referral decision and to give the information to me in order to tell the donor what is needed as financial support for the sick child.
Frank Short
Thailand
