|
Rotary WHIS-RAD Project |
| |||||
The WHIS-RAD Project
In March,1975, a meeting on a
primary care radiological system was held in
Starting with this meeting, there has been a continuing effort over the last 30 years to specify, design and deploy a standardized high tech, low cost X-ray system that is adapted to the requirements of primary care and first level radiology referral service in clinics and hospitals presently serving those without radiological services. The unit is designed to provide high quality images, to be safe for patients and operating personnel, to be easy to install and use, to require minimal service, and to be reliable and usable where power may be undependable. This unit will handle up to 40 procedures per day and perform more than 80% of all general radiographic procedures required by large teaching hospitals. The name, WHIS-RAD, stands for World Health Imaging Services for Radiology.
Manufacturers have successfully designed and delivered units to WHO specifications as verified by on site testing at Lund Hospital in Sweden. Over 100,000 training manuals in multiple languages have been published and distributed and units installed twenty years ago are still functioning well. The unit has been standardized and technically and medically proven in practice to meet the expectations outlined over 30 years ago.
What hasnt happened is the distribution of this unit to those locations where it is needed. It is estimated that this unit would reasonably serve a population of 50,000 which projects to a need of 80,000 units around the world. To date, approximately 1500 units have been installed over the last 25 years that the unit has been available. Of these, only about one-half are known to be operating and the whereabouts and current status of the other sites are unknown.
The reasons why the WHIS-RAD program has not met its deployment expectations are outlined by WHO as being cost, threat to established radiological practice, lack of understanding of the concept, poor communication and promotion, low end positioning of WHIS-RAD compared to CT, MRI, availability of lower cost, underpowered, substandard units, etc. These deficiencies were outlined in 1993 but the program still languishes.
Rotary has much to contribute to the WHIS-RAD program to help it meet its expectations. What is needed is a focused effort to install, train and maintain units serving the needs of specific populations in underserviced locations while meeting whatever challenges that may entail. A further need is to create broad awareness of the need for radiological services and attract resources and support for the program both within and outside Rotary.
To meet this challenge, Rotary has some unique assets to contribute:
A community based organization structure consisting of 31,000+ clubs and 1.2 million members in 166 countries . Members of each club are leaders in the communities they serve.
Management talent and people power at the local level to make programs work
A commitment by members to service above self
An established and proven record of integrity and ethics in dealing with programs and projects.
Strong established programs in international exchange and education with a wealth of contacts in the international community.
The ability to raise and attract funding for worthwhile programs locally, regionally and internationally.
The support of the Rotary Foundation which has granted $1.2 billion (US) in humanitarian and educational grants since 1947.
Present support for medical projects around the world through local clubs, districts, and Rotary grants.
An established working relationship with WHO through the polio plus program which has resulted in over $500 million (US) being contributed by Rotary since 1985 in addition to countless man years of volunteer effort to assist in the immunizations.
To mobilize these assets to address the issue of providing X-ray services to underserviced areas of the world requires , as a first step, one sponsor club and one beneficiary club to develop a partnership. It will further require supporting other sponsor and beneficiary clubs who wish to participate while creating awareness across Rotary of the need and the Rotary solution.