January 2021 – Ksyl Orda, Kazakhstan
An international Zoom conference of dermato-venereologists and leprologists was held on January 29th, 2021 in Ksyl-Orda, Kazakhstan.
The topic of my lecture: « The diagnosis, therapy and prophylactic measures as specified by the WHO and binding for the medical profession covering the period 2020 – 2030“.
A very interesting conference with participants from India, Europe and Central Asia.
September 2018 – 38th Leprosy March
To our great pleasure, the 38th leprosy march was organised and carried out together with the protestant Christians. As in the previous years, we had guests from our projects: Professor Gulsum Askarova, Dermato-Venereologist from Almaty, 230 km off the Chinese border, accompanied by her daughter from Copenhagen, Denmark. Dr. Azizullo Qosimov, Chief Leprologist and Dermato-Venereologist in Tajikistan (on the Afghan border) accompanied by his wife who is also a medic. Again, the march started from different parishes to the central point where Pastor Barthel Kalscheuer and Father van Eynern welcomed us. We then continued our march accompanied by a music group to the central point of the town where a drummers ‘group took over the musical programme. The Deputy Mayor of the town, Mr Thomas Groß, welcomed us. Carrying banners, we then proceeded our march to the Johanna House where the current projects were presented over coffee and cake.
New Bank Details
With effect of January 1, 2019 our bank details are as follows (for both tuberculosis and leprosy aid in Dinslaken):
Volksbank Dinslaken eG
IBAN DE94 3526 1248 0102 0170 56
BIC GENODED1DLK
As we still depend on donations, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support!
November 2018 – Grodno, Belarus
Once again, the necessity to visit Belarus became inevitable. Two speech therapists from Karakalpakstan have taken up a training programme in the district hospital of Grodno to focus on deaf-mute children and thus be able to continue ENT (ears-nose-throat)- treatments within their country. Karakalpakstan is the third country where a relief project for deaf-mute children has been implemented by the town of Dinslaken. At the same time, we visited the Caritas Centre – the Tuberculosis Hospital and the House for Social Rehabilitation – and supplied them with necessary relief items as far as possible.
Since we have been in contact with Archbishop Aleksander Kaszkiewicz for many years, I visited him in Grodno and we arranged for further exchange visits. Therefore, Archbishop Kaszkiewicz will presumably participate in the 40th Leprosy March in Dinslaken.
October 2018 – Astrakhan, Russia
The Double Jubilee Conference 2018 – 70 years Leprosy Institute Astrakhan
Nine countries took part in this conference. 70 years ago the Russian Scientific Research Institute was founded in Astrakhan. Initially the Institute was in charge of all member countries of the USSR, but since the dissolution of the Soviet Union it has been responsible for Russia only. This period also covers the beginning of activities carried out in this territory by the Town of Dinslaken, so that Russia and Dinslaken, Germany, are closely connected. There have been long-standing ties of friendship with Russia with regard to Leprosy work.
This Conference offered the possibility to present the evolution of the Russian-German Leprosy Care for patients as well as the current status of scientific research. Eventually, a vaccine has been found to protect contact persons against this disease. News regarding the transmission as well as a new method of fighting leprophobia (the fear of leprosy) were discussed.
For the first time it was possible to gather leprosy patients and medical staff at a round table during a conference. Our message was ‘We all are brothers and sisters and respect and care for each other whether we are healthy or ill.'
Pastor Barthel-Kalscheu (Parish St. Vincentius) was also a member of our 4-person delegation from Germany.
May 2018 – Grodno, Belarus
On this trip I was accompanied by Mrs Monika Barking on behalf of the Caritas Association Dinslaken. Since we were only allowed to stay in the country for 5 days without a visa, this was the length of time available. However, the to-do-list was very long!
May 2018 – Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan
After two years I decided to return to the country of ‚Black Hats‘. Karakalpakstan is an autonomous Republic of Uzbekistan, which has its own Council of Ministers, its own language and even its own flag.