Echoes for the Future

Medical equipment for developing countries.

A chance Rotary connection in Tasmania led to two life-saving echocardiography machines finding new purpose in Fiji and Papua New Guinea, transforming heart care for thousands.

WORDS: Anne Matthews. D9560 PASSPORT ROTARY CLUB, Qld.

In March 2024, PDG Lindsay Ford from District 9560 was holidaying in Tasmania. While there he attended the District Conference and Expo in Hobart, where he met the incoming president of the Rotary Club of Launceston, Sonia Smith. Sonia invited Lindsay to visit her club, which he did, and met PDG Don McTaggart AM, a retired cardiologist, who had worked for 60 years at the Launceston General Hospital.

Through that meeting, Lindsay was able to facilitate the donation of two echocardiography machines to developing countries. The machines had been upgraded at Launceston Hospital but were sitting in storage gathering dust.

The machines, which can cost a small fortune, are frequently referred to as echo machines. They use ultrasound technology to create echocardiograms – images of the heart – which allow doctors to assess the heart’s structure, function and blood flow, aiding in the diagnosis and monitoring of various heart conditions.

The first machine was sent to Fiji, which has one of the highest incidences of rheumatic heart disease in the world. Four per cent of young people suffer from the disease – one in every classroom! Penicillin is necessary for acute attacks and prevention, but many cases need surgery. The donated echocardiography machine has become a vital diagnostic device for Fijian children.

The second machine was sent to Port Moresby Hospital, where congenital heart disease is the most common heart abnormality. It affects one per cent of all babies and most cases require lifelong specialised treatment and/or supervision. Echocardiography is the best method of diagnosis of congenital heart disease. The small ultrasound unit is now in use at the hospital’s special care nursery, where 20,000 births per year are recorded.

The small ultrasound unit is now in use at the hospital’s special care nursery, where 20,000 births per year are recorded.”

This is a wonderful story of the power of Rotary connections. Two men who live more than 2,700 kilometres apart were able to facilitate the donation of life-saving medical equipment to countries that could not afford to purchase such expensive machines.

Echocardiograms and electrocardiograms are often confused. Both are vital diagnostic tools for assessing heart health. However, they do differ significantly in what they measure and how they visualise the heart: an electrocardiogram records the heart’s electrical activity to assess rhythm and electrical conduction, while an echocardiogram uses ultrasound to create moving images of the heart’s structure and function, including valves and blood flow.

We could all echo Lindsay’s foresight. It is so important that we think outside the box and keep an eye out for things that may still have value to people in need – especially in less developed nations.

As American author and former teacher Vehuda Berg said: “A true community is not just about being geographically close to someone or part of the same social web network. It’s about feeling connected and responsible for what happens.”