By Greg Higgins

‘On Air For Healthcare’ to return for another great cause

Mar 22, 2017 | 12:32 PM

After the success of last year’s “On Air for Healthcare” radiothon to raise money for a new CT scanner, the event will return again this year to raise money for equipment for a new surgeon.

The Battlefords Union Hospital (BUH) has a new ears, nose and throat surgeon. Dr. Abraham Awobem was brought in to fill a desperate hole in the area. According to BUH foundation executive director, Claudette McGuire, the hospital was referring 66 per cent of its patients to Saskatoon and Regina.

“There was a year long waiting list and now they [patients] will be able to have their surgeries done at home,” McGuire said. “When you have a tonsillectomy the patient has to be within 20 minutes of the healthcare facility over the next 24 hours, so people had to get hotel rooms. You couldn’t just go home.”

The hiring of this surgeon means no one will have to be referred out of the area. McGuire said Dr. Awobem will be performing 800 surgeries a year. The executive director also said a lot of money has to be raised to pay for the new state of the art equipment the doctor is using.

“In order to recruit surgeons to any area you need the equipment,” Mcguire said. “Everybody wants them, especially if they are really good. The equipment they had here was from the 70’s. It was imperative the hospital offer him new equipment.”

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Accoridng to McGuire, in September Prairie North Health Region came to the BUH foundation and asked if it would consider raising funds for the equipment. McGuire said the foundation considered it a capital campaign and agreed to take it on.

“In order to enhance healthcare in the area we said ‘absolutely, that’s what we’re here for,” McGuire said.

The executive director added with the success of last year’s radiothon, the BUH foundation would like to make it an annual event. She has coined it the On Air for Healthcare” radiothon and wants it to be comparable to Telemiracle.

Last year $600,000 was needed for the new CT scanner and after the 12 hour radiothon, just under $500,000 was raised. McGuire said this year $380,000 is needed for the equipment and knows the Battlefords and area will come through.

As for the radiothon, it will take over all three stations on CJNB, Q98 and 93.3 the Rock on May 12. Program Director, Nic Fransoo, had the pleasure of checking out the equipment at the BUH.

“There is a really high tech, top of the line microscope,” Fransoo said. “When you think microscope, you think of something sitting on a desk right? This thing is so big. It comes on its own dolly and hooks up to a big HD screen. It is an incredible piece of equipment. There is also a nerve monitor which the new doctor says is top of the line. It is better than the one he used at his old hospital in England.”

Fransoo, who was born and raised in the Battlefords, echoed McGuires comments on the extreme need for the surgeon.

“Before this doctor people would have to go to Saskatoon or even Alberta to get these surgeries,” Fransoo said. “It will make a big difference being able to have the treatments here at home because we are talking about kids. A parent or caregiver has to go with them. They don’t get to stay in the hospital or fed meals. You have to start paying for those things out of your own pocket.”

According to the BUH, of Dr. Awobem’d 800 surgeries a year, a lot will be the removal of children’s tonsils and adenoids.

If anyone is looking to donate before the radiothon, McGuire urges them to contact the BUH Foundation.

Greg.higgins@jpbg.ca

On Twitter @realgreghiggins