ROMAC to the rescue

Igmedio Tobias is just like any other ten year old boy - he enjoys watching cartoons, basketball and playing with his four brothers and three sisters. But Igmedio, unlike most carefree ten-year-olds, has a brain hernia that has caused severe changes to his facial structure.

Igmedio's family, who live in the Santa Fe Province of the Philippines, never imagined that they would have the opportunity to provide him with the much-needed and expensive cranio-facial surgery to treat his rare condition. They have little money and there is no doctor in the Philippines able to perform the specialist operation. However a chance meeting with an Australian man and his Filipino wife has changed the fate of young Igmedio. The couple, who were holidaying in the Philippines, met the young boy and decided to contact ROMAC (Rotary Overseas Medical Aid for Children) to see if they could help.

ROMAC, a special project of Rotary International, has been helping children from overseas who require specialist surgery since 1988. They raise the money needed to bring the children (under 15 years old) here to receive treatment that is unavailable in their home country. Many specialist doctors in Australia donate their services to this worthy cause, which has helped a total of 222 children from third world countries since its inception.

Igmedio is the first child to be brought to Sydney for treatment under the ROMAC program. The NSW Rotarians raised well in excess of $10,000 to fund this venture, by holding special events such as a Charity Golf Day. Igmedio, who is accompanied by his sister Marina on his trip to Sydney, will be treated by Professor Michael Poole at The Children's Hospital at Westmead. Professor Poole is expected to perform cranio-facial surgery on Igmedio in February.

Steve Perrin, Regional Chairman of ROMAC NSW is thrilled that Igmedio has arrived in Sydney for treatment. "It's fantastic to be able to assist in changing the life of a little boy like Igmedio. His successful treatment is a boon for ROMAC, Igmedio and his family and is a perfect reminder of the world-class specialist medical services Australia has to offer."

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Julie Stromborg
Public Relations Officer
Ph: (02) 9845 3580
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Pager: (02) 9845 0000 and quote page no. 6920