Amazing Journey of AMURTEL's Ultrasound

T h e A mAaMz iUnRgTJEoLu' sr n e y o fULTRASOUND F R O M A M S T E2R0D1A6M T O A T H E N S

Summer 2016How the story begins AMURTEL is every day at the Pireaus refugee camp giving antenatal and postnatal care to women, supporting them to breastfeed, offering a baby bathing space and distributing food and other needed items. We meet Michael Plakentamp and Sanne van Alphen, Dutch volunteer activists who generously donate a small portable ultrasound machine for us to use in antenatal exams. At the end of the summer, the camp closes and AMURTEL decides to open a center in downtown Athens to continue the work with refugee mothers and babies. As we are preparing to open, Michael contacts us and says he has seen a notice from a Dutch doctor who would like to donate a professional ultrasound machine. The doctor is Dr. Elvin Papa.

\"When I upgraded my equipment, I planned to sell my old machine. But my daughter suggested that I donate it to a good cause. I thought about it and realized she was ritght,\" says Dr Papa.\" And that's what I did.\"Getting it to AthensAfter a phone call with Dr. Papa practically for free. Celeste thenin which he graciously agrees to give proceeds to find a wonderful artistthe machine to AMURTEL, we are and art packer, Andre Leydekker,faced with the task of getting it to who donates his time to carefullyGreece. and meticulously pack the sensitive 1.6 meter tall machine.A dear old friend from theNetherlands, Celeste Neelan, comes And the remaining unavoidable feesto the rescue. Generous friends of are taken care of by our caringhers at the Van Heezik transport friends, Jaya and Franscompany offer to bring it to Greece VanDalsam.

September 30, 2016 THE ULTRASOUND ARRIVES Looking like a visitor from another world, thenot yet fully unpacked ultrasound brings smilesto the faces of the midwife and the whole staff

Fromthenuntil Between September 2016 and September 2018now 2 5 8 62586 Midwifery exams most all including ultrasound 4444 Different nationalities of pregnant mothers and babies Mainly from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and many African countries 5Main languages 5 Farsi, Arabic, Kurdish, French, English

Allaying fears Monitoring growth Most all parents are excited to see their unborn child through ultrasound. But for refugee mothers, it takes on a whole other level of importance. Their present lives are based in uncertainty and they are worried for the future. They may not be eating well or live in adequate accommodations. These daily stressors magnify a mother's concern for her infant in utero and so often, the reassurance provided by the ultrasound significantly allays her fears. We are grateful to be able to offer thiscomfort and safety to pregnant women who come to AMURTEL

Many thanks to everyone who helpedDr. Elvin Papa,Julieke Papa andtheir daughter, ?(website)Michael Platenkamp andSanne van Alphenwww.movingstones.euCeleste Neelanwww.artisagreece.orgVan Heezik Transport Company                             www.heezik.nlAndre Leydekker                                     www.leijdekkergalerie.nlJaya and Frans VanDulsam

Your donations We keep us going couldn'tPayPal do it [email protected] without youFor direct bank transfer or crowdfundingsee our website www.greece.amurtel.org