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History of the Appeal

  

  • Sierra Leone is on the West Coast of Africa. UN figures show it is one of the poorest countries in the world. It has one of the highest infant mortality rates and life expectancy is 37 years.
     

  • The former Kambia Hospital was built in the 1950s by the UK government. By 1999 it served a population of 250,000.
      

  • Its links with Cheltenham were established in 1992 when a charity worker from Kambia visited friends in Cheltenham and appealed for help.
      

  • In 1992, Richard Kerr-Wilson of Cheltenham General Hospital and friends Godfrey and Pauline Taylor went out to see it. On their return they set up The Kambia Hospital Appeal.
      

  • Between 1992 and 1999 the Appeal provided help in the form of training for staff, equipment, regular drugs supplies and motorbikes to enable doctors and nurses to provide help in the villages. The Rotary Club also provided money for a Landrover. This was resourced through fundraising events like concerts, donations and two Comic Relief grants.
      

  • In February 1999, the Hospital was attacked, looted and burnt by rebels and needed to be completely rebuilt. Everything was destroyed. Doors, windows, roofs, beds and equipment were all burned and the walls fell or were knocked down.
      

  • Nigel Jones MP (Lib Dem) raised the issue in Parliament and Robin Cook, then Foreign Secretary, undertook to help with rebuilding it.
      

  • Between 1991 and 1999 rebels were in control and no progress on the development could be made.
      

  • In 2001, stability was restored when the UN stepped in.

  • In April 2003, after much lobbying by the KHA, the European Union agreed to fund the rehabilitation of the hospital. 
  • Contracts were signed in August 2003 and work commenced in September 2003.  
      
  • November 2003: Visit by KHA. Meetings were held with the EU and Minister of Health.   
      
  • November 2004: Visit by KHA.  Richard Kerr-Wilson operated on many V V F patients at Kambia Hospital. 
      
  • December 2004 - January 2005: Maternal Health Education Project - A film was made about maternal health: Belleh Woman, Go De Right Side. The film explores the main social and cultural reasons why mothers-to-be do not seek medical advice when faced with particular reproductive health problems. It is being used for educational purposes in Kambia District.
  • May 2004: The new hospital was completed and handed over.   
     
  • March 2005: Visit of midwives from Cheltenham to Kambia to train MCH aides.
     
  • October 2005: Visit by KHA. Richard Kerr-Wilson, James Dowling and Shona Lockyer to explore supporting peripheral health units and scholarship programmes for hospital staff
     
  • May 2006: Visit by David and Liz Holmes and Pat Fogarty to Kambia to assist with midwifery and surgery.
     
  • June 2006: Visit by KHA: James Dowling and Shona Lockyer to continue the above and prepare for the arrival of motorbike ambulances.