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European Union
Approves Grant - Hospital given cash
injection
9 December 2002
A Cheltenham charity raising cash to
build a hospital in Sierra Leone is celebrating a £180,000 windfall.
The Kambia Hospital Appeal is trying to raise £1 million for
the poverty-stricken West African town and has been boosted
by a grant from the European Union. The cash will be handed
over once the plans for the hospital have been given an official
stamp of approval and the building occupying the site has been
demolished.
Chairman and trustee Richard Kerr-Wilson, a consultant at Cheltenham
General Hospital, said: "We're delighted. This money has
made us think it's really going to happen. Now we know we're
on the way. It's the result of prolonged hassling of the European
Union at all levels with emails to Glenys Kinnock and talks
with their delegate in Sierra Leone. Nigel Jones also spoke
to their delegate when he was there monitoring the elections.
Finally they agreed. We're very grateful to all parties involved,
especially the EU delegation in Freetown, Sierra Leone and the
Ministry of Health there. The fact we've got the money from
Brussels is partly down to their efforts."
The appeal is now a quarter of the way to achieving its target,
thanks to the EU cash, other donations and the proceeds from
fundraising events such as concerts and raffles.
Mr Kerr-Wilson said: "We've still got a long way to go
but it will make it a lot easier now a big organisation like
the EU is prepared to put money in. Things seem to be snowballing."
The group now has the funds to pay the £12,000 demolition costs.
Work is expected to start in the new year.
They are planning to approach companies with interests in Sierra
Leone including De Beers and Guinness as well as the national
lottery to get help raising the rest of the money. It is hoped
the hospital can be completed within two years.
The appeal was started in 1992 to help the former hospital there.
Its link with Cheltenham was established after Mr Taylor, his
wife, and doctor Richard Kerr-Wilson visited. They helped raise
funds for bedding, medical equipment, and staff training. But
the hospital was destroyed by rebels in the civil war. Since
that ended, the appeal has been trying to raise funds to build
a new one.
For more information email info@kambiahospital.org.uk
© Gloucestershire Echo. |
