Hospital doors are open - and you helped 

Five years and £273,000 after their work began, Cheltenham fundraisers are
celebrating the opening of a new hospital in West Africa.

Members of the Cheltenham-based Kambia Hospital Appeal were asked to raise
the funds to create a health facility for some of the poorest people in
Sierra Leone. Kambia's previous hospital was destroyed by rebels in 1999
during the civil war.

But thanks to sales, donations and sponsored events, the money flooded in.

Now a state-of-the-art building for the impoverished region has been
completed.

Richard Kerr-Wilson, consultant obstetrician gynaecologist at Cheltenham
General Hospital, spearheaded the appeal.

He said: "We're absolutely delighted. It looks like an excellent building.

"They haven't had a hospital at all for five years. Now they've got an
up-to-date building.

"I was always confident it would be done - I just wasn't sure how.

"We're pleased it has been and are grateful for all the support we've been
given over the years by the people of Cheltenham." He added that Cheltenham
was now famous in Kambia.

Links between Cheltenham and Kambia were formed in 1992 when a charity
worker from Kambia visited friends here and asked for help with medical
training and equipment.

This led to the foundation of the Kambia Hospital Appeal.

The project's work increased more than anyone ever imagined when the
fundraisers realised they needed to raise £1 million.

The campaigners got a boost when, after repeated appeals for help, the
European Union stepped in at the last minute with a grant covering
construction costs. This meant the cash raised by KHA could be used to buy
equipment.

The charity will continue to raise funds for equipment. To make a donation
or find out more go to www.kambiahospital.org.uk

August 2004