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Midwives: We're needed in
Africa
Cheltenham hospital staff are
sacrificing their holiday to give some of the world's
poorest people the benefit of their expertise.
Four midwives and a consultant from Cheltenham General are
setting out on a mercy mission to Kambia in Sierra Leone,
where thousands of women die giving birth due to
undeveloped methods of care. Cheltenham has strong ties
with the impoverished and war-torn region.
It was a charity based in the town that spearheaded the
fundraising to build Kambia Hospital.
The new facility, which replaced one destroyed during the
country's civil war, opened in the summer.
It has proved a massive success, with people from
throughout Kambia and surrounding countries queuing up for
treatment.
After hearing about the project and the state of maternal
health care there from Cheltenham doctor Richard
Kerr-Wilson, one of the founders of the Kambia Hospital
Appeal, the five medics decided they wanted to do
something to help.
Midwives Emily O'Connor, Maggie MacDonald, Gaynor Faulkner
and Patricia Fogarty, as well as obstetrics and
gynaecology consultant David Holmes, are setting off for
West Africa on February 25.
They will stay in Kambia for 10 days, working in the
hospital and surrounding community.
When they have time to rest they will share two beds
between them.
They are not expecting much time off because the hospital
has one midwife and there are only five others in the
region serving a population of 340,000.
Emily, 46, who lives in Prestbury, was inspired to take
part after hearing that in Kambia, cow dung is still used
as after-birth "disinfectant".
She was told each village has four boxes marked "live
baby", "live mother", "dead baby"
and "dead mother".
A pebble is put into a box following each birth to keep a
tally on the outcome.
Although the group doesn't expect to work miracles during
their brief visit, they hope it will be the beginning of a
long-term project which could see the pebbles reduced and
more modern methods introduced.
Emily said: "This is embryonic. It's more of a
reconnaissance. Realistically, we won't be able to address
everything but we hope this will sow the seeds of a
rolling programme.
"We're going to do what we can, where we can."
The team is keen to hear from individuals and companies
interested in supporting them with donations.
As well as helping with transport expenses, these could
help provide life-saving equipment.
Emily said of the people of Kambia: "They absolutely
adore the people of Cheltenham.
"We've been involved for years and stayed, unlike
some organisations. When the head chief is asked what he
wants as a gift, he always asks for another picture of
Cheltenham."
If you can help, please contact Emily.
January 2005
Gloucestershire Echo
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