Helping hand in battle against disease

Pictured is Dr Richmond (left) with President Margaret Meeney.

Published Date: 17 June 2009 Chesterfield Soroptimists are backing a nationwide campaign to help people suffering from disease in Africa.
Dr Kay Richmond, from the Cardiff branch of Soroptimist International, told Chesterfield members about her work as a country medical co-ordinator in Sierra Leone.

She gave an illustrated talk about lassa fever, a viral disease carried by rats infecting about one million people every year which is spread by contaminated food and water supplies.

A total of £57,000 has already been raised nationally, of which £10,000 has been raised from unwanted jewellery to support the charity ‘Licking Lassa Fever’.

Chesterfield president Margaret Meeney has co-ordinated the collection of broken and unwanted jewellery from fellow Soroptimists, retail outlets, hotels and leisure centres and the people of Chesterfield in general.

The charity is aiming to raise a total of £200,000 to transform the lives of the people in Sierra Leone by providing latrines, wells, food and water containers,tools and seeds, community workers and education materials.

Dr Richmond thanked Margaret and the people of Chesterfield for their continuing support.

Please leave your comment so we know what you think about this article. Trackback URL: Helping hand in battle against disease.