Lisburn sale to help vital work of Ugandan hospital
The group who are organising next Saturday's event.
A GLENAVY woman is asking local people to come out and support a sale in Trinity Methodist Church in Lisburn next Saturday November 13 to help raise money for an African Hospital.
Sylvia Gallagher retired from the Belfast Trust as a Manager in the Directorate of Nursing and heard that former colleague Eleanor Hayes had been involved with the planning stages of setting up the Holy Innocents Hospital at Mbarara, Uganda which opened last year to help bring healthcare to children in the surrounding areas.
Eleanor, herself had got involved with the project because of her nursing experience and was part of the NI based chapter of Holy Innocents Children's Hospital.
Sylvia asked if her friend needed an extra pair of hands and is now secretary of the group! The pair, along with Eleanor's son and friend spent two weeks in Uganda last June preparing for the 60 bed hospital opening.
When they returned they helped gather together enough equipment and supplies to fill a container in February.
They raised £4,000 through a car boot sale in Ballinderry, a walk from Holywood to Bangor, ballot and a coffee morning. The money helped supply hot water for the hospital as well as oxygen to six beds.
They have now sent another container with medical supplies that includes
a 4x4 wheel drive jeep.
Sylvia said that when she volunteered to help out she did not expect it to
change her life-
"It is satisfying to know that you are helping ill children," she said.
"Some of the conditions the children are living in are awful.
"One domestic who worked in the hospital brought her little girl with her to work. While she worked the girl went into the security hut and every so often she had to go in to feed her. She had no-one else to mind her. "Relatives of the children in the hospital would stay with the child and sleep on the floor."
To date the Holy Innocents Children's Hospital has treated over 20,000 children. Approximately 4,000 have been admitted and treated for life-threatening illnesses, primarily malaria, dysentery and respiratory infections. Over 16,000 children have received outpatient services at the hospital. "A lot of children would have died if it had not been for the hospital," said Sylvia.
Next Saturday's sale, which runs from 10am to 2pm, will include cakes, toys, face painting and nail art and refreshments- There will also be a car wash, clothes, books, jewellery and bric a brac.
Ulster Star
05/11/2010
