The Secretary for the Embassy to Kenya recently visited Freetown, the Capital of Sierra Leone, in West Africa.
On the edges of the slum area called Aberdeen, is a remarkable facility called the Aberdeen Women’s Centre (AWC).
The running of AWC was taken over by Dame Ann Gloag, in 2008 and offers free medical care to women and children, up to the age of 15.
A truly remarkable initiative, changing lives every day for those that have nothing. They have 140 medical and support staff paid for by Ann and her Foundation and the team carries out nearly 200 fistula surgeries, delivers nearly 6000 babies, and performs another 20000 minor surgeries every year. So impressive is AWC that when Sam took a local businessman, Davar Fazaeli on a guided tour, he donated in perpetuity essential mega fast fibre internet, worth $3000 a month. The Head Administration at AWC, German National Rebecca Larsson, put it beautifully when she said it costs AWC about $420 to deliver one baby and this donation means we can deliver 7 babies for ‘free’ now.
In an effort to digitalise the hospital, AWC are working on a patient data entry and record system. Again, Davar and Zood Labs stepped up and committed 40 new iPads when the software has been installed. After a social dinner with the Deputy German Ambassador he and his wife, Ino, want to visit the centre to see for themselves the great works being carried out by the AWC team.
Security at the AWC is essential to the proper running of the facility, even essential items such as blood has been stolen from the laboratory in the past. Protec, a local man guarding company is donating to AWC by providing their services at a massively reduced cost. Their CEO, Jospeh Skeef, a committed Lebanese Catholic, also donated brand new Lab equipment and offered to run any lab tests for free at his own facility.
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
The Embassy of the Order of Malta to Kenya and the Companions of Kenya are proud to have played a small part in helping AWC and are happy that Dame Ann Gloag joined the Embassy of the Order as Counsellor.
