St Andrew’s Clinics for Children (STACC) Newsletter - Christmas 2018

We are proud to support St Andrew’s Clinics for Children and the wonderful work that is being carried out by our friends in Africa.  We very much appreciate the donations made by clients and colleagues to this work and thought that you would like to read the charity’s Christmas newsletter which is set out below.

 

Article 24 of the UN Convention on the rights of the child states

 “Every child has the right to the best possible health. Governmentsmust provide good quality health care …. and education on health and well-being so that children can stay healthy. Richer countries must help poorer countries achieve this.”

 We wish you a restful Christmas with your families and friends and peace and the best possible heath for all of you throughout 2019.

 STACC thanks you for your donations which have underpinned the provision of health care for African children in 2018. Just now many charities will appeal to you to help good causes and we hope your concern for STACC will still have high priority. As during 2017, STACC’s expenditure has again exceeded income in 2018, but thanks to your earlier generosity STACC has been able to meet its commitments to the various centres for health care. The number of STACC’s supporters has not declined but amounts given have. STACC will need at least £100,000 annually to maintain all recurrent commitments. We must strive to increase the income flow and so avoid unwelcome cuts to the provision of health care.

The team based at Ile-Ife, Nigeria, has managed to run 20 mobile clinics a month reaching 10 communities. Free health care is delivered to 7,000 young children thanks to £33,600 transferred annually to support the programme. STACC’s funds have provided £32,000 (36%) and £20,000 (42%) of the annual costs of running the Children’s Wards at St Kizito’s Hospital and Pope John’s Hospital respectively in Uganda. STACC has also enabled St Kizito’s to established a flock of goats to provide quality milk for malnourished children at the hospital; health care sometimes follows an unusual course. The BION project in Kenya (BION is a Maasai acronym for “Health for Mothers and Children”) has had another successful year with distributions of food and insecticide-treated bednets costing £6.000 annually.

After 17 years, STACC reluctantly decided to withdraw support for health care on Pemba Island, Zanzibar. STACC was carrying 60% of the cost of the fixed clinic at Gombani and outreach service but the Board decided not to take the financial risk of providing the full 100%. The team in Ghana has found that travelling several 100 miles between Accra and Bongo District has become too onerous so the Board has invited them to submit a new plan for delivering health care to children in Ghana.

During the year, Graham Paterson resigned from the Board after 26years. He was one of three colleagues who brought STACC into being. We thank him and wish him well; STACC will miss his wide knowledge of financial and accounting matters. Virginia Crompton also resigned due to the pressure of managing her company.

 

In October, Investec (www.qmile.com) hosted for STACC a most enjoyable and well attended Quiz Night at its offices at Quartermile One in Edinburgh. Sincerest thanks to David Lancaster and his team. The plan to have a Dinner for STACC at Bristows (www.bristows.com) in November had to be cancelled, but we are delighted that Bristows will host a Dinner in spring 2019 with Katherine Laurenson, a good friend of STACC, as organizer in London.

Sir James Mellon (STACC Vice-President) has just published “The Great African Bangle Culture” a fascinating account of how bangles have contributed to the many traditional rituals of indigenous people across the continent. He has generously assigned all profits in support of STACC. Copies may be ordered from Fruitful Publications www.africanbangleculture.com. The book will make an ideal Christmas present for those interested in Africa.

Small enterprises can also do well for STACC. Three friends raised £183.20 one afternoon by selling books at St Mark’s NW8.

Please visit our website www.standrewsclinics.org.uk and please continue to support STACC. Please click on How to give.

Cheques, made payable to St Andrew’s Clinics for Children, should be sent to:

DWT Crompton, 101A Clifton Hill, London NW8 0JR or to

Mrs LN Robinson, St Andrew’s Clinics for Children, PO BOX 461, Glasgow G12 8QT.

Bank Standing Order forms and Gift Aid Declaration forms* are available from the website www.standrewsclinics.org.uk.

Please send via JustGiving www.justgiving.com/stacc/donate.

*If you pay income tax in the UK you can enable STACC to benefit from the Gift Aid scheme. By signing and posting a Gift Aid Declaration form (see above), or simply sending a letter or email indicating your wish to participate in Gift Aid, STACC can reclaim tax worth 25p for every pound given - so £1 becomes £1.25.

St Andrew’s Clinics for Children is a company limited by Guarantee of Charitable Status and not having a share capital. Directors do not receive any remuneration. Registered in Scotland SC020553 and with Companies House SC140214. Registered office: 1 George Square, Glasgow G2 1AL, Scotland. STACC seeks to comply with Data Protection legislation.

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