STACC SUMMER NEWSLETTER
As many of you will be aware St Andrew's Clinics for Children is a charity close to my heart and on whose board I am honoured to serve. This is our silver jubilee year and so we would particularly welcome donations this year from any of our friends who would like to do something special for us. I am copying our summer newsletter below so that you can see how we are using our donors' generous gifts to support healthcare for children in sub Saharan Africa.
Readers in those African countries where STACC operates can donate directly to the local group there
Data from the World Health Organization’s African Region* (www.who.int)
provide the background for the health care that STACC seeks tosupport for children in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania (Zanzibar) and Uganda. Population c.857 million; 42% <15 years; 43% living on <1$ per day**; 36% with access to improved sanitation (64% without); infant mortality rate 68/1000 live births; under-five mortality rate107/1000 live births: sleeping under insecticide-treated bednets 32%: health services physicians 2.5/10,000; nurses 9/10,000; hospitals 1/100,000. STACC thanks you for generous support and concern for the health and well-being of many children. *World Health Statistics 2013, Geneva.
**this dollar ($) is an economic construct designed to allow comparison between expenditure in all countries.
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Since the last Newsletter STACC has increased funding for health care for children. In Uganda, a donation of £3,800.00 was sent to St Kizito Hospital for installation of an oxygen supply for the Children’s Ward in support the recovery of the young patients. Also £3000.00 went to the Uphill Trust (SC045385) to help with the costs of building latrines at a school in Uganda.
In Nigeria (STACCILEIFE), the team has been allocated a rise in recurrent funding to enable it to increase to 20 clinics each month. STACC’s support has been increased from £26,800.00 annually to £33,600.00. Also £8,000.00 has been allocated for insecticide-treated bednets.
In Kenya (BION), the team serving Maasai children distributed milk, food and bednets to 100 children at a primary school in Kajiado County. Bednet distribution coincided with the rainy season when mosquitoes breed leading to the increased transmission of malaria pathogens.
In Ghana (StACC GHANA), the team will distribute health educational materials to schools in Bongo District having first run workshops to help teachers make best use of the provision. In the autumn the team will offer medicine for the relief of worm infections to children not attending school. This intervention is planned to happen at the same time as children in school receive treatment through the government’s programme.
In Sierra Leone (STACC/SL), the infant feeding programme assisted by the team has been adopted by the Ministry of Health and is being extended across the country in collaboration with Hellen Keller International and UNICEF. The programme will be expanded to include vitamin A supplementation, immunisation, guidance for mothers on the preparation of complementary food, and routine counselling on child spacing.
In Tanzania (Pemba Island) the team is continuing to offer health care through the clinic at Gombani and through the outreach service in other parts of the island. That there is no recent news no doubt reflects the difficulties arising from the volatile political situation in Zanzibar.
With further expansion in mind STACC is in contact with Pope John’s Hospital in Aber, Uganda, with a view to contributing to the cost running the Children’s Ward there. The plan is to build on the experience gained in supporting the Children’s Ward at St Kizito Hospital. STACC was introduced to Pope John’s by CUAMM an Italian Medical Charity that supports health care in seven African countries.
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For the fourth year running Bristows LLP has kindly offered to host a Dinner for STACC at 100 Victoria Embankment, London EC4Y 0DH. The Dinner is arranged for WEDNESDAY 16th NOVEMBER 2016. Please put the date in your diary; 50 will be the maximum number of guests. Contact DWTC to reserve tickets (address below). The dinner raises funds to help provide free health care for children in Africa. More details will be sent out in due time. STACC also hopes to invite supporters to another Cocktail Party in Edinburgh later in the year. Last December we enjoyed a most successful event as guests of Investec, the international banking and asset management group.
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Visit our website www.standrewsclinics.org.uk and please continue to support STACC. 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 websitewww.standrewsclinics.org.uk. Donations may be made online by going to 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.