HOYLAKE and West Kirby Rotary Club is raising funds to assist in the work of a rural health clinic in the West African country of The Gambia.

The clinic is run by the mission organisation WEC International and is situated about one hour's drive from the capital Banjul.

Its catchment area is extensive and each year many thousands of patients seek medical help from the clinic.

Three ex-patriot doctors are employed there and they are assisted by several midwives, as well as nursing and laboratory staff.

The medical problems they have to deal with include malaria, respiratory infections, AIDS and bringing many babies into the world.

Patients are from poor rural communities and cannot afford to pay much towards the cost of health care. As a result, the clinic survives only thanks to generous contributions made to the mission organisation from a variety of sources.

Hoylake and West Kirby Rotary Club has so far bought heavy duty weighing scales (every patient is weighed when they first register), surgical instruments and a solar panel to provide electricity for essential medical procedures.

Further fund-raising events are being organised to provide more money which will be used to buy a gas refrigerator in which units of blood can be safely stored for transfusion purposes.

Rotarian Malcolm Guy has visited the clinic on several occasions and has seen at first hand the remarkable work carried out by the medical staff there.

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