| March 2014
Report - Preparing for the future and some of the children
presently in Acheru’s care |
| We’ve been
looking closely at Africare’s relationship with Acheru and
how we prepare for the future. We continue to provide all the
funding for Acheru, with management in Uganda in the hands of
the Acheru staff, reporting to their own management committee.
They are also accountable to us as the donor agency, so we
expect to receive relevant reports to enable us to keep donors
fully informed, and encourage further support. We are aware that
as Acheru is small, they may not be able to employ staff with
all the skills they might require, so we want to provide
practical help if needed through volunteers or visitors. |
| A
physiotherapist from N Ireland, Luke Dick, has been there for
some months now, giving whatever help he can, gaining experience
for himself and perhaps providing some new ideas for Acheru. We
have recently also had Richard and Brenda Simpson there; in
previous years they have helped at Besaniya and Cherub, Brenda
teaching English as a foreign language, Richard with his
engineering skills. On their recent visit Brenda looked at a
range of issues relating to reporting, while Richard helped
supervise building of a new kitchen and changes to the old
building to provide a proper physiotherapy unit. |
| Further visits
by skilled volunteers are planned, and we hope to have a full
evaluation carried out of all the work of Acheru focusing on how
they can provide a high standard of care and also reach as many
children as possible. |
| Children
presently in Acheru’s care include Amos, 11, with severely
deformed legs. It’s a rare condition but we’ve
encountered it before. It’d been discussed fully with Amos
and his mother and they are ready to proceed with amputation;
when Amos receives artificial limbs his mobility will be greatly
improved. |
| Beatrice, 15,
is paraplegic following a fall from a tree. This is obviously
life changing, yet she is coping well at Acheru and remains
positive. Everything possible is being done to prepare her for
the future. |
| Aisha is being
treated in Acheru for a severe ulcerated wound. Her mother says
“ the wound started as a small swelling and I thought it
will heal very quickly but it increased in size and I started
using local clinics, but it kept getting worse. I had no money
for further medication, and people at the village said my
daughter was bewitched. I am so happy now in a place where my
daughter is being treated.” |
| Thank you to
all of you who continue to make this work possible. |
| Brian Dorman |
