Clinic update and thanks from Dodie

Dodie writes after a wonderful response to the Christmas Clinic appeal.

Dear All

This comes, as all emails do, with a slightly impersonal nature, but it is nevertheless heartfelt. And it comes to say a huge thank you for your gift for the clinic.

The clinic was built during the course of 2019. By the end of that year we had three key things to raise money for:

1. Equipment

2. Personnel and

3. Drugs

We needed just over £3,000 for start-up costs. We hoped for £2,000 having an initial £600, but we have a wonderful £3,465. Now in March 2020, eleven months after Evie dug the first turf (it being her birthday that day) the clinic is equipped, staff are in place and the drugs have been purchased for the little pharmacy, in the building.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

It is hard to believe that the people at Butoloogo now have something so precious and lifesaving. We visited in February 2020 (just gone), and the people came from their homes, work, and gardens to say thank you. We promised we would pass those thanks to you. It feels an impossible task to do; people who you will never meet but whose life chances have been so increased, wanting to take you by the hand and say thank you. So this letter is trying to do just that; representationally.

Our commitment is nearly complete. So that the District Health office can take over the clinic, we need to support the nurse and supply the clinic with drugs for two years. They can then apply to transfer the clinic under their wing. We are not far off being able to do that financially.

The community is involved. They provided all the hardcore of the foundations, the trees and shrubs for the ‘live’ fence and they will offer help keeping the compound clean and the grass cut. They have a committee to ensure the site is safe and cared for and they have promised to complete the small kitchen.

And to finish, some pictures are set out below:

February 2019, when the turf was dug and the District Health Department officials attended

The finished building October 2019 and the Bishop opening and blessing it (this was in October 2019).

So thank you again, from all the people there, from Mityana Projects Trust – and from me too.

Dodie