Monday 13 Jan 2014 @ 16:15
Welsh Government
Printable version E-mail this to a friend

Wales for Africa links are changing lives for the better – First Minister

The sharing of ideas, experiences and skills between Wales and Uganda is changing lives for the better, the First Minister, Carwyn Jones has said as he began his final day of visits in the country.
The First Minister yesterday see how health links between the Royal Glamorgan Hospital and the Mbale Regional Hospital in Uganda are promoting a better understanding of healthcare on both sides of the world.
The two hospitals are linked through the Rhondda Cynon Taf based charity, PONT, which encourages staff exchanges in order to develop their skills through experiencing different, unique and challenging environments.

The link has been fundamental in setting up an Endoscopy Unit in Mbale, the purchase of an anaesthetic machine and training in anaesthetics. The partnership has also benefited the training of A&E staff in both triage and managing casualty patients.

The First Minister said:

“The link between the Royal Glamorgan and Mbale Regional Hospital is having far-reaching benefits – not only is it providing life-saving equipment in Mbale, but the sharing of experiences and skills is benefiting the health services of both countries.”

The First Minister also visited Namatala, an area of Mbale where a high proportion of people live in extreme poverty. Here the University of South Wales, through a link with a Namatala community based organisation, raised money to meet a request for flushing latrines through their ‘buy a brick’ campaign.
The bricks bought through this campaign were used to build the latrines and handwashing facilities. Work was recently completed and it is hoped that the latrines will reduce the spread of disease in this highly-populated area.

The First Minister added:

“The improved sanitation these new facilities will bring to Namatala reinforces the fact that small amounts of money, along with goodwill and hard work can truly change lives.

“My visits, particularly to Namatala and Mbale Regional Hospital, have made me realise just how much we take for granted. These projects, inspired, delivered and made possible because of Welsh people are changing lives for the better, which is something we should all be extremely proud of.”

The First Minister is in Uganda on a series of visits to see the impact Welsh projects, supported by the Welsh Government’s Wales for Africa programme, are having on the lives of individuals and families living there.

The Wales for Africa programme has supported 138 community links with almost 300 development projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. Last August, the First Minister announced an additional £210,000 funding to boost the health links between Wales and Sub-Saharan Africa. 

BCCFR