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Our Leprosy Project in Xi Chang, China |
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Xi Chang ........
We have Count Down!
THE OFFICIAL OPENING
OF A DESIGNATED CLINIC
AND SUPPORT WORKSHOP
FOR DESPERATE LEPROSY
SUFFERERS.
Our Rotary Club’s
major project to help hundreds – probably thousands – of
leprosy sufferers in one of the remotest areas of North
West of China, is geared for take off.
"We are definitely in a countdown situation,” PP Nick
Pirie, Project Leader, says with pride.
FIRST PHASE of the clinic
is nearing completion. It will provide desperately needed
medical aid, counselling and support for seriously afflicted
men, women and children - including scores of tiny tots.
Shuttle vehicles are
planned to take serious cases – though curable – from
villages and surrounding formidable mountain areas to the
Clinic
A top aim is for an
eye-clinic – eventually manned by local doctors – to help
restore sight for hundreds.
A KEY POINT IN THE PROJECT IS THAT IT
WILL BE TAKEN OVER AND COMPLETELY RUN LOCALLY .......WITH
EX-LEPROSY PATIENTS HELPING TOO!
Meanwhile training
programmes conducted by Chinese and overseas experts are
being arranged.
Clinic Xi Chang will also
house a workshop to produce bespoke special footwear and
limb aids. They will be made by experts through the
Club’s project partner HANDA.
HANDA is a Non-Government Organization based in
Guangzhou – southern China. HANDA will act as Hong Kong
South’s ‘in situ’ day-to-day Managers.
Permission for a clinic
was finally obtained from understanding and sympathetic
local authorities during 2003.
Much has still to be done
– “Nothing goes smoothly in these ambitious projects” says
PP Pirie.
Herculean efforts by a
clutch of members of the Hong Kong South Club – supported to
the hilt by all Club members – have ALREADY brought relief
to thousands of desperate unfortunates.
On-the-spot advice, aid
and help through a series of personal visits to the remote
upper reaches of the Yangtse River has been on-going for three
years.
Rice, water supplies,
electricity supplies, medical help and advice have been
provided.
LEARNING CURVE!!
OFFICIAL:
Leprosy is
curable – YES.... IT REALLY IS CURABLE!
Packs of simple, easily
obtainable medicines can do it.
Education...... Education
...... Education ...... more Education is to be undertaken.
It will help sufferers and the general public alike to
understand and break down barriers.
Modern science has proved:
Leprosy is not.... repeat not ... easily caught!
So far, Clinic Xi Chang has
cost HK$400,000.
Donations are much needed.
We need to give help to
these poor people now ......TO TRAIN THEM ........ AND
TO EVENTUALLY HELP THEMSELVES!
To help
CLICK here!
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