40,000 Gorta Donors' Goodwill Gift to the People of Zambia
December 15th 2009 | Updated January 4th 2009
President meets Gorta Directors on the occasion of the Commissioning of a unique mobile ENT Clinic to deliver life-saving surgery in Zambia.
On Tuesday, 15th December, Her Excellency Mary McAleese, President of Ireland and Patron of Gorta met with Gorta Directors on the occasion of the commissioning of the first overseas mobile ear, nose and throat (ENT) clinic bound for Zambia, in the grounds of Áras an Uachtaráin.
Gorta has been working with Dr. Kieran O’Driscoll, consultant Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgeon based in Tullamore Hospital, to develop an innovative solution to an unaddressed health need in Zambia with this groundbreaking ENT vehicle.
The vehicle will function as a mobile clinic, visiting rural locations around the capital city of Lusaka to offer out-patient services and treatments for ENT conditions.
The mobile clinic will also serve as a transportation vehicle for more serious cases to bring patients to the Beit Cure hospital in the city. Thousands of people will benefit from life enhancing surgery as a result of this collaboration.
Dr. Kieran O’Driscoll stated “I suppose there are three real heartaches in Zambia. Firstly there are children dying because they can’t get the foreign bodies out of their throats. Then there are kids who die of chronic ear disease and get brain abscesses and meningitis and die.
"And then there’s the kids who can’t have their hearing restored because they haven’t got a hearing aid and they can’t get surgery to restore their hearing. So they’re the main elements”.
Andy Cole, Chairman of Gorta commented “Gorta is delighted to commission this mobile clinic and would like to recognize the contribution made by all those involved, in particular, the contributions made by tens of thousands of Irish people who donate to Gorta. It is their compassion for people in the developing world that has allowed Dr. Kieran O’Driscoll’s idea to become reality”.
Brian Hanratty, CEO, added “Our donors can be proud that through their generosity, 300 patients a week will receive life changing treatment at this clinic. They are the unsung heroes who make our work possible even in difficult times”
The mobile clinic was specially constructed by CAFCO Dublin, with invaluable advice and support from the Irish Army. The on board equipment for the clinic was supplied by Eurosurgical. The vehicle will be shipped to Zambia and operational in early 2010. When it is shipped over from Dublin, it will also be packed with additional donated medical equipment.
