Wolfson increases support of College charity Amref

Amref Health Africa has an international reputation for the excellence of its provision of healthcare, training, and education, and our annual Bursary helps some of those enrolled in its Diploma in Community Healthcare at the charity's Nairobi HQ. Amref works closely with local communities as far afield as Southern Sudan and Ethiopia to raise awareness of health issues, and community workers are a key link in its healthcare chain. The money raised in College comes from a variety of sources, including the Annual Battels Appeal, the Household Goods Sale and the annual Fireworks Display.

In addition to the Bursary, Wolfson has funded a wide range of projects in more than 40 years of association with Amref: we have helped fight malaria; extend the blessing of fistula repair; and purchased World Health Organization ‘Blue Trunk' libraries, bringing essential medical texts to remote health centres. Most recently we have supported the SU4AM (‘Stand Up For African Mothers') midwifery campaign. At the last meeting of the Amref Group, on 13 October, Katharine Hitchcock, from Amref's London Office, gave us a report on our support for a medical laboratory management and training course run by Dr Jane Carter, who had visited Wolfson in June 1996 to give an illustrated talk on her work.

The Wolfson-Amref link is an enduring one, and it is important at both ends: Amref highly values the continuity and certainty of our financial support, while we are proud to support a charity that uses education and science to improve and advance the healthcare of some of those most in need.

We are grateful to everyone involved, and to none more so than the many volunteers and customers who make the Sunday Coffee Shop the proceeds of which go to Amref  the amazing success that it is.

Mark Pottle and Charlotte Bennett

Image credit: The Sunday Coffee Shop in action: Derek Leske and Charlotte Bennett, Student Amref Representatives to the General meeting (to the right of the picture), help Patience Gray to sell cakes and coffee in aid of Amref.