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  • Ophthalmologist to run Edinburgh Marathon for CBM
    Wed, 27/04/2011 - 10:46

    A former CBM Ophthalmologist is to run his first marathon in Edinburgh to raise money for CBM.

    Richard Bowman preparing for Edinburgh Marathon.Dr Bowman hopes to raise money to help continue restoring sight through CBM's work.

    Dr. Richard Bowman will be taking to the streets of Edinburgh on Sunday 22nd of May to raise money to "continue to help restore sight to children needlessly blind in Africa and elsewhere through CBM's work".

    "I am running the Edinburgh Marathon because I like a physical challenge. Edinburgh is a beautiful city and my brother-in-law entered it and I want to beat him!" he told us.

    You can support Richard's first marathon and the work of CBM by sponsoring him at JustGiving - the quickest and most secure way to show your support.

    Dr Bowman's work with CBM

    Dr Bowman worked with CBM as an Ophthalmologist in Dar es Salaam for eight years. He worked as an eye surgeon at the CBM-supported Comprehensive Community-Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) hospital, where around 7,000 operations are performed each year to save or restore sight.

    In 2006, Richard was appointed Director of Training at CCBRT and Honorary Lecturer at Muhimbili University College of Health Services (the national teaching hospital).

    "I may have seen 100 patients in a day and had difficulty remembering names and faces, but for each of them it might be a life changing experience." - Dr Richard Bowman 

    Richard is now a Consultant in London and a part-time academic at ICEH (International Centre for Eye Health), where he is funded by CBM.

     

    Further Information

    Sponsor Dr Bowman at JustGiving.com

    Edinburgh Marathon - official website

    Run for CBM in the 2011 ASICS British 10k London Run

  • CBM partner providing care for Ivory Coast refugees
    Fri, 15/04/2011 - 10:29

    CBM-supported partner The Rèhabilitation Assise Communautaire des Handicapés (RACH) has begun receiving refugees fleeing unrest in the Ivory Coast.

    The Gagnoa-based partner programme which is situated about 250km northwest of Abidjan, has received more than 100 refugees including five people with disabilities. 

    The United Nations claim that more than one million people have fled their homes, and are now struggling to access basic supplies. Some have fled to neighbouring countries including Liberia.

    "In a situation like this, it is the disabled refugees who stand to suffer the most, as they are at the back of the queue" - Dr Bill McAllister, CEO at CBM UK

    RACH, which has been supported by CBM since 1990, provides a number of essential services including medical eye care, an optical and orthopaedic workshop, physiotherapy and a special school for people with hearing impairments.

    Unrest in Ivory Coast

    The November 2010 election, which was organised with the assistance of the United Nations, sparked a four month stand-off between electoral candidates Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara.

    Further Reading

    Q&A: Ivory Coast crisis (BBC)

    The Rehabilitation Assise Communautaire des Handicapés (CBM.org) 

    Côte d’Ivoire stand-off over but humanitarian crisis continues, UN and partners warn (UN)

     

  • New Physio joins CBM team in Haiti
    Fri, 01/04/2011 - 14:47

    Alice becomes the latest in a line of physiotherapists travelling to work with CBM in Haiti.

    CBM Physiotherapist Alice Harvey. Photo: CBMAlice Harvey will be working with CBM in Haiti to deliver rehabilitation programmes. Photo: CBM

    Somerset-born Physiotherapist Alice Harvey, has become the latest member of CBM's team in earthquake damaged Haiti to help deliver community-based rehabilitation (CBR) and in-hospital rehabilitation programmes.

    Alice, who has five years of experience as a Physiotherapist, both with the NHS in the UK, and in Tanzania, expects to be based in one of the hospitals that CBM supports in Port-au-Prince.

    Since the earthquake that struck Haiti on 12th January 2010, CBM has been in the forefront helping more than 70,000 survivors in the first year.

    Capacity building

    The situation in Haiti has changed, as the country moves to a post-disaster phase. Initially, CBM physiotherapists were required to be more 'hands-on' to provide treatment for those with immediate needs. Alice expects to be involved in capacity building, training of local staff and service development, as well as working directly with patients alongside Haitian staff.

    "The ultimate goal of my job oddly is to make myself redundant and enable a local successor for my position! I have no illusions as to how tough the road ahead is for the rebuilding and healing of Haiti and its people. - Alice Harvey, Physiotherapist.

    Alice is looking forward to developing her skills and passion for CBR, saying that "the CBM team in Haiti is truly an international one, with a great relationship with their Haitian colleagues - and in a situation such as Haiti, you need a solid team to effect change and remain positive!".

    Alice has previously worked as a Senior Physiotherapist with the Worcester Acute Hospitals Trust and also as a Rotational Band 5 Physiotherapist with the Dudley Group of Hospitals.

    CBM has been working with local partners in Haiti since 1976.