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  • CBM partnerships key to Horn Of Africa relief efforts
    Mon, 25/07/2011 - 13:42

    CBM is working closely with partners to provide relief to the most vulnerable in drought and famine affected areas of the Horn Of Africa.

    CBM visiting families in Meru Region of Kenya. Photo: CBMCBM is working with partners to ensure that people with disabilities receive the services they need during emergency situations. Photo: CBM.

    Thousands of refugees are crossing the borders into Kenya from southern Ethiopia and Somalia at an unprecedented rate. It is expected that almost half the children arriving in Kenya are severely malnourished and the numbers in need of emergency assistance and aid is expected to rise.

    CBM and its partners are working closely with persons with disabilities, as well as teaming up with other mainstream reliefs organisations such as the Kenya Red Cross to ensure people with disabilities have access to food, clean water, disability services and technical support.

    These partnerships can provide essential relief now, but also put plans in place for the long-term need for treatment and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.

    "With our partners, CBM will remain committed to saving lives and providing long-term support to vulnerable people living in the Horn Of Africa" - Anita Smeets, CBM Regional Director of East Africa.

    Through your support of the CBM Horn Of Africa Emergency campaign, you can help bring relief to the most vulnerable at this difficult time.

    Driest period since 1995

    A severe lack of rainfall throughout the region, believed to be the worst in 60 years, has decimated crops and livestock, forcing thousands of families to flee their communities in search of food and clean water.

    According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 2011 has been the driest period in the Eastern Horn of Africa since 1995 and there is no likelihood for improvement until early 2012.

    Further Reading

    CBM Horn Of Africa Emergency Appeal

    Food Crisis: Horn Of Africa

    CBM UK-supported projects in Kenya

    Kenya Red Cross

    UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

  • August edition of 'together' newsletter is now available
    Fri, 22/07/2011 - 11:22

    The August 2011 edition of our newsletter is now available to download.

    CBM UK newsletter August 2011

    The latest edition of our newsletter 'together' has been mailed to our donors and supporters but you can download your copy below. This issue focuses on our work in India and Pakistan.

    In this issue...

    • Meet Shahnawaz from Kolkata in India, who was born with bilateral clubfoot but thanks CBM supporters, he received the treatment he needed.
    • We find out how your support of our Pakistan Floods Appeal has enabled communities to move on from the devastation.
    • Find out how your support has enabled Afsud, who is irreversibly blind, to stay in school.
    • and meet Little Bhoomi, who is progressing well through a regular physiotherapy programme.

     

    All these stories and more can be found in our latest edition.

    Download the August 2011 edition of 'together' (PDF/467Kb) 

  • CBM UK partnership celebrates £1.1 million recycling success
    Wed, 13/07/2011 - 10:01

    A CBM UK partnership has achieved a £1.1 million successful 'gifts in kind' campaign in the last financial year.

    Donated equipment from the UK now in use in Nigeria. Photo: CBMEquipment donated from Manchester Eye Hospital is now in use in Nigeria thanks to CBM's partnership with A2HW. Photo: CBM.

    Since forming a partnership with Suffolk-based A2HW (Aid To Hospitals Worldwide), we have been able to source and transport a full range of medical and surgical equipment to some of the poorest countries in the world.

    During the last year, we have successfully shipped essential equipment to countries including Tanzania, Guinea, Uganda, Malawi, Papua New Guinea and Pakistan.

    Dr Will Dean, CBM Consultant Ophthalmologist at Nkhoma Eye Hospital in Malawi told us; "CBM and A2HW have excelled themselves! The equipment is just awesome, simply marvelous and absolitely stunning timing!".

    Thanks to A2HW, we have been able to facilitate 11 shipments of equipment including hydraulic beds, ophthalmoscopes, slit lamps, anaesthetic machines, x-ray and operating theatre equipment.

    "The chairs and furniture are perfect for our newly renovated ward in readiness for cataract surgery. The slit lamp is amazing, and will replace the one in clinic." - Dr Will Dean, CBM Consultant Ophthalmologist, Malawi

    A2HW takes used by serviceable equipment from various hospitals throughout the UK and then donates it to community projects overseas.

    CBM UK's financial year runs from July 1st to June 30th.

    How you can help

    If you have medical equipment that you would like to donate to CBM's 'Gifts In Kind' programme, then please contact Clare Rice on 01223 484700 or you can email her at gifts@cbmuk.org.uk 

    Further Reading

    More information about our Gifts In Kind programme

    Charity recycles £1m of medical supplies over one year - BBC

    Medical equipment recycled from Cambridge to World's poor - Business Weekly

  • Food crisis - Horn of Africa
    Fri, 08/07/2011 - 19:10

    More than eight million people are currently affected by the food crisis in the horn of Africa.

    An increasing number of people are fleeing drought and conflict in Somalia and reaching refugee camps in both Kenya and Ethiopia - in recent weeks, rates of arrival have accelerated to around 1,700 people per day.

    In response to this, we have lauched our Horn Of Africa Emergency Campaign.

    Monitoring the situation

    Although CBM has no partner organisations working in the worst affected area, but we are monitoring the situation as it develops.

    Where necessary, CBM and its partners will intervene to help ensure persons with disabilities are included in relief efforts.

    According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 2011 has been the driest period in the Eastern Horn of Africa since 1995 and there is no likelihood of improvement until early 2012.

    Further Reading

    UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

    Horn of Africa tested by severe drought (BBC)

  • Landmark 50,000 CBM-supported cataract surgeries in Madagascar
    Tue, 05/07/2011 - 12:03

    In the same month that CBM has marked the 30th Anniversary of CBM partnership in Madagascar, the 50,000th CBM-supported cataract operation in Madagascar has also taken place.

    Ravoniarisinina after her cataract surgery. Photo: CBMRavoniarisinina after her cataract surgery. Photo: CBM

    77 year old Ravoniarisinina was completely blind due to bilateral cataracts.

    Both of Ravoniarisinina's eyes were operated on my Dr Johannes Borggrefe; at the CBM-supported Salfa Eye Clinic in Antananarivo. Thanks to CBM supporters, she is now able to see again.
    The sight-restoring operation means that her eyes will never become cataract blind againm and she can now regain her independence.

    Ravoniarisinina received a CBM certificate to make the surgery from General Dr Rajaonarison Pascal Jacques - the Minister of Health of Madagascar, and her surgeon Dr. Johannes Borggrefe.

    "She was all smiles for the first time in several years and could see the faces around her clearly again" - Dr Henry Nkumbe, CBM Co-worker, Madagascar

    Further Reading

    CBM celebrates 30 years of partnership in Madagascar

    SALFA Eye Project - CBM UK-supported partnership between CBM and the health board of the Malagasy Lutheran Church