About a trip, dolls, sisters and cooperation

The past week a delegation of twinsisters worked together in Sierra Leone at several projects. On the photo, a learningdoll, for students and teachers to learn the skills of birthassistance witch they made themselves.

And a message from Sr Dorothy:
My sweet sisters,
Jackie, thanks so much for your phone call yesterday. Am so proud of you and all our twin-twin project sisters. Extend my most emmense thanks to all of them for their concern, love, hard work and the effort towards the success of our project.
Thank too for the two ambulance and all that accompany with the ambulance. You have really brought smiles to the faces of poor villagers in Pendenbu-Kailahun District.
The ambulance are the first of its kind in Sierra Leone. God bless all of you.
I hope you will all watch the video of the welcoming ceremony of the ambulance? It was wonderful.
I missed all of you.
I assure you that they are going to be used in the proper way and I strongly believe this support to the mission clinic will go a long way in contributing to saving the lives of woman and children in the district, especially in emergency situations, where the need urgent treatment and care.

Am presently in Freetown attaining a workshop organise by I C M for S L M A.
(International Conference of Midwives - Sierra Leone Midwives Association)
Joan Sheperd, the president of the S L M A and all its members are so proud of 'our' KNOV/SMLA-twinsister project.
My thanks and gratitude to all of you. I look forward/hoping to see you all after re-building/ opening of the clinic.
God bless you.

Your Twinsister.

Rev. Sr. Mary Dorothy.

Happy Arrival of Ambulances

The Ambulance crew, Sr Dorothy with more SL-Twinsisters


A Sign is placed in front of the Clinic


Pendembu People at the 'Arriving of the Ambulance'-ceremony


Speech from a Happy Sr. Dorothy


In front of the Blauwe Ruis Ambulance

A message from Twinsister Betty

Twinsister Betty, our Midwives4mothers projectleader in Sierra Leone, traveled to Pendembu, and reported us about the arrival of the Ambulances.

Dear Twinsisters in Holland,

We just returned from Pendembu and we are pleased to report that the ceremony aroud the arrivel of the Ambulances went very well, with full participation of the entire community.The ceremony was very impressive and with such communty support. I am sure they will also work toward other ventures put in place for the ambuance.
We are going to follow up on what happens next. There is a still a huge work to be done, but I am sure the first step of the team and the ambulances arriving safely has been achieved.
We wish to thank you very much for you hard work in making this happen.

God bless

Betty
Read about the Ambulancetrip at Blauwe-Ruis

A mail From Sr Dorothy

Here a mail from our twinsister Sr. Dorothy, a few day's before the ambulances arrived. Several important people, Bishop, Chief, Gouvernement, they all agree that the midwives4mothers project about the rebuilding of the PendembuClinic is a must!

Hello Jackie
Thanks so much for your email. I am lucky to have you as my twinsister. Harry left three weeks ago. I really missed him for his good work and help though Ephraim and the rest are trying too.
I met our Bishop on the 29th in his office.
He wrote and signed his recommendation on the 30th June 2011.
In company of Paramount Chief of Pendembu, I met with DHMT Kailahun District, representing ministry of Health Government, they agreed to rebuild and the use of the clinic.

Estimated Kailahun District total population: 431.716
Numbers of Clinics in the District: 77
The pictures took after and during the meeting will be sent later.


We had a meeting with the Paramount Chief of Pendembu.
He wrote his recommendation on the 5th August 2011.
Alsoo the Government Clinic Pendembu: I met the staff on three occasions and they all express the need of rebuilding of the Clinic.

I send you the numbers of women and childeren born this period in a seperate list.

I am sorry but the pictures are not with me. I shall send them when I get back to Pendembu. Mary Flora is schooling in Kenema now. Our Bishop is happy with the project. Sr, Matthew, Sarah, Sam are fine. They all send their love.
Say hi to the kids. I pray for you and all of them daily. Take care and don’t over work yourself.
Thanks for the schedule of the ambulance.
Love to all our twinning project sisters.
I am proud of all of you.

Your twinsister,
Dorothy

There they go!

Preparing the ambulances for te ride. Sponsorlogo's at the sides, for everyone to see.

Gemeente Middelkerke sponsoring

Isn't this a nice foto-impression of the Pendembuvisit earlyer this year?


More news:
This week, we heard that the Gemeente Middelkerke (Hometown of our Ambulance-headdriver Eric)is alsoo donating 500€ for the project. We are most thankfull for our friends from Blauwe Ruis and there help. A plan is written for the correct use of the Ambulance in Pendembu. The new fully equiped Ambulance is going to be stationed at the Pendembu Maternity Clinic.

Those beautiful Ambulances

A translated interview from the famous Middelkerke-newspaper:
Eric Duhamel, a 71-year-old former naval officer from Westende, has a 8,000 km journey through inhospitable regions ahead. "This is the sixth time I get the lead on an international convoy, but it remains a formidable challenge," says Eric Dehamel. "Before I went with a delegation across the desert to Senegal and Gambia. But still I have to be carefull, because surprises are never far away. Danger lies in a small corner. The adventurous spices such an undertaking, but you must always stay alert."

The next mission takes a lot of supplies and medications, two ambulances for the local hospital. "Our contribution focuses primarily on a project that infant and maternal mortality should reduce. The group consists of six persons and has Pendembu in Sierra Leone as a destination. We drive to Spain, where we cross over to Tangier. After passing through Morocco is a dangerous journey across Mauritania and Mali. Along the way we sleep in tents, small inns and with some luck in a small hotel."

Preparations are already made for several months. The project will cost lots of money and therefore they welcome any support, Eric tells us. "The project may, all together, be estimated at 40,000 euros. The two ambulances we bought second hand stuff and we are full of relief supplies. We can count on a lot of sponsors, but all help is welcome and will,' says Eric.

On the side of the ambulances, the midwifes4mothers logo will appear,accompagnied with the SLMA logo, from the Sierra Leone Midwives Association.

Info: 0496-51.16.85.