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Ann Gloag to speak at Rotary International convention in Canada

Charity founder Ann Gloag is in Toronto this week as guest speaker at the annual Rotary International Convention.  With more than 24,000 registered participants from 175 countries and geographic regions we are thankful for the opportunity to share news of our work with women and girls in Africa with Rotary members. See Ann speak here >

Guest speakers also include her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, on behalf of Save the Children UK; the former first lady of the United States Laura Bush, an advocate for literacy, health car and human rights; Helen Clark, former prime minister of New Zealand and former administrator of the United Nations Development Programme; Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organisation; and Caryl Stern, president and CEO of UNICEF USA.  For more information on the convention and to follow live updates please visit http://www.riconvention.org/en

Community Engagement on a Global Scale

We have been extremely fortunate over the last 10 years to benefit from invaluable support offered by numerous community based organisations. 

One of the most notable and ongoing associations is with Rotary International, both in the UK and the USA.  Rotary Clubs have played a significant part in both raising awareness of the work of Freedom from Fistula and also raising vital funds.

In particular, Rotary Clubs across the three Districts in Scotland have been instrumental in securing 2 major Global Grants, working with the Rotary Clubs of Limbe and Mzuzu in Malawi.  The first Global Grant of $200,000 was awarded towards the three year training of 60 Nurse Midwife Technicians in Malawi.  Students are studying at Ekwendeni College and Nkhoma College and once qualified will have to stay in Malawi to work for at least five years, thus ensuring that the numbers of skilled and experienced healthcare professionals increases in Malawi, in turn helping to reduce the prevalence of obstetric fistula and the rates of maternal and neo-natal deaths.

The second Global Grant of $100,000 was awarded to fund the purchase of two landcruisers in Malawi which provide a lifeline for the Freedom from Fistula team in being able to access patients in even the most rural areas.

Allan MacLaughlan (Currie Balerno Rotary Club - D1020) said of Rotary's association with Freedom from Fistula 'we are delighted to be able to support the work of Freedom from Fistula.  Over the last few years we have had an insight into the incredible scope of the work undertaken by the Charity and the growth in all four countries where it operates"