Mayo community's support saving lives in Aror
THE work of the Westport/Aror Partnership continues to reap huge benefits for a community in Kenya.
The health centre in Aror, supported by the partnership, saved many lives in the past year, many of them suffering from malaria – the most common disease amongst local people.
On average, 30 people present at the centre each week with malaria, with half admitted for in-patient care, so that adds up to a lot of lives saved each year.
The partnership's annual report outlines how building work has been ongoing at the centre over the past year. Construction of a new septic tank system was held up due to flooding in the Kerio Valley, but was completed in October.
Plans are afoot to continue with a long-overdue refurbishment of the health centre and it's hoped to start work this year.
The partnership has also financially supported the Medical Missionaries of Mary clinic in the Mukuru slum in Nairobi, with the construction of a new consulting room for people with AIDS.
Closer to home, the partnership held a very successful exhibition in Westport Town Hall Theatre last year entitled '100 years of the Irish in Kenya'.
During the summer, local gardeners June Bourke and her husband Ken opened their garden to the public as part of the Clew Bay Trail, with all proceeds donated to the partnership.
The annual Christmas appeal, too, was well supported.
In total, €21,746 was donated by the community in Westport towards the cost of projects in Aror and Mukuru in 2018. The 28-bed health centre is a lifeline for people in Aror, which is a remote, isolated community. The people there are the poorest of the poor, with very basic living conditions.
You can support the work of the partnership by donating via the presbytery, setting up a standing order to the partnership's account at Bank of Ireland, Westport, or by making personal contact with any of the committee members – Michael O'Donnell, the Mall, Mary Angela Kelly, Altamount Street, Lily Cunningham, Knockranny, Barbara Rabbett, Hillside, Pat Cobbe, Michael Davitt Park, Gertie Foley, Hillside, Margaret Joyce, St. Mary's Presbytery, Rachel Bourke, Holy Trinity School, Padraig Doherty, Mulranny, Mary Fergus-Higgins, The Crescent, and Mary O'Brien-Chambers, Shop Street.
* Pictured are members of the Westport/Aror Partnership committee with staff from the health centre, funded by the community in Westport, on a visit to Aror.