Support for Africa Newsletter
For the prevention of the spread of
HIV/AIDS and Malaria 2006 News update
from Patti Boulaye
 Gabrielle First Clinic Delta State |
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 Sir Cliff Richard Second Clinic Riverstate |
Thank you all for your support and interest in Support for Africa. As usual the Charity continues to be run on a shoestring by people who give their services free of charge. The charity’s unpaid founder, Patti continues to run the office and fundraise when her schedule allows, Mrs Grace Coker, SFA’s vice president Nigeria, has given her time free for the past four years, during which she has supervised the building and opening of our first three health centres.
We are hoping that Grace will continue to support us by taking on our next project, which is in Cameroon. This project is sponsored by The UNITE Group PLC. For this we are looking to raise funds to cover Grace’s expenses, as Cameroon is another country and far from where Grace lives. We are also working with the Rotary Club of Jordan and District and St. Joseph’s Parish, Gerrards Cross on the Cameroon project. There was a Reception, hosted by The Rt Hon Lord Janner of Braunstone in April 2006 at the House of Lords to launch the Cameroon project. Guests included the Arsenal Football player Lauren and Terry Mansfield CBE of Hearst Corporation, HE Lindiwe Mabuza of South Africa and Boney M’s Maizie Williams who are supporting the project.
 Maxine and the children at Second Clinic |
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Support for Africa’s second clinic was opened in Rumoukurisi, Portharcourt, River State Nigeria last year and is now self-sufficient to our delight. Mrs Grace Coker affectionately known as Amazing Grace, supervises the building, opening and running of the centre. |
The 1st Clinic is known as The Gabrielle, 2nd Clinic is now known as the Sir Cliff Richard SFA Centre.
 Third Clinic, Bayelsa State |
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 Eye test by visiting specialist Third Clinic |
- The projects cost £35,000-£50,000
- Medical equipment were donated to our centres by Sandhurst Group Practice (thanks to Christine Shailer) and freighted to Lagos Airport by Virgin Airlines Cargo.
- In the month of June the first baby was delivered at our second centre to our great delight. However, the road leading to the centre remains one of our biggest worries, we have been promised a donation of gravels to fill the deep potholes caused by the heavy Monsoon rains.
 Children at third clinic |
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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
“Football Reaching Out For Africa” |
Support For Africa is planning a “Football Reaching Out For Africa” on 23rd September 2007 at the Royal Albert Hall with special guests Thierry Henry who will be presenting “The Thierry Henry Young Achiever Award” and Lauren of Arsenal FC, singing group Boney M and 3000 gospel singers.
The charity is also planning with The UNITE Group PLC, the first SFA’s National Keepi- Uppie Challenge in July 2007
 Children of Nkambe School, Kumbo Diocese, Cameroon |
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We hope to complete the Cameroon project in May 2007 in other to deliver much-needed healthcare to the local people of Tadu. St. Joseph’s parish has had a long association with the Diocese of Kumbo in Cameroon, providing educational funds for orphans and vulnerable children. |
The opening of Support For Africa’s third clinic in Opokuma, Bayelsa State of Nigeria took place on the 8th June 2006. With me were, Stephen, Aret (who as Miss Nigeria 1996 was the first Miss Bayelsa State), Maxine and Elliot both from BBC TV. The opening was a great success and the visit was emotional as always and greatly enjoyed by our entire party. This centre is our largest healthcentre with 13 rooms including one male ward, one children’s ward, a female ward and an operating theatre. The nearest hospital is 2-3 hours drive if you have a car which few of the locals have
We also visited our Sir Cliff Richard Health Centre, which is now self-sufficient, even though they are struggling, they are doing better than we expected. A small flat has been added to the clinic for student doctors and also a sitting area for mothers and babies has been built since the opening of the Sir Cliff Richard centre in 2005.
We will be building our next and fourth centre in Cameroon thanks to UK’s UNITE Group PLC who were introduced to us by HRH Prince Michael of Kent.
 Patti with Virgin Atlantic Staff Lagos |
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Latest News
This is where you can take a look at our latest news concerning our role in the fight against HIV/AIDS and Malaria.
SFA - New Health Centre in PH update
The second health centre was opened in Port Harcourt on March 5th, 2005 attended by Patti, Maizie Williams (Boney M), international photographer Gill Shaw and Trustee Stephen Komlosy who flew in to Port Harcourt with Patti on Virgin Airlines by kind sponsorship from Sir Richard Branson and his Virgin Atlantic Airline.
Plans for SFA's 3rd, 4th & 5th Health Centres underway in Cameroon, Ghana & Bayelsa State respectively
The land in Bayelsa State has been donated by Mr Timi Alaibe and his lovely wife, who are also one of Support For Africa’s biggest supporters in Port Harcourt where they are constantly in touch with our Vice President (Nigeria) Mrs Coker and our doctors and nurses. We are now seeking sponsors for the completion of the Health Centres.
Charity single 'VIVA AFRICA' now available!!
Please call 020 8997 0001 for more info or ring to order between 9–6pm Mon-Fri.
Patti at UNAIDS Launch
Over 20 eminent women and men including Patti Boulaye the President/Founder of SFA have united to create The Global Coalition on Women and AIDS.
Below are News Stories courtesy of UK Consortium on AIDS & International Development. Each story will be active for approximately one week.
