Virtual Doctors is an unusual charity. As its website explains the inspiration for this scheme to improve health services in Zambia began in very low-tech and unhappy circumstances. Huw Jones, working in Zambia as a safari guide, was driving a Land Rover along a road in a remote part of this country. He saw a trail of blood in the road and his first reaction was that it might have come from an animal killed by a lion. However he came across a couple on a bike- the man riding and the woman carried on the handlebars. She was pregnant and bleeding heavily and they had been cycling for hours with the aim of reaching the nearest hospital almost 60 miles away. Mr Jones saw that the woman was in a great deal of pain and the husband seemed to be in a state of shock. in the heat and poor terrain. They were desperate. Mr Jones stopped, picked them up and drove off. Unfortunately the woman was very weak and died in the back of the Land Rover before they could reach anyone who could give them medical help. Mr Jones said that he was very affected and wondered what he could do to help such people. This eposode was an awful example of the lack of medical provision for rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa and there were many cases leading to deaths that could have been prevented with better care.
Zambia has about 1,600 doctors for a population of 14 million and two thirds of these are working in towns and cities, while most of the rest of the population is in the countryside. This means that for large numbers access to good quality health care is often difficult if not impossible.
When Mr Jones returned to the U.K. he began to develop a project to fill in some of these gaps. He set up THE VIRTUAL DOCTORS CHARITY, BASED IN BRIGHTON, WHICH USES THE EXPERTISE OF VOLUNTEER DOCTORS IN THE UK USING MODERN TECHNOLOGY COMMUNICATIONS TO PROVIDE DIRECT AND INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT FOR HEALTH WORKERS IN ZAMBIA.
For many communities it is not practical to expect sick and frail people to walk or cycle for hours to hospital, so families depend on rural health centres which have health workers but not qualified doctors. The virtual doctors can give of their expertise and knowledge by modern technology to support isolated health centres thousands of miles away. The charity at present supports 19 rural health centres covering aboit 1 million people - a very worthy cause indeed!
Our Rotary Club has supported this charity in the past and we hope to continue to do so.
'What We Do' Main Pages:
Please go to 'What we do do' section and scroll down to access the simple form which needs to be completed sent as indicated, which is headed 'Application for Financial Assistance'
moreWalk along Worthing Promenade
moreA Rotary national annual competition conducted firstly locally then on a knock-out basis as rounds proceed to an eventual winner
moreSeveral members did a walk along Worthing seafront to raise awareness and to sponsor Turning Tides
moreThe Three Forts Marathon is the special one as it is approx 27.2 miles and covers rough terrain and steep climbs. The proceeds go to a local charity.
morePicture shows Past President Sally Nowak, dog Poppy and club member Haydn Smith and wife Gail preparing to walk the South Downs Way for charity.
moreThe exhibition takes place every 2 years, the last one being at the Bohunt College, Broadwater, Worthing in March 2020
moreThis is a Rotary competition to encourage young people to exercise their talents with the written word.
moreOur cub's collaboration with Worthing Speakers' Club
moreThe picture shows a larger project than ours and illustrates the scope of sand dams that can be used for quite big communities.
moreOpportunity for those under exceptional circumstances and who are unable to obtain funding from statutory authorities- local or national
moreFollowing the death of Tony Hill his family have commissioned a memorial glass panel in his memory on Worthing Pier
moreSue Baldock, immediate past president hands over a cheque for £1000 to the local homeless charity 'Turning Tides'.
moreA seven day residential course for young people in their teens to hone their leadership potential
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