Articles - Miscellaneous

MILDMAY

You may recall that St. Edmund’s is supporting the Mildmay Mission Hospital in London as one of its major charities. This Hospital provides care for those living with HIV/Aids and also trains doctors, health workers and community leaders in the U.K. and abroad. It is the only specialist unit in the country to care for HIV positive people who are brain impaired.

Approximately a year ago, I reported that the Hospital was suffering a major financial crisis. Since then, new criteria introduced by health authorities have prioritised Mildmay for referrals of complex, intensive cases.  Funding has therefore improved and the picture is far more positive. The Hospital is now looking to expand its work here and abroad.

Mildmay is developing and implementing training programmes in Russia. I understand that Russia is experiencing the world’s fastest growing HIV epidemic.

It is set to launch a new paediatric HIV/Aids service at the Harare Children’s Hospital in Zimbabwe thanks to a 3 year grant from the European Union. This work seems to be vital. It is reported that HIV/Aids in this country has drastically reduced the average life expectancy to 43 years and an estimated 780,000 children have already lost one or both parents to the epidemic.

The Mildmay Diploma was initiated in Kenya last year. This is validated by Manchester University and trains a maximum of 30 selected students over an 18 month period.

I have placed an article from Mildmay’s latest newsletter on the notice board at the back of Church. This gives an insight into Mildmay’s work in Uganda at Jajja’s Home. Jajja is an endearing term for “grandmother” and this name was chosen because the majority of the orphans are cared for by their “jajjas”.

Jo Curtis

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