The Citizen, 2016-04-21, Page 9THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016. PAGE 9.
Watt looks for medical supplies for S. African hospital
Appreciating the goal
A hospital in South Africa that helps everyone regardless of
race or financial situation inspired Morag Watt to get
involved. Watt, shown above a short drive from the hospital,
wants to provide supplies for the institute. (Photo submitted)
Hullett Central Public School
secretary Morag Watt has been
travelling to South Africa during her
summer vacation for years helping
where she can both at schools and a
hospital and this year, she has some
backup.
With the help of the Rotary Club
of Grand Bend, Watt will be
gathering medical supplies to fill a
shipping container.
When Watt travels to South Africa
after the school year ends this year,
she will be doing so a month after
that shipping container, filled with
medical supplies, will be setting sail
for Clanwilliam Hospital in
Clanwilliam, South Africa, a place
with which Watt is very familiar.
"When I first went to South
Africa, it was for a vacation, but I
wanted to know how things worked
there," Watt said. "Before I was a
secretary I was in hospital
administration so I volunteered at
seven schools and a hospital to find
out what was different."
Watt said she saw a great need for
change and assistance in South
Africa because the country runs
differently than Canada.
"There is no worker safety
legislation and people work in
dangerous situations with no safety
checks," she said. "There are
horrendous farm and vehicle
accidents and people need help."
Watt said that different races are
treated differently throughout the
country, despite the fact that
apartheid was abolished, however
Clanwilliam Hospital is different.
The hospital has always given
equal care regardless of colour and
regardless of ability to pay.
Healthcare in the country is a bit
of a mixed bag according to Watt,
who said there is state-of-the-art
healthcare for those with the ability
to pay, so having a place like
Clanwilliam Hospital makes a huge
difference.
"There are people over there who
have had their culture and their
Rise and shine
The Londesborough Lions Club hosted the community for the most important meal of the day
on Sunday, holding a breakfast at the community hall. On food duty throughout the morning
were Donna Shaddick, left and Don Allen. (Vicky Bremner photo)
#1 And We
Still Try Harder
Recent circulation figures
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highest circulation in the
northern part of
Huron County,
#3 in the entire county.
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MUNICIPALITY OF
MORRIS-TURNBERRY
TAX INSTALLMENT NOTICE
The first installment of the 2016 property taxes is due on Thursday,
April 28, 2016.
Payment can be made by mail or directly at the Municipal Office, 41342
Morris Rd., PO Box 310, Brussels, ON NOG 1H0. For your
convenience, a drop box is available at the front door for after hours
use. Payments can also be made at most banking institutions and by
telephone and internet banking.
Failure to receive your property tax bill does not in any way exempt you
from payment.
Nancy Michie
Administrator Clerk -Treasurer
519-887-6137
livelihood oppressed and they make
up 90 per cent of the country," she
said. "Those same people face over
30 per cent unemployment rates and
meager wages with no health
insurance."
Watt said that is why she loves this
cause, because it focuses on treating
everyone equally regardless of their
income or their race.
"A lot of efforts target specific
groups of people, but this helps
everyone," she said. "I love that idea
of helping everyone"
Clanwilliam Hospital is in a
remote area and Clanwilliam itself is
about the size of Clinton, Watt said.
The area is very rural and has two
doctors working around the clock.
They face things on a regular basis
that doctors in the first world might
only see a handful of times
throughout their practice such as
illnesses like AIDS and tuberculosis.
Watt said the doctors have
connections with the people despite
the fact that many of them have a
tribal mentality and are very
superstitious. They earn the trust of
these people by dealing with
everything they can on site.
"They give care beyond referring
and transfering patients," Watt said.
"That does put a strain on their
resources, however."
Watt also said that corruption is a
huge issue in the country and, while
there is funding for the hospital,
supplies can often be lost or stolen or
simply made unavailable by how
scarce they are.
Aside from the medical supplies,
Watt is also raising money to help
with the transport of the container.
The Rotary Club will be providing
funds to get the shipping container
from Canada to Capetown, however
the land transport from there will be
up to Watt as will any costs for
tariffs.
While logistics and legal concerns
prevent Watt from sending any kind
of pharmaceuticals abroad, the
hospital will benefit greatly from
larger items that people may have in
their homes.
Included on her wishlist are
commode chairs, shower chairs,
unopened bandages, unopened
gauze pads, unopened syringes,
crutches, canes, walkers,
wheelchairs, air casts, tensor
bandages, braces, lifts, eyeglasses
and hearing aids.
Items can be dropped off at the
Londesborough United Church on
Sundays or Radford's Farm
Equipment in Londesborough and
Scrimgeour's Food Market in Blyth
when they're open.
Watt has started a GoFundMe
project through gofundme.com to
raise funds to purchase materials
while the costs for transport and
tariffs and taxes will come from
other fundraisers she has run.
For more information, visit
gofundme.com/Help-The-Hospital
or get in touch with Watt at 519-441-
0929 or morawatt@gmail.com
Pottery
v 398 Queen St.,
Maple Blyth
Moa)) 519-523-4276
MEETING NOTICE
Municipality of
Morris-Turnberry
The upcoming meetings for the
Municipality of Morris-Turnberry will be held:
Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. Regular Council Meeting
Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. Regular Council Meeting
MUNICIPALITY OF
MORRIS-TURNBERRY
2016 SPRING YARD
WASTE COLLECTION
The Municipality will be picking up leaves, grass clippings and yard
waste in the Morris-Turnberry Urban areas on the following dates:
Monday, April 25, 2016
Monday, May, 9, 2016
Monday, May 30, 2016
For more information, please refer to the flyer you received by mail,
or on the website at www.morristurnberry.ca
MUNICIPALITY OF
MORRIS-TURNBERRY
2016 LARGE ITEM PICKUP
The Municipality is hosting a Large Item Pickup or Treasurer Swap
day for all residents in the URBAN AREAS,
on Friday, May 6, 2016.
Any items not `swapped'
will be collected on Monday, May 9, 2016.
Any large items from the URBAN or RURAL areas can be delivered
to the Municipal Landfill, 85047 Clyde Line on Monday, May 9, 2016
at NO CHARGE.
The Municipal Landfill will be open between
10:00 a.m. 'til 1:00 p.m. on Monday, May 9, 2016.
For more information, please refer to the flyer you received by mail
or on the website at www.morristurnberry.ca