Penyem Health Centre Team

Imerja has been supporting the work of the Northampton Trustee Fund (NTF) since 2008; a voluntary charity organisation which assists the village of Penyem in the Gambia through sustainable development projects.

Following our initial engagement in providing mosquito nets to the village, offering basic protection against malaria, we have continued to support the NTF’s development of a village Health Centre, including funding for a full time medical professional.

Refurbishment to the clinic building has been achieved through extensive fund raising by the NTF, including significant donations by students and staff at Kingswood College in Corby. Work has included tiling the floor, installing a new ceiling and solar panels to enable the clinic to remain open after sunset The new Health Centre is due to be officially opened in Februarey 2011 by the Gambian Minister for Health. Imerja will be represented at the ceremony by Marketing & Communications Director, Mark Evans. 

In anticipation of the visit the Village Development Committee (VDC) requested specific items needed to support the day to day provision of care to the village community – things that may seem ordinary to us, but even if you have money to buy them is the Gambia they may just not be available.

For example, whilst the Centre can source basic medicines which it buys in bulk, it does not have access to suitable materials to properly store and dispense them. Therefore, in addition to first aid materials like bandages, dressings and pain killers, we have collected over 140kg of medical supplies including plastic spoons and measuring cups, syringes and pill bottles, scissors, clamps and various utencils which Mark will be taking with him when he travels. Thanks to everyone that has donated to this cause – and please don’t think this will be the last time we ask…

Penyem Health Centre

Transporting all this to Penyem has been made possible thanks to the generosity of Thomas Cook Airlines which has kindly offered an additional baggage allowance.

Mark just has to work out the logistics of getting 8 large suitcases to check-in!

For more informartion on the work of the NTF please visit its blog by clicking here.

Imerja’s corporate charity, Claire House, are looking for adventurous individuals to take part in the last ever abseil down the Royal Liver Building in Liverpool on Saturday 10th July. As part of Claire House’s Action 10 programme, anyone taking part will be supporting Claire House in raising the essential funds to keep their doors open every year.

To find out how to take part, download the poster here.

Imerja is pleased to announce Claire House has released a corporate video to help promote its services to the public.

Claire House relies entirely on the generosity of those who support it for all of its income and running costs, therefore as Imerj’a corporate charity, Imerja was happy to sponsor the corporate video to help the hospice further promote the work that they do.

Further information about Claire House and the Association of Children’s Hospices can be found at the Claire House Website, including ways in which you can offer your support directly. Alternatively, please contact us for more details.