A Maltese voluntary organisation is on a mission to provide education and healthcare for underprivileged people in developing countries.

Established in 2003, Faces funded the building of the St George Preca orphanage in Nakuru, Kenya, in 2008, and is now coordinating a sponsorship programme for 59 children residing at this home, financing their education fees from primary to tertiary level.

Since 2012, Faces has been running a project in collaboration with Cardinal Rugambwa Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, aimed at improving the long-term capacity of this maternity hospital as well as the accessibility and utilisation of the medical services they provide.

This project has focused on several areas of the hospital’s functioning, including infrastructural needs, medical equipment, computerised patient record system and staff training.

Among others, it has implemented the procurement and installation of a 30kVA generator, funded the purchase of essential hospital equipment including a baby warmer, ECG apparatus, a full blood count machine, a biochemistry machine, a patient monitor and resuscitation equipment and an anaesthetic machine.

Faces is running a project with Cardinal Rugambwa Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, aimed at improving the long-term capacity of this maternity hospital as well as the accessibility and utilisation of its medical services.Faces is running a project with Cardinal Rugambwa Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, aimed at improving the long-term capacity of this maternity hospital as well as the accessibility and utilisation of its medical services.

Besides the project also provided relevant training for hospital staff including an Immediate Life Support Course and management of medical, obstetric and neonatal emergencies.

The long-term aim of the project is to improve the quality of antenatal care and maternal health for the population served by this medical establishment and improve the hospital’s ability to deal with obstetric and neonatal complications such as post-partum haemorrhage, anaemia and low-birth weight.

As part of its ongoing efforts to raise funds for these initiatives, this summer Faces hosted its annual summer party at Maria Rosa Wine Estate, Attard, with the money collected going towards the funding of the next stage of Faces’ capacity building project with Cardinal Rugambwa Hospital.

This includes the purchase of a bloodgas analyser that permits the measurement of important physiological parameters and phototherapy equipment to treat for neonatal jaundice, the delivery of further training in obstetric care and medical emergencies as well as the installation of an oxygen supply system.

To make a donation for the Faces project, log on to www.facescharity.org.

One can also sponsor or part-sponsor a child’s education. Application forms are available on the group’s website.

The voluntary organisation has recently celebrated its 15th anniversary.The voluntary organisation has recently celebrated its 15th anniversary.

Maltese volunteers posing for a selfie with their African counterparts.Maltese volunteers posing for a selfie with their African counterparts.

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