Whisper Children’s Home has opened the first hospital dedicated to serve the most vulnerable and poorest children in Jinja, Uganda, in an effort to improve health services among minors in the region.
The hospital was officially opened by Kyabazinga of Busoga, William Gabula Nadiope IV, who congratulated Whispers Children’s Home on the good work it is doing in the Busoga region. He also called on other organisations and individuals to join the cause of helping local communities in need with access to quality and affordable health services. Others in attendance included Mr Majid Batambuze, the in-coming Mayor of Jinja Municipality and Mr Patrick Mulondo, Chairman of the local council, Jinja Central Division.
The hospital, which has the capacity to handle up to 20 in-patients, will provide free emergency services and treatment to children suffering from life-threatening conditions. It will also offer a 24-hour nursing service and nutritional support for malnourished children, with free meals and water being provided to every child and their parent or guardian.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ms Veronika Cejpkova, Founder and Director of Whisper Children’s Home, said: “We want to bring health, happiness, and love to every child, and hope to the parents and guardians who look after these children. So far we have raised over UGX170 million from our friends in the local and international community to set up the hospital. I hope that they, and others, will continue to provide much needed donations and support for this most deserving cause.”
“I would particularly like to thank Etihad Airways, which has generously provided us with tickets to fly in volunteers from abroad to support our work here in Uganda. The airline also donated much needed blankets for the Whisper Children’s Home, which will also be so useful for the patients at the new hospital. We hope their continued support will allow us to fly in more medical volunteers from abroad to enhance the level of service being provided to the community.”
Whisper Children’s Home currently looks after nearly 30 children who are in desperate need of care. Since its inception the Whisper’s outreach team has provided first aid and support to more than 2,000 children affected with jiggers (a parasitic flea found in most tropical and sub-tropical climates). They have also improved the sleeping conditions for hundreds of other local children in Mutai and other villages across the Busoga region by providing beds, mattresses, mosquito nets, blankets and sheets.
Toyin Alaran, Etihad Airways’ General Manager, Uganda, said: “We commend Veronika and her team at Whisper Children’s Home for the tremendous commitment to the people in the Busoga region and the surrounding areas.
“Whisper Children’s Home stands out as beacon of hope for underprivileged children and families in need in Uganda, and we are delighted to be part of their initiatives to make a difference in the community.”
In January 2016, the airline launched its community outreach programme in Uganda with donations of air tickets, blankets and school supplies to the Whisper Children’s Home, under the airline’s ‘Giving Together’ Corporate Social Responsibility initiative which encompasses charitable giving programmes to selected charities across its global network.