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Aker Qserv helps JCI Aberdeen spring into action with Beds to Ghana project
17 March 2010 – Oil services company Aker Qserv is helping transport hospital beds to alleviate the suffering of sick children in Ghana by supporting an innovative project run by young people in Aberdeen.
Junior Chamber International Aberdeen (JCI) is organising a project to ship desperately needed beds to a children’s hospital in the country’s capital, Accra.
Aker Qserv are principal sponsor of the project which started when Sam Murray, ex president of JCI Aberdeen and chairman of the Unicef fundraising committee in Aberdeen, visited Ghana in 2009 to see how money raised was being put to use.
Mr Murray engaged JCI Aberdeen to manage the process of shipping beds which were no longer required by hospitals across NHS Grampian.
JCI Aberdeen project manager Steven Wilson said: “There is a significant amount of money required to ship the 18 available beds, we have to hire a container and then there is the actual shipping costs as well as the hefty import duties in Ghana. We investigated how much it would be for the children’s hospital in Ghana to purchase beds themselves, however it was going to be almost three times what we are looking to raise so it makes sense to ship the beds we have available here.”
“JCI Aberdeen is delighted to be managing this project and we are extremely grateful to Aker Qserv and all sponsors and contributors so far for this very worthwhile cause. We still need more sponsors on board to enable us to ship these beds which will greatly increase the quality of care delivered at this particular hospital in Ghana.”
Aker Qserv’s international operations director David Bowman said: “Access to basic healthcare facilities is something which many of us take for granted however it is important that we don’t forget that many places around the world are not as fortunate. This project will help make a real difference to the lives of a great many people in Accra and we are delighted to be able to help.”
JCI Aberdeen hopes to send further items to the hospital. To get involved contact vicepresident@jciaberdeen.org.uk
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