The Mothers Union Diocese of Guyana on Tuesday launched the Mothers Union Medical Assistance Fund at its annual general meeting (AGM) held at the Hotel Tower.
President of the Mothers Union Diocese of Guyana Sheran Harper said the Mothers’ Union was prompted to launch the fund when the 12-year-old daughter of a member was diagnosed with a tumour that destroyed her sight. She suffered severely because her parents had to wait months before they could have accumulated the sum needed for her surgeries.
Another prompt came when the Mothers Union heard the story of the Mocha woman who lost both her hands in a domestic dispute and could not afford to have her damaged prostheses replaced, Harper said.
Although the Mothers Union would usually contribute for medical funding, the need for a special fund was seen as necessary to help those in need.
Harper said she raised the idea at executive meetings and it was met with great approval and as such, the launching was planned and executed.
Harper opened donations to the fund with $20,000 on behalf of herself and family, this was followed by donations from individuals and two companies and a number of pledges. P & P Insurance Brokerage and Consultants donated $50,000; Clarence Griffith of Griffith’s Con-struction donated $22,000 in memory of his wife who used to be an active member of the Mothers Union. The Greater Georgetown Mothers Union donated $10,000 and an anonymous donation of another $10,000 was made. Many individuals also made private donations of undisclosed amounts. A total of $221,000 was finally received by Treasurer of the Guyana Diocese Sheila George and Rev George Spencer of the All Saints Church New Amsterdam.
This initiative is the latest by the Mothers Union, which conducts a number of programmes in the pursuit of empowerment and societal betterment.
These include two daycare centres – one at Lance Gibbs and Oronoque streets and the other at Robb Street, Bourda – which cater to children of low income and single parent homes. There are also several outreach programmes, which include HIV awareness and counselling skills workshops; women and young people benefit from advantageous programmes in craft, cookery, fabric decoration, and computer technology among others.
Several branches of the organisation are also involved in school feeding, literacy and parenting programmes. Harper has noted that there are about 72 facilitators in the parenting programme including the hinterland areas who help to foster good family relationships in their communities.
Acknowledging that times are hard, Harper said whatever little individuals or organisations have can be donated to the fund at its 144 Oronoque Street, Queenstown office in cash or cheque. She said the fund would be managed by the Mothers Union committee and assured the public that it would be used for the stated purpose.
More than 100 delegates were present at the launching and AGM.
