The humanitarian reach of the San Diego Rotary Club extended to the impoverished African country of Uganda with a successful effort to raise $300,000 for a new hospital.
The club, which is the fourth largest in the world, spearheaded the fundraising effort for the Teresa Ayiko Memorial Hospital through its International Foundation & Microcredit Committee.
“Rotary has brought so many committed and caring individuals together to put a sacred purpose into reality,” said Walter Lam, a board member of the club who was raised in Uganda and is the son of the hospital’s namesake. “The hospital in Uganda is a dream come true.”
Ten Rotary District 5340 clubs also contributed to the project as well as clubs in England and Uganda. Individual contributors also accounted for more than $90,000 of the funds raised.
The money will be used to purchase medical equipment for the hospital in Atiak, Uganda. The facility will provide services for a population of 100,000 people.
Uganda has one of the highest rates of maternal and neonatal deaths in Sub-Sahara Africa. The area has also been affected by Ebola and other tropical diseases including sleeping sickness.
