Clare links to Zambian clinic

THERE are strong Clare links to Neri Clinics, an Irish charity that is working to provide accessible primary healthcare to a HIV-ravaged community in Lusaka, Zambia.

Shannon’s Dr Ronan Flynn was one of the founding members of the charity, which began after visits by a number of young doctors to Zambia and consultation with the Mercy sisters, who work in the area.
According to Dr Flynn, another Clare man was instrumental in the groundwork to get Neri Clinics started.
“One of the first to go over was Barry Kelly from Lissycasey. He spent six weeks over there scouting around and making sure that what we were doing wasn’t duplicating other work. Barry actually came across a local politician who had built a clinic and wanted someone to come in to run it. That was where we came in.”
They serve the Linda compound, which is a bustling township with a population of between 35,000 and 40,000, who live in poorly-built dwellings with no sanitation and with water access at a very limited number of points in the compound. HIV infection rates are also very high, according to Dr Flynn.
“You’d be talking of an infection rate of around 16-20% of the population. That’s the official figure and it wouldn’t include people who are untested, so it’s possibly quite a bit higher.”
He said services for those affected is poor and disjointed.
“One of the big areas we work on is bringing HIV medication to the clinic. Transport is very poor and where the medication is available is 15 to 20 miles away. People can’t travel there often enough and it’s expensive. It results in increasing levels of resistance to the medication. If you don’t take 95% of it, you don’t get the benefit from it and resistance to it builds up.”
There is a huge level of child mortality in the area, he added. “Around 20% of children don’t live past their fifth birthday. There are huge problems with malnutrition and malaria and children also contract HIV from their parents.”
Since St Patrick’s Day 2009, 5,000 people have registered for treatment at the clinic. It now boasts a full-time doctor, nurse, physiotherapist and social worker, as well as a number of part-time volunteer staff. Shannon GP Micheal Flynn developed a specific computer programme for the clinic, while the opening ceremony was performed by Dr Kenneth Kaunda, the first president of Zambia.
HIV testing has been made much more accessible in the compound, while community-based physiotherapy has changed the lives of some severely disabled children.
In the future, goals include the development of more home-based care for those suffering from terminal illnesses and the provision of anti-retroviral medication. A medium-term goal is the establishment of a fully functioning HIV clinic.
The group’s bank account details are Neri Clinics, Bank of Ireland, Ballina, sort code 90-52-72, account number 10646251. Its website is www.nericlinics.com and donations can also be made through the site.