inspiring woman
a country where antibiotics are few and far between, infection takes hold, and death follows.’ With grim determination, Charlotte started treatment where she could and realised there was also a massive need for a prosthetic department to provide artificial limbs. She started training local technicians in correct techniques and as her time and supplies rapidly ran out, Charlotte promised to return and help the mothers, children and staff at the hospital. But she received sad smiles and was told that they had heard the same promises before, but none were kept. A tearful flight home elicited the vow to honour her heartfelt pledges. Since then she has done everything in her power to keep her word. She set up the Infant Club Foot Appeal started with money raised by the Ashtead Rotary Club and funded by many of the families of patients she’s treated in the UK. She has continued to visit three times a year loaded with equipment and has set up a further clinic on neighbouring Pemba island. Charlotte has been vigilant in introducing medical protocols ‘that rival those at the Chelsea & Westminster hospital’ and has set up local supply chains from mainland Tanzania direct to the island hospitals.
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Sitting by her computer she illustrates success stories with heart-warming pictures of children such as Shariff (pictured) who, following two years of treatment, looks forward to starting primary school. But, just as often there are photos of beautiful babies cradled in her arms accompanied by the words, ‘they didn’t make it’. Both of us fight back the tears. Sadly there are about 50 babies a month born with club foot on the island and the problem is not going away. ‘The people of Zanzibar are incredibly poor but also incredibly patriotic, they don’t want to leave their island even if they could and you’ve got a gene that is rife in the local population. It’s just like gene-pool soup going round and round on the island.’
To get involved with your own fundraising opportunities please go to infantclubfootappeal.org £20 is enough to treat one child.
Leaving the cottage, I marvel at Dr Charlotte’s determination and human kindness. She continues to pour money and time into the charity to the point where it must feel like a one-woman crusade. Everything’s been said about the Surrey ‘bubble’, but Charlotte’s remarkable work in the islands of Tanzania is a stark reminder of our charmed existence and how extremely fortunate we are. Maybe it’s time we help.
darlingmagazine.co.uk | summer 2018
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