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Recently our Chief Executive, Carolyn Miller, visited Merlin projects in the Central African Republic, one of the poorest countries in the world.
Here are her impressions of the tremendous difference Merlin – with your support – is making
I have just returned from my trip to the Central African Republic (CAR) and wanted to
take a moment to share my thoughts about it with you.
It was a very eventful week – I found myself painting a remote clinic in the south; dancing along to songs that were part of a sexual
violence education session; and cheering on the Merlin football team. I heard many distressing stories about the violence inflicted on the population by the Lord’s Resistance
Army and we drove through many villages left abandoned as people fled in fear. What struck me most, however, was the tremendous enthusiasm and dedication of the
Merlin teams delivering vital health care in CAR. Despite the challenges of working with a moving, displaced population and refugees from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, security threats and difficulties in communication, the team there worked tirelessly to provide nothing less than the best health and nutrition services to people in need.
I met with the Minister of Health last Friday, and he voiced my opinion exactly – if only there were more skilled health workers in the CAR, we could do a tremendous amount to meet the great need for health care in that troubled country.
