Click it.

http://www.maryseacole.com/maryseacole/pages/mary_main.html

 

So, who is Mary Seacole? (See Health Awareness Day post)

     Mary Secole: INTERNATIONAL NURSE ENTREPRENUR

             A woman of determination, discipline, character, courage and caring.  

Born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1805, Seacole dedicated her entire life to attending to others. Caring, entrepreneurship and adventure was in her blood. In 1850, at 45 years old, Mary, travelled to a gold prospecting town in Panama to visit her brother and cared single-handedly with a cholera epidemic when the American doctor fled from the scene. In 1853, she returned to Jamaica to care for victims of a yellow fever epidemic and was invited to supervise nursing services at Up-Park Camp, in Kingston. Also In 1853  war broke out in the Crimea. She knew many of the soldiers who had been posted to the Crimea and felt that she had obligation to go and provide care.

 



Mary Seacole. 1805 - 1881



Mary, arrived in England in October 1854 and repeatedly offered her services to those responsible for recruiting nurses to join Florence Nightingale who was based in Scutari. Although rejected on several occasions.  It had been widely reported that the soldiers whom she knew so well, were living and dying in harsh conditions. Mary was determined to make her contribution.

 

In spite of such discrimination and prejudice, in 1855, she raised the funds to pay her passage to the Crimea and set up the British Hotel. This provided soldiers with accommodation, food, provisions and most importantly, nursing care on the frontline of the battlefield, the first woman to enter sebastopol. The Times newspaper published several letters from well wishers and           explained her plight to the British people.

The first Gala was held in her honour, between 27 and 30th July 1857 at the Royal Surrey Gardens, on the banks of the River Thames in London.  Over 80,000 people attend. Mary was swindled by the owners and receive very little of the funds, however, she never lost her dignity and that year published her celebrated autobiography " Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands".

 

Mary Seacole died in London on the 14th May 1881, after a short illness and was buried in St Mary's Catholic cemetery, Harrow Road, Kensal Green, London NW10. Mary Seacole had received 'English, French, Russian and Turkish decorations'.

See the Health Awareness Day post.

RAFFA abroad...

Diaspora NGOS Develop Global Partnership for Health Improvement

                                                   In JAMAICA

Blood Bank Equipment Donation

RAFFA and Blood for Life Foundation established an MOU to collaborate within the UK, Africa and the Caribbean to enhance the Health & Wellbeing of all communities. To work together to reduce inequalities and share knowledge, skills and experience across institutions, cultures, sectors and continents.

Blood Bank Equipment Donation

Rudi Page, CEO, RAFFA visited the “Blood Bank”, Slipe End Rd, Kingston, Jamaica to see how donated medical equipment valued at JA $2 Million is being used to benefit thousands of people in Jamaica.  

The successful completion of the project involved collaboration with a wide range of individuals and agencies including HE  Anthony Johnson, Former Jamaican High Commissioner to the UK, Celia Barnes, Fmr. Resource mobilization co-ordinator, Ministry of Health, Denise McFarlane, Nurse and  Dr. Jennifer Thame, Fmr. Acting Director, National Laboratory Service and Dr Lundie Richards, Director, National Public Health laboratory and Althea German-Levy, Supervisor & Medical Technologist

Mobile Blood Transfusion Unit

To enhance the Health & Wellbeing Partnership, National Blood Transfusion serviceshas been included in the RAFFA Health Legacy for Jamaica 50^th Anniversary programme. Dr Angela Scott, Director, National Laboratory Service, requested a “Mobile Blood Transfusion Unit”, that will cater for all stages on the operation”.

Food, Nutrition & Healthier Lives

RAFFA also agreed to extend the relationship to Professional collaboration and workforce development and Patent & Public Involvement through the forthcoming Food, Nutrition and Healthier Lives study that will be conducted in co-operation with Dr Heather Little-White, Food, Nutrition & Lifestyle Consultant. The study intends to evaluate the environmental factors and health impact on people living with multiple long term conditions in England compared with those who have returned to Jamaica ( Cancer, Diabetes and Vascular Diseases).

More info: http://www.raffa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/raffamedical_equipment_doc.pdf

Six Love?

Get your domino game on... Oh, you have no game? Learn how to play and improve your skills!

The inaugural “Family Domino Charity Funday” in association with Lambeth Enterprise will take place in Brixton on Saturday 21^st April 2012, featuring  mixed doubles, maestro, youth champions and “Learn how to play and improve your game” sessions. 

Funds will be donated to RAFFA Windrush International Development Scholarship Scheme.

For more information:

admin@raffa.org.uk ( National and International ) or devon.thomas@btinternet.com ( Brixton )

Come one, come all. IT'S DOMINO TIME!

Our Inspired Fatherhood Pastor has been agreed

Pastor Gladstone Revers, from Edmonton's COGOP, has agreed to be the "Pastor Father" for Inspired Fatherhood. 

He will also be a designated Community Chaplain for COGOP Neighbourhood Mission 2012.


Stay blessed.

UPCOMING EVENTS...

4 months to go
tbc/03/2012
Birmingham Inspired and Passing the Baton
Birmingham
WEST MIDLANDS

3 months to go
14/04/2012
Passing the Baton Social Action Day
COGOP Nechells Outreach Centre Birmingham
WEST MIDLANDS

Passing the Baton and Smoothe Mixx

 Applying creativity and Music to the Message

RAFFA are delighted to announce a sponsorship deal with Smoothe Mixx, a division of JUST COOL Intelligent Design Co, a leading-edge audio media company which produces audio technologies for improving personal development and business performance.

Smoothe Mixx has transformed the Passing the Baton Festival: inspiring peaceful, caring & enterprising neighbourhoods message into a cool mix.