“I’ve never done anything like this before, not even close,” said Abby Van Camp, a professional nurse with 13 years experience, who works on the medical/surgical floor of Kemptville District Hospital.
“But I have always wanted to have this opportunity to serve, and there is a lot of comfort in going to Africa with people I know and work with at the Kemptville Hospital. Two doctors from Kemptville are also going.”
Abby Van Camp is currently in the process of raising $5,600, the cost of a journey on September 27, 2016, to the African nation of Tanzania. She will spend two weeks living and working in a mobile medical clinic based in the town of Shariti.
She was speaking at a fundraising dinner and silent auction held at the Cardinal Legion on her behalf on Sunday, June 26.
Van Camp will be travelling with CACHA, the Canada Africa Community Health Alliance, a volunteer-based Canadian registered charity with activities in Benin, Gabon, Tanzania and Uganda.
CACHA organizes at least 10 medical missions yearly to remote African regions which involve the deployment of a team of 12-25 medical and logistics personnel who then work with local medical groups to provide life-saving primary care in under-serviced rural communities.
President of the Iroquois-Matilda Lions, Steve Law, and vice president Jim Mustard came to the special fundraising barbecue at the Cardinal Legion in order to present Van Camp with a $500 cheque.
“Abby personally came to Iroquois to my business, and left me an information letter about her project,” Mustard said. “I took it to our Lions club.”
The Lions have a commitment that 10 per cent of their proceeds go to International Funds.
“Abby’s mission to Africa really fit our criteria,” Mustard explained. “We like to support someone who is actively raising funds and is travelling to help at her own expense.”
Abby learned of CACHA’s mission through her work place.
“A group of our doctors and nurses went with the CACHA team last year, and they set up arrangements for this year.”
Abby must raise all the funds for this trip herself. She has also saved all of her personal holidays to devote to the two week mission.
The Cardinal resident will carry the very minimum of personal gear with her. Instead her luggage will be full of medical supplies and medications, all of which are deeply needed by health care workers in Africa.
Once in Tanzania, Abby’s Canadian team will work alongside native nursing personnel, many trained by CACHA, who will also act as translators for the visitors.
The Tanzanian government is not involved in any way with the medical missions save for issuing visas.
This African journey is very important to Abby Van Camp.
“There will be a lot of education involved,” she said. “The simplest things, like boiling water before drinking it, can prevent illness. Basic education in health is vital. But we will also see cases of malaria, parasites and HIV among the people.
E-bola still exists, and it is still an issue where we are going. But you know the risks going into this. I am prepared.”
She has had some specific immunizations for the journey, and mosquito netting is a must everywhere.
Her parents, her sister and her aunts have all been very supportive of her decision to go on the medical mission. They worked hard to plan the Cardinal fund raiser.
“My mom (Louann) is great,” Abby said, smiling, “but she has been worried since I told her my decision. However she’s supportive just the same. And I plan to keep in touch the entire time I am away. So there will be some peace of mind for my family.”
Van Camp has been delighted and humbled by the community and business support she has received since she signed on with CACHA.
“The support has just been amazing. I am so grateful to the Iroquois Lions for their help and to Strader-Ferrous International which also donated $500. The generosity of people everywhere, well it’s just been overwhelming,” she said. “I am very close to raising my goal. And it is so important to me to do this.”
Abby Van Camp’s profile is currently on line at the CACHA website, www.cacha.ca. where donations can be securely made. Those who would like to help her medical mission to Tanzania can also phone 613-234-9992.
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