First Aid Africa

EDM number 824 in 2016-17, proposed by Patrick Grady on 16/12/2016.
Categorised under the topics of Africa, Charities and Health services.

That this House congratulates First Aid Africa on reaching its fifth anniversary as a registered charity in 2016, having been initially founded in 2008 as a student society at Heriot-Watt University; notes the Edinburgh-based charity provides sustainable medical equipment and teaching in first aid in partnership with communities in rural south eastern Africa where access to health care is expensive and limited; further notes the organisation is still largely staffed by student volunteers who are trained and supported by the charity as they prepare and fundraise alongside their studies throughout the academic year before spending four and a half weeks of their summer teaching basic first aid skills in schools, community groups and hospitals; further congratulates First Aid Africa on securing funding from sources such as the British Medical Association Humanitarian Fund, as well as having grown its presence across UK universities with affiliated societies established at the University of Edinburgh, Queen Margaret University and Napier University, alongside Heriot-Watt University in its home city, as well as such groups having been formed at Robert Gordon University, Stirling University, Birmingham City University, Brunel University and the University of Nottingham; notes the organisation's successful AGM and Awards Night 2016-17 on 3 December 2016 which provided a platform for planned continued success over the next five years; wishes all of First Aid Africa's staff and volunteers well as they implement their progressive agenda; commends those who have already volunteered their skills to help those in great need; and encourages students who have not yet done so to make a real difference by participating in the charity's inspiring programme.

This motion has been signed by a total of 29 MPs.