Dr Oliver Penney (8.72-76) and his wife Rachel have dedicated their lives to medicine and to improving the life outcomes of their patients. Oliver spent his medical career working as a GP in Herefordshire and upon retiring, volunteered to work in a remote 250 bed hospital – Kagando Hospital – in Uganda.
He is currently a Trustee of the charity Friends of Kagando, which aims to support the Hospital by raising funds, sending equipment and encouraging the medical team there through correspondence and visits. The charity is on a fundraising drive to raise £31,500 to install a new Xray machine at this rural hospital.
Oliver says: “One thing I owe to Malvern College is that it opened my eyes to ideas of travel and adventure. Kagando Hospital is in a very poor area, lacking many of the facilities we are used to in the West. Diseases like Typhoid, TB, and HIV are rare in the UK but are commonplace there. The patients are incredibly accepting of hardship but very welcoming of visitors. To go there is a fascinating experience.”
The charity is currently fundraising to buy and install a new Xray machine. The current machine is very old and keeps breaking down making life very difficult for the Doctors. “Imagine trying to put a drain into the chest without even an Xray to guide you” continues Oliver. The friends are hoping to raise another £31,500 to reach their target of £80,000.
If anyone is able to contribute to the cost of this essential piece of equipment you can do so via the Friends of Kagando website: www.friendsofkagando.co.uk or feel free to reach out to Oliver at [email protected].