A charity set up in memory of a young OJ and Army Doctor is helping to improve healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa as well as providing bursaries for St John’s pupils volunteering in Africa.
Alex Coutselos (Surrey, 2001) became an Army medic and Paratrooper whilst studying medicine at Nottingham university but died suddenly in 2006, aged 23. Alex had worked extensively in Africa and his love of the continent and passion for humanitarian work inspired his mother, Ruth Markus, to set up The AMECA Trust after his death.
Ruth and AMECA’s trustees have just returned from the official opening of the new hospital wing the charity has funded at The Beit CURE International Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi. The AMECA Wing is a two-storey building comprising a private day surgical ward, training facilities and a café, which will hopefully produce additional income. The revenue from these facilities will help to fund free orthopaedic treatment for the children of Malawi and also contribute to the Malawian National Club Foot Programme.
AMECA was the School Charity in 2008/9 and maintains very strong links with St John’s. Each year the Charity awards two travel bursaries of £500 each to U6 pupils who wish to undertake volunteer projects in Africa. Many pupils are actively involved in fundraising for the AMECA trust. This summer L6 pupil Hugo Gayle is undertaking a triathlon to raise money for AMECA’s next project – the building of a rural clinic in Malawi for the delivery of primary healthcare and education, and to further support training of African healthcare professionals.
 Ruth Markus said: “The AMECA Trust is naturally very proud of the successful completion of its first totally sustainable build project. Within days of opening, The AMECA Wing was being used for elective surgical cases and the charity looks forward to receiving news of the numbers of children who will benefit from free treatment in Malawi as a result of this income-producing venture. The charity is especially proud to have employed the services of so many local people in Malawi and to have completed this project on time and within budget. AMECA is deeply grateful to all those, who donated so generously; the build project was funded in its entirety from domestic and community fundraising.” Donations to AMECA to continue and expand the work inspired by Alex Coutselos are gratefully received and can be made here. |
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