In June of last year at the National Delegates Conference, I signed a petition and chatted with a young lady on the OXFAM stand. The petition was to be handed to the government and was asking for support in sending teachers and healthcare staff to developing countries. During the conversation, I told the OXFAM representative about our work in Chad and she asked me for my contact details which I gave her. In September I received call from Craig Owen at the Cardiff OXFAM office asking for information about our initiative and some contact details for them to use in spreading the word about the petition. I spoke to him on several occasions and then as far as I was concerned, that was that. On Friday 30th March, I had a call from Craig asking whether I would be the lone Welsh representative in the delegation to hand the petition to Hilary Benn at Number 10, Downing Street! After a pause of a fraction of a second to consider the request, of course I agreed! ...



... I arrived at OXFAM’S London HQ at 10.45am. Claire Seaward gave us the programme for the day and much to our disappointment, we were informed that we would not be able to go inside number 10, Downing Street to meet Hilary Benn, but would be meeting him at DFID (Department for International Development) and then going to Downing Street for a photo opportunity. Ironically, Tony Blair was in Cardiff speaking about a statue of Jim Callaghan being erected in the city as I was in Downing Street!

As we sat together, enjoying coffee and pastries, all the people who had worked in developing countries were introducing themselves and giving a ...

brief summary their experiences. These ranged from spending years in countries such as Guatemala and Botswana, to my two visits to Chad which amounted to less than a month, short by their standards. However, there was recognition that the extra-ordinary success of our charity in saving the lives of more than 1,100 women and their babies was amazing and deserved recognition. My additional comment was that this success had been relatively easy, just by sourcing and shipping the Magnesium Sulphate and antibiotics. At 12.20pm the whole party walked the short distance to DFID and following the expected security procedures, we were shown to Hilary Benn’s office. The Secretary of State was waiting outside his office and shook each person’s hand as they gave their ...

... names and the reasons why they were there. When my turn came, I mentioned that I had met him at the TUC Conference in Brighton in 2005, at a lunchtime seminar on Making Poverty History where I had told him about my imminent visit to Chad. As soon as I mentioned Chad, his expression changed to one of remembering the conversation and he said “Indeed you did.. how did it go?” I replied that I had been twice and that 1,100 women have been successfully treated with the drugs we have sent. On reflection I think that he remembered because not many people go to Chad! I added that I had brought some reports and photographs to leave with him, which he seemed very pleased to accept...



... The discussions were very productive, with issues such as maintaining the presence of medical staff in the poorest regions of the world, where staff try to provide a service against all the odds. One doctor stated that he been the only medical person serving a population of 90,000 for 3yrs and had to leave the area without another doctor to take his place. A Specialist Mother & Child HIV/AIDS Nurse informed the Secretary of State that she was actually leaving the UK to live in South Africa. This was because her NHS employer was not fully supporting her role in a situation where the number of affected women and children was rising steadily. My question was about medical and nursing staff having to take annual leave or unpaid leave in order to undertake these much needed roles. I suggested that staff, of which there were many, could access a fund, or rather their employers could access a funding stream which would reimburse them in order to backfill the post. He referred to a report written by Lord Nigel Crisp which was accessible via the DFID website. (I have accessed this document since my return and will read it in the coming days and weeks.) This 180 page document is entitled “GLOBAL HEALTH PARTNERSHIPS; The UK contribution to health in developing countries.” Everyone was mindful that issues such as these would be discussed at the G8 summit which was due to be held in Germany in June. The Secretary of State reminded everyone that whilst more money was needed for overseas development, the UK was one of the highest contributors from amongst the rich nations, ahead of the USA and many of the European countries...


... The meeting ended at 13.20hrs and we then made our way to Downing Street where the police had been given prior notice of our arrival. The inevitable security checks preceded our use of the famous address for individual and group photographs and we then handed in the “Prescription” as prepared by OXFAM for supporting developing countries by assisting in providing health professionals and teachers.

We made our way back to OXFAM HQ for lunch and to evaluate the occasion; the general view being that the Secretary of State was clearly very interested in what was being achieved, was very aware of the issues and was quick to respond with statistics such as the many thousands of children who remain HIV–ve due to the improved distribution of Anti-Retro viral Drugs and the additional 20million children worldwide who are now attending school, having previously been denied the opportunity. Sadly 80million children are still unable to access schooling, but progress is being made and needs to be sustained. The point was well made, that in order to have a school, one does not necessarily need a building. However a school cannot function without a teacher!

By 3pm, representatives began leaving in ones and twos, all in agreement that the experience had been well worth some of the long journeys which had been undertaken. Claire expressed her thanks to everyone for making the day such a success and she was thanked for giving us the opportunity to tell our stories to the Secretary of State.

As we left, I admitted to my new found colleagues that in comparison with their many years of working in developing countries and given my short experiences in Chad, I felt like a novice. Nevertheless, they were very impressed with what had already been achieved through our charity.

ANGELA GORMAN 12TH APRIL 2007