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OTAL Services > Corporate Information > Press Releases OTAL moves charity
shipment to assist the blind in Sierra Leone
(07/03/05) OT Africa Line (OTAL) is to ship, free
of charge, a Land Rover from the UK to the West African country of
Sierra Leone. The vehicle, which has been donated
to the charity Sight Savers International, is to be shipped onboard
OTAL’s container
vessel, Rainbow, from Felixstowe. Sight Savers is the UK’s largest charity working to prevent and cure blindness and support people who are irreversibly blind in the developing world. This vehicle will be invaluable in Sierra Leone where Sight Savers is working with the government to rebuild health systems, which have been shattered by 10 years of horrific civil war. The Land Rover will enable Sight Savers’ staff to reach thousands of adults and children who are in danger from sight threatening diseases, such as onchocerciasis or river blindness which threatens the sight of entire communities who live near the Sierra Leone’s rivers. It may also be used to transport cataract patients to eye hospitals in order to have sight-restoring operations. According to OTAL’s marketing manager, Rachel Bennett, the line is delighted to assist: “With a recent estimate putting 1% of the population in Sierra Leone affected by blindness or visual impairment, it is essential that Sight Savers reach as many people as possible. This vehicle will be extremely important in helping them to carry out their often life transforming work. OTAL has chosen Sight Savers as one of the main beneficiaries of its support because of the excellent work undertaken by the organisation in West Africa.” “As OTAL has strong links with West Africa, home to some of the most vulnerable communities in the world. We therefore understand the significance of this shipment and how it will help in Sight Savers’ work to prevent and cure blindness to enable people who are blind and partially sighted to live independent lives within their communities.” Philip Hoare, Procurement Manager at Sight Savers, said: “Sierra Leone is a challenging country in which to provide eye care. Roads are poor and travel is difficult, many people do not know that their sight is in danger, while those who do are often unable to make the long journey to seek treatment. Having this Land Rover in Sierra Leone will help us to reach people in the greatest need and spread awareness in some of the most under-served areas in Sierra Leone. We are extremely grateful to OTAL for transporting this vehicle from the UK to Sierra Leone for us.” Once the shipment reaches Freetown, the Sight Savers country representative,
Dr Dennis Williams, together with the Sierra Leonean Minister of Health
and Sanitation, will meet the consignment for clearance and distribution.
The vehicle will help the charity ensure a sighted future for thousands
of people struggling to rebuild their lives. Notes to editors: OTAL operates a range of transport services complementing its regular liner operations. These include West African terminal operations and liner agency services, customs clearance, cargo consolidation, shipping and airfreight handling, storage and warehousing, project logistics and trucking. The company delivers cargo throughout West Africa including the inland destinations such as Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Chad, Mali and Niger. Issued by: |
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