Gertler Family Foundation Helps Renovate St-Raymond Health Center

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo, December 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

The Gertler Family Foundation is pleased to announce that following a donation, the St Raymond Health Center has been completely renovated and re-opened. The newly renovated health center is going to benefit the population of the rural district of N'Sele with a new care facility, an experienced doctor and free literacy programs.

Following a contribution of over $100,000 the center has undergone substantial renovation and extension works. The facility, a vital resource in a rural district with limited healthcare provision, now includes a new maternity ward, new medical equipment, a new laboratory, a new kitchen, new sanitary facility, an open garden, a fenced yard in addition to general upkeep work. Furthermore, it is going to benefit from a medical doctor, Dr. Francoise Sunday, who will not only provide consultations and proper care, but will also manage the facility to elevate its level. Working with the International Organization, Alfalit DRC (http://www.alfalit.org) and under the coordination of Mr. Bill Murff, the center will also house literacy programs designated to help the populations of Nganda Yala and surrounding areas in the N'Sele district who have limited access to education.

St. Raymond's staff of five treats several hundred patients each week. The clinic, which has no dedicated monthly or annual source of funding, also feeds and provides shelter for malnourished and abandoned children and conducts nutritional-feeding training courses.

The GFF started funding project St-Raymond in April 2012, when contacted by Soeur Angele Verstraete who was seeking assistance for the malnourished children of the center. GFF made a significant donation, providing them with a vehicle for the patients of the center, a new paillotte, electrical cables, medication and food. GFF has continued supporting St-Raymond with a yearly donation of medicines and food.  

"St. Raymond is saving lives and our partnership with them over the years has increased their ability to care for more people," said Mr. Pieter Deboutte, President of the GFF. "They are on the front lines serving a very poor and vulnerable population, who rely on the clinic for so much. This expansion will further help their efforts to meet health care demands in the area."

In addition to benefiting from a grant by the GFF, St. Raymond has also received great help from the students of OLVP School of Bornem in Belgium, through a Facebook project. The extra funding has enabled the acquiring of medications and food for the malnourished children of the center. The entire construction project began in June 2014 and is ready to be reopened.

Mr. Dan Gertler is a co-founder of GFF and Senior Advisor of the Fleurette Group. One of the DRC's leading foundations, the GFF is committed to helping meet the needs of vulnerable Congolese. Since its inception in 2004, the GFF has invested tens of millions of dollars in health, education, agriculture, emergency relief, infrastructure, culture and other projects across the DRC thanks to the Fleurette Group support and finance.

Visit http://www.gertlerfamilyfoundation.org to learn more about GFF.  Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and watch us on YouTube.