RCGP Launches First International Appeal To Aid Global Health

Our parent organisation is launching its first international appeal in a bid to put family medicine at the heart of global health.

As part of its 60th anniversary celebrations, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has joined forces with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) to create 60 for 60.

Based on realising the goal of creating a ‘world where family medicine excellence is at the heart of healthcare’, the appeal aims to raise £60,000 to fund work in Africa's developing nations.

This is equivalent to just £1.30 from each of the RCGP’s 46,000 members and would make it possible to start the project which aims to establish a legacy to empower local health workers in sub-saharan countries to deliver and teach effective primary care in their own communities.

Specifically, 60 for 60 aims to improve maternal and child health mortality rates through the provision of sustainable, community-based health promotion and training -  with programmes run by embedded GPs - starting in Sierra Leone.

The ambition isSierra Leone is a country recovering from a brutal 10-year civil war and which has some of the worst health indicators in the world.

To make a small donation (of £10 or under), text RCGP60 and the amount £1, £2, £3, £5 or £10 (for example RCGP60 £10) to 70070 or make a donation via the 60 for 60 Just Giving page.

WaMH in PC has an interest in the College as we were established by its Welsh branch back in 2003 to act as a special interest working group to promote primary mental health care and improve mental health services across Wales.