Alieu says thank you
A deaf African boy has been given the gift of hearing thanks to the generosity of a Lanarkshire-based charity and just days after his operation he visited the Advertiser’s office to express his joy.
Mohammed Cham, also known as Alieu, was brought to Scotland by Project Gambia: People Feeding People to undergo a life-changing operation at University Hospital Monklands.
He popped into the Advertiser’s office this week to thank the paper and readers who have helped to highlight the charity’s great work.
He will now spend the next two months living in Lanarkshire before heading home to his parents in Serrekunda.
The young African boy who was born with no ears but has recently received the gift of hearing thanks to a Lanarkshire charity, paid a visit to the Advertiser this week.
Mohammed Cham, also known as Alieu, was brought to Scotland by Lanarkshire charity Project Gambia: People Feeding People to undergo a life-changing operation at University Hospital Monklands earlier this month.
And following the surgery, whereby NHS Lanarkshire surgeon Arunachalam Iyer and his team fitted Alieu with an Oticon bone hearing aid system, all indications are that the procedure has been a success.
Alieu has been delighted with the welcome and support he has received in Lanarkshire on his short-stay medical visa.
And the 13-year-old wanted to pop in to the Advertiser office to thank the newspaper for highlighting both his story and the work of Project Gambia at his school – St John’s School for the Deaf in Serrekunda, Gambia.
It was there that he first met the Project Gambia volunteers as they carried out their annual aid mission, delivering much-needed goods to the pupils and maintaining their school feeding programme which was started a few years ago.
Project Gambia co-founder Paul Lafferty, who is looking after Alieu at his Bellshill home during his stay, told the Advertiser: “It is a wonderful demonstration of the respect our volunteers have with the pupils, families and communities we work with that Alieu’s family had complete trust in our ability to look after him for the two months of his stay in Scotland.
“After his operation we have enjoyed letting him experience some Scottish culture and meet those who have supported his plight, including those at the Advertiser office where Alieu was keen to meet the team and thank them for their support.
“The continued coverage in the Advertiser ensures Project Gambia supporters are kept up to date with the work the charity undertakes, so thank you from us all.”
Project Gambia aid worker Sharon Lafferty added: “We have been planning Alieu’s visit to Scotland for months and ensured language, communication, logistical, diet, cultural and other issues were fully explored to make sure that Alieu felt comfortable and safe during his time with us. Alieu speaks with his mum and dad, his teachers and his school friends every day through Whatsapp and is enjoying touring Lanarkshire and Glasgow.”
Alieu admits to having enjoyed a marvellous time in Scotland so far and as well as receiving the gift of hearing last week the teenager was delighted to have been invited to watch Celtic’s Scottish Cup clash with St Johnstone at Celtic Park last Sunday.
As well as seeing the team ease into the next round with a 5-0 win, Alieu was invited on to the pitch to a standing ovation.
Paul added: “Wee Alieu has been Celtic-daft since being given a Celtic strip as a gift four years ago, and he was invited by the club to their directors’ box.
“An almighty fuss was made over him by the Celtic players, officials, directors and fans.
“His visit has certainly been a memorable one and we’d like to thank Celtic Football Club and everyone else who has been so kind and welcoming to Alieu.”