Deaf boy will hear for the first time
Lanarkshire charity Project Gambia: People Feeding People have been successful in their bid to bring a deaf African school boy to Scotland for life-changing surgery.
The team learned last week that a visa application has been accepted for young Muhammed Cham, known as Alieu.
And he will now travel to Lanarkshire for receive treatment that will enable him to hear for the first time in his life.
Alieu is a pupil at St John’s School for the Deaf, in the Serrekunda region of the African nation, and first met the Project Gambia team last year while they were they were there on an aid mission.
The volunteers were touched by the fact that Alieu had been born with no ears.
And with the help of Arunachalam Perumkulam Iyer and his team at University Hospital Monklands, he arrives next Saturday to get the gift of hearing.
Project Gambia co-founder Frank Devine said: “We are delighted to announce that the visa has been accepted for Muhammed to come to Scotland to receive lifechanging medical treatment.
“Project Gambia co-founder Paul Lafferty flew out to The Gambia on Saturday to return to Scotland this weekend coming with Alieu.
“Arrangements will then be made for the operation to take place at University Hospital Monklands in Airdrie. This will take place after Arunachalam Perumkulam Iyer and his medical team have finished their shifts, so that it won’t affect the patient care of any UK citizens.
“Thank you to everyone who has helped make this impossible venture possible, including Alasan Camara, our volunteer in the Gambia. Also to Sharon Wardle, the High Commissioner to the Gambia, and her deputy, Gregor Gorman, for their support of the visa application.
“Thank you also to Andrew Coleman and his associates at Latta Law for their support and guidance with the application. We’d also like to give a special thank you to all of our fantastic supporters and volunteers, who have been supporting and praying for us every step of the way and have made this dream come true.”