This funding will provide over 40,000 people across Malawi with access to palliative care at home, offering comfort and support to them and their families during difficult times.
On the eve of his visit to Glasgow for the first ‘DFID Direct’ roadshow event, Mr Swayne said: “The people of Scotland should be immensely proud of their contribution to helping some of the poorest people across the world, from Malawi to Mozambique.
“I want DFID to continue to support this crucial work, which is why we have upped our commitment to help these charities reach even more people in need.”
Attending alongside Desmond Swayne will be Scotland Office Minister, David Mundell. Speaking ahead of the event, Mr Mundell said: “The UK is the second largest aid donor in the world and UK Aid funding schemes combine this substantial resource with grassroots knowledge, local contacts and the specialist expertise of some outstanding organisations in Scottish Civil Society.”
International Development Secretary Justine Greening said: “In countries where there are few or no palliative care services available it is often left up to female family members to look after ill relatives. This limits chances for girls and women to complete their education or find a job and creates a cycle of poverty that is difficult to escape.
“By matching pound for pound all public donations to EMMS’ ‘Sunday’s Child’ appeal, we can train health workers in Malawi to provide support for more than 40,000 people, many in need of around the clock care. That means relatives can return to school or to work and ultimately have a better future.”
The Secretary of State for Scotland, Alistair Carmichael, said: “The people of Scotland can be immensely proud of the commitment we have to help people in the developing world, and of the outstanding efforts of our world leading charities.
“Through the UK Aid Match programme with EMMS International we can go a long way to help those most in need. In sub-Saharan Africa – and Malawi in particular – we have strong historic links so I am sure that Scots across the country will be pleased that for every pound they give it will be doubled.”
The Sunday’s Child appeal closed on 31 January. EMMS are currently calculating the total amount raised and will release these figures shortly.
Read more about this appeal and other work by EMMS on the organisation’s website.
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