That the Parliament welcomes news that Rendall FC player, Callum Murdoch, is leading a community appeal in Orkney, which is asking islanders to donate their old football kits to be sent to Malawi; understands that the project has been undertaken in partnership with University of Glasgow scientist, Walt Adamson, who has done extensive work in Malawi and is aiming to increase testing drives for sleeping sickness, an illness which is treatable but can be fatal if it goes undiagnosed; notes that diagnosis of the illness is often hampered by logistics, misinformation and mistrust of scientific and healthcare workers and understands that the aim is to improve this relationship through innovative community-based methods; understands that Malawian colleagues have identified football, which is the most popular sport in the country, as the most effective way to encourage community participation; considers, therefore, that the donation of Orkney team kits to village teams in Malawi will, in turn, help forge relationships between communities and provide opportunities to increase the level of disease testing; celebrates the news that events of this kind have already drawn crowds of over 1,000, and congratulates all involved for their efforts to improve the accessibility of vital, lifesaving healthcare services in Malawi, as well as to create meaningful connections through community sporting events.
Supported by:
Karen Adam, Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Sarah Boyack, Miles Briggs, Annabelle Ewing, Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Douglas Lumsden, Fulton MacGregor, Ruth Maguire, Stuart McMillan, Emma Roddick, Douglas Ross, Alex Rowley, Kevin Stewart, Paul Sweeney, David Torrance, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Brian Whittle