WINCHESTER Rotary has recently given almost £3,000 to support the vital work of local doctors working in South Sudan.

Their work is supported by The Brickworks charity, also based in Winchester, all of whose receipts go directly to provide relief in South Sudan.

Winchester Rotary became aware of a desperate need for a new mobile ultrasound scanner to support ante-natal examinations in the region around Yei.

South Sudan has the highest mortality rate of pregnant mothers in the world and the scanner is vital to save lives.

Rotary therefore provided the funds for The Brickworks to purchase the scanner in Uganda – which was then immediately airfreighted to Yei, where it was welcomed with delight by local clinical staff working at the Martha Clinic.

Barry Lipscomb, chairman of Winchester Rotary’s International Committee said: "Rotary is dedicated to improving lives and works hard to do just that through assessing need and responding quickly, ideally through local partners to ensure that aid is received quickly and in full.

"In the past year, we have made grants of varying sizes in six countries across three continents; every penny is directly targeted at improving lives. We are delighted to have found a partner in The Brickworks charity and a highly valued link with our own local clinicians seconded from the Royal Hampshire County Hospital."

Poppy and John Spens, founders of The Brickworks, said: "We would like to thank Rotary for responding so quickly to this urgent need that will save lives. The ultrasound arrived in time for a visiting Winchester doctor who was in Yei at the time to train the local clinicians to use it effectively. We are so grateful."

Vice Admiral Michael Gretton, chairman of the RHCH-Yei Link, thanked Winchester Rotary "for their generosity, which will without a doubt make a difference in Yei".