Michael Commane
Concern Worldwide’s CEO Dominic MacSorley gave a talk in Tralee on Thursday evening.
Readers who are familiar with Concern will know that its origins began over 40 years ago when it was a volunteer-based organisation. Nurses, doctors, plumbers, teachers and engineers volunteered to work for periods of time in places such as Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Sudan.
The volunteer aspect of the agency has changed and today Concern employs over 3,000 people worldwide. Its work is still exactly the same – supporting and helping the poorest of the poor.
Dominic MacSorley was in Tralee to say thank you to people in Kerry who help with their time and money.
In the past the people who attended these meetings were those who had volunteered to work for Concern in poverty stricken countries. Today the meetings are arranged to keep Concern supporters informed of what the agency is doing. Without the generosity of the Irish public Concern could not do the work it is doing.
Some people when they heard that Dominic was just back from Sierra Leone and Liberia they expressed a certain worry about coming along to the meeting. One man said that he would not be attending because he was afraid he might pick up the dreaded Ebola.
My first reaction was one of annoyance and I pointed out that Ebola can only be transmitted by touch and the exchange of bodily fluids. But thinking about it, it is such a health hazard, I can understand why someone would be scared to be anywhere near anyone who has been at the epicentre of this horrific health issue.
But it’s also important to be aware of the facts and know exactly how the virus is transmitted. Wrong information and myths can do terrible harm.
It so happens the Tralee meeting was well attended.
Dominic spoke about issues surrounding Ebola. He stressed the safety and security precautions that have been taken for Concern staff in Sierra Leone and Liberia. He stressed that it is safe to visit the countries.
“You can’t build a wall around west Africa. We have very strict protocols in place. You must never touch anyone and it is essential to keep washing your hands. People are now accepting this. This is a big cultural shift.
“Seventy eight per cent of those who have died from Ebola have had direct contact with the bodies of people who have died from Ebola. It’s mostly women who do this work so more women are dying from the disease," Dominic said.
The United States is building 27 treatment centres in Liberia and these will be in operation by November.
He referred to how charities have been in the limelight in recent months and for all the wrong reasons. But he added that Concern has been at the vanguard in pushing for transparency and good practice in the sector.
Dominic, who has been working with Concern for 32 years was appointed CEO in May 2013. He has worked in 16 of the poorest countries on earth.
He knows what it’s like for people who live lives of horror and deprivation. But he also knows how the generosity of Irish people is making real inroads into alleviating their plight.
Last week students from Largy College in Clones, who won this year’s Concern national debate competition, spoke about their visit to Concern programmes in Bangladesh at a venue in Dublin.
They saw first-hand what Concern is doing. They are now ambassadors to other young people on the importance of this work.
Seeing is believing.
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