[The following article appeared in BARRICK NEWS - Special Edition - December 2001. Barrick is the name of the corporation that owns a gold mine called Bulyanhulu, near the northern community of Mwanza in Tanzania, Africa. David Leriche, mentioned in the story, is the son of Viola Leriche. Viola is a member of our choir at St. Andrews Church.]
Photo of Pagi Michael of Bulyanhulu
This is a story of kindness, caring and generosity at Bulyanhulu Mine. Every day the doctors at the site's medical clinic see patients from the surrounding communities. Several months ago, a 9-year old girl named Pagi Michael was brought in by her father. She was in grave condition, very weak, not able to eat and coughing continuously.
The clinic's Dr. Elly Mosha examined Pagi and determined that she needed a chest X-ray.
Pagi's Chest X-Ray
"We were overwhelmed with shock when we say the results," Dr. Mosha says. The X-ray had revealed two large sewing needles stuck inside Pagi's chest (See photo above - The red arrows show the location of the needles which are light in the x-ray.). Apparently a traditional tribal doctor had prescribed swallowing the needles as part of a cure for the coughing. Pagi would require a CT scan and surgery in Dar es Salaam to remove the needles and the cost was more than they could afford. Next to enter this story is David LeRiche, from the Maintenance department at Bulyanhulu. Dr. Mosha told him the situation and he swung into action.
LeRiche, Norman Haslam, mechanic, and other colleagues set up a donation box at the mine site with a picture of Pagi and her story. They soon had the funds to sponsor the operation, and Barrrick's Kathama Mining Co. Ltd. flew Pagi, her father, and Dr. Mosha to Dar es Salaam where Pagi underwent two surgical procedures. She recovered quickly and returned home in mid-October. Pagi is now a totally different child, Dr. Mosah reports. "She is able to eat, take care of her daily duties and run around with her friends."
A group of Mine employees, led by LeRiche and Haslam, continues to support Pagi and her family, donating funds to pay for her education and to help build a new house for her family closer to the mine site and the school. Dr. Mosha is very grateful for the help from the mine and its employees that drastically improved Pagi's life and secured a right future for her. "Is thank Kahama for giving me the opportunity to make a difference in this little girl's life, and for its continuous efforts to serve the surrounding community," she says." As health care providers, the gift of life and the opportunity for development will always be our number one priority."
We wrote to Barrick Corporation to make sure we had permission to publish the article above from Barrick News Paper to our Internet Site. We received the reply below from The Editor of Barrick News:
Dear Arch Parsons, As editor of the Barrick News, it is gratifying for me to see the "Bulyanhulu Has Caring Heart" article republished on your website. David LeRiche and his colleagues did some wonderful work. His mother must be very proud. Best wishes to you and St. Andrew's Church, James Fleming, Vice President Communications Barrick Gold Corporation
For other photos provided by David Leriche which he presented in a Church presentation here on March 18, 2002, visit our photo album page 27
