Dr.'s helping hands

Photo: Contributed

A Kelowna doctor is reaching out to help children half a world away.

Dr. Claire Young is volunteering in Nicaragua providing medical care for school-aged children and after seeing so many parasitic infections due to dirty water - she decided to try and help. Young has set up a GoFundMe to try and help raise money for a clean water program.

"I have decided to try and raise this money for them. They have been so welcoming and accommodating to me since I arrived, and I can't think of a better payback than arranging for the amazing children, women and men in this community to have regular access to clean water."

To date, Young has raised almost $4,000 of her $5,000 goal. "For most of the children, this is the only access they have to clean, safe drinking water. The clinic currently provides water to four of the eight schools in the area. They told me they want to cover all eight schools but in order to do so, they need to purchase new water filters and employ a dedicated individual to run the labour intensive water program full time," says Young.

Once the fund has hit its target the money will be forwarded to the Roberto Clemente Clinic directly.