The Luxembourg Xenium Lions Club and Association Envol held a charity gala on Saturday 12 October 2019 at Hôtel Le Royal to raise the funds needed to send containers of medical equipment to Burkina Faso.

Almost 160 participants attended the charity gala, including Luxembourg's Minister of Cooperation and Humanitarian Action, Paulette Lenert, and the Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Luxembourg, Jacqueline Marie Zaba-Nikiema.

The aim of the charity gala was to raise the funds needed to send several containers of medical equipment to Burkina Faso, two of which are already ready to leave. Initiated less than two years ago, this humanitarian project consists of recovering used medical equipment, in very good operating condition, discarded by hospitals and practitioners in Luxembourg and the Greater Region, and transporting it where the needs are considerable. Thanks to this initiative, two containers of material have already been sent to Burkina Faso.

To ensure the transport and delivery of equipment in good conditions to Burkina Faso, the Luxembourg Xenium Lions Club have collaborated with Envol, an association in Burkina Faso which ensures the smooth and secure delivery on site, notably by facilitating transport and customs formalities.

Danièle-Christine Giglio, Founding President of Envol, Honorary Consul of Burkina Faso in Luxembourg and principal initiator of the charity gala, commented: "This momentum of solidarity is very touching. Thanks to a solidarity between all actors (medical community, donors and participants, sponsors and volunteers) we can bring medical equipment that is sorely lacking in Burkina Faso".

Concerning the donation of medical equipment, Dr. Elisabeta Pletea, the medical coordinator of the project, explained: "We make sure that only equipment in good working order is sent". Indeed, the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL), Hôpital Dieu de Mont-Saint-Martin and the Institut National de Chirurgie Cardiaque et de Cardiologie Interventionnelle (INCCI Luxembourg) contributed to the first shipments.

The Luxembourg Xenium Lions Club has also announced its support for the complete renovation of the CHL in 2022.

To support these actions, any donation should be addressed to the account of Fondation Lions Luxembourg: LU46 0025 1688 6212 3400, citing "matériel médical" (medical equipment).