West Mersea: New clinic in Namibia named in memory of medical student Catherine Bullen

Catherine Bullen

The largest clinic of its kind in Namibia has been named after Catherine Bullen, from West Mersea, who died during a trip to the country in 2002.

Situated at Oshivelo in the Oshikoto region, it replaces the old clinic where Catherine, 22 was brought after becoming seriously with severe gastroenteritis.

The clinic’s inauguration was attended by her parents, Linda and Roger Bullen, who set up The Catherine Bullen Foundation in her memory, and was opened the Namibian Minister of Health and Social Service, the Hon. Dr Richard Kamwi.

The £1.1million medical clinic was built by the government to serve the local community and travellers such as Catherine.

In a speech, Mr Bullen said: “We thank the Namibian government and the people of the Oshikoto region for naming the clinic after Catherine, in recognition of her continuing legacy to the Namibian people through the Foundation’s work.

“Catherine was a caring, compassionate person who was destine to become an outstanding doctor in the UK.

“We hope that this impressive clinic will become a centre of excellence and an example to other clinics in Namibia.” The clinic consists of 10 inpatient beds, six casualty beds, five consulting rooms, a delivery suite and specialist rooms for HIV and TB testing, together with accommodation for eight nurses.

There is also an ambulance station and there are plans to build a mortuary which will upgrade the clinic to a health centre.

Through The Catherine Bullen Foundation, Mr and Mrs Bullen have built a clinic at Otjimanangombe, refurbished the dormitories and built a kitchen at Omuhaturua Primary School Hostel, and provided a dormitory at Eiseb Primary School Hostel at a total cost of £300,000.

Visit www.namibia-aid.org.uk to donate to the foundation.