HOSPITAL patients in Uganda will be helped in their recovery, thanks to the efforts of the Rotary Club of Church and Oswaldtwistle.

And the club's monthly magazine -- which has documented their efforts to provide patients in Entebbe with first aid equipment and even hospital beds -- has now won them an award at the Rotary Club 2002 conference.

Fred Pickering began the mammoth task of organising the collection of a mass of educational resources and medical equipment to help residents of Entebbe and Kampala when he took over the presidency of the club last year.

He travelled to Uganda to meet local Rotarians and secured cash backing for the project with a Rotary-funded Humanitarian Transportation Grant.

Much of the equipment came from the old Queens Park Hospital, Blackburn, which was having a clear-out of beds, mattresses, cabinets and chairs. International Aid Ltd in Leyland donated pallets loaded with medical equipment.

In January a 40ft container was packed full of the gear and sent on its way to be met by Rotarians in Entebbe, who received the goodies this month and will shortly distribute the contents.

Mr Pickering said: "This project has been hard work and there were times when I thought we had taken on too much. It was rewarding to see it completed. I can only say thankyou to all concerned for their magnificent efforts."

A spokesperson for the Rotary Foundation said: "This organisation is pleased to be associated with this fine project and members of the Rotary Club of Church and Oswaldtwistle and the Rotary Club of Entebbe are to be commended for their humanitarian concern."

At the recent Rotary district conference the club was rewarded for its efforts when it won the award for the best newsletter or bulletin for the district. Mr Pickering was presented with a plaque by district governor David Metcalf.