World War Two houseboat auction raises thousands

The boat is home to Becky Hill, and used to host an auction in November to raise money for the programme in South West Madagascar run by marine conservation organisation Blue Ventures.

Presided over by local MP Tim Loughton and Dr Vik Mohan, medical adviser to Blue Ventures and pioneer of the family planning programme, the auction raised more than 5,000.

"Tim Loughton was a brilliant auctioneer and the event was a huge success," said Miss Hill.

Death

The event secured enough money to assure the immediate future of the clinic in the tribal fishing village of Andavadoaka, but Miss Hill says more is needed to reduce maternal mortality rates.

"With women in rural Madagascar having as many as 17 children, information and facilities are urgently needed," said Miss Hill.

"Families are welcoming the work of the clinic in the village of Andavadoaka, the only clinic of its kind in the region and, with more funding, we hope this vital service will be extended to neighbouring villages and towns."

HIV

The family planning programme has been running since August 2007.

Its aim is to address the prospect of the national population doubling in the next 20 years, high maternal mortality rates and the threat of the HIV/AIDs epidemic which has devastated so many neighbouring African nations.

As well as the clinic, which provided contraception to 246 women in its first year, the programme provides information and education to families on protection against sexually transmitted diseases.

Lots for sale at the auction included SCUBA diving courses at the London School of Diving, beauty treatments by Aveda and a signed copy of Hilary Bradt's guide to Madagascar.

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