Franz tune in to free African healthcare fight

Published on Saturday 10 June 2006 14:11

SCOTS rockers Franz Ferdinand have become the latest high-profile names to join a major campaign for free healthcare in Africa.

Celebrities are calling on Chancellor Gordon Brown and other G8 finance ministers, who meet tomorrow in St Petersburg, Russia, to keep the promise made at last year's summit of world leaders in Scotland to provide free healthcare in Africa.

The lives of nearly 285,000 young children on the poverty-stricken continent could be saved every year if fees for medical treatment were abolished, it is estimated.

Former UN human rights commissioner Mary Robinson, Live Aid legend Midge Ure, Hollywood star Samantha Morton, ex-ER actress Alex Kingston, rockers Snow Patrol and The Kooks have already backed Save the Children's Ouch campaign.

Edinburgh-born Franz Ferdinand drummer Paul Thomson said: "More than a quarter of a million kids in Africa are dying every year because they can't afford to see a doctor. Let's stop it now."

The charity said there was no mention of last year's G8 commitment for free African healthcare in the agenda of the recent G8 health ministers' meeting.

Matt Phillips, head of campaigns for Save the Children, said: "Some 800 children will die today in Africa because their families can't afford to pay to see a doctor or nurse.

"Rich countries were part of these fees coming about in the first place.

"Now it's up to Gordon Brown and his counterparts to do what they can to keep the promises G8 made at Gleneagles," added Mr Phillips