THE Lamb Inn at Sandford was the venue for a fantastic evening of Brazilian Music which raised £387.50 for Save the Children’s campaign in aid of the Zika virus prevention and care.

Organised by Joanne and Peter Wright from New Buildings, a full-house was entertained by a ravishing duo of cello, guitar and voice.

Two musicians from Europe who met in the USA, are currently touring the UK helping to raise awareness of the Zika virus problem in Brazil. In their performances, Eilis Roseira and Catherine Bent pay tribute to the great composers and lyricists of Brazil, with touches of north and south American folk music, European dance music and African rhythms.

They have both spent a lot of time in Rio de Janeiro and are very concerned about the effects of the Zika virus on families there.

Anyone can contract Zika virus, which is primarily transmitted via bites from certain types of mosquito, but the impact of the disease on pregnant women and their unborn children can be life-changing. Health professionals have linked the Zika virus to a rise in cases of microcephaly in babies, which results in their heads being smaller than usual. This can cause life-long physical and mental disability.

Save the Children’s priority is to raise awareness of the virus and how to prevent it, particularly among pregnant women and those planning to become pregnant. As well as distributing leaflets, holding community information sessions, and helping people destroy mosquito breeding sites, they have developed radio broadcasts and a comic for children.

They are also supporting health units to ensure that those who contract the virus can get good medical care. The current Zika virus outbreak began in Brazil in 2015 and is one of the reasons that some athletes have given for not taking part in the 2016 Olympic Games.

For more information about Zika virus prevention and care, go to: www.savethechildren.org.uk .