The Gambia – Swansea Vision 2020 Eye Link

Sue Williams and Suzanne Martin  attended the latest Wales for Africa Health Links meeting held at Morriston Hospital, Swansea on Thursday 17th January. The Health Links network aims to bring together the NHS and public health links in Wales to share experiences and work together, Regular meetings are held at different venues across Wales.

After a delicious lunch there was an introduction from the Chairman of the group Professor Stephen Tomlinson who gave an overview of the network. He explained that the group’s aim was to address the United Nations Millennium Development Goals such as to reduce child mortality, improve maternal health and combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases. There is a high level of commitment and support from Public Health Wales and the Welsh Governments “Wales for Africa” progamme.

There then followed a presentation from Grace Ferguson-Thorne who is the administrator for the Wales for Africa Health Links Grant Scheme. Grace gave some handy hints for those applying for grants and also answered questions  along with her colleagues.

 Next there were a series of presentations from four of the Links members including our own Sue Williams. Sue gave an overview of her recent visit to The Gambia and how she has contributed to educating the theatre staff there. Sue now has visited three times and staff  have made great progress in improving theatre cleanliness, care of instruments and assisting the surgeon (scrub nurse role). Sue’s enthusiasm for the project and experiences during her recent visit showed everyone how vitally important the link has become.Angela Lewis then talked about her work in Sierra Lione. Angela is a paediatric nurse working in Bridgend and has visited a children’s hospital in Ola During. There she has shown staff the importance of paediatric recsusitaion and spoke passionately about progress there.

The last two presentations were from other links – PONT and Mothers of Africa which has contributed to improving maternal health in a group of African countries.

Overall the afternoon was most rewarding especially the opportunity to meet volunteers from other links and to here about their experiences.

Sue Williams and Suzanne Martin at the Health Links meeting