Visit to Cheltenham by Kambia Hospital staff

Sister Veronica Jarboe and Matron Frances Pearce

For two weeks in June 2006, Gloucestershire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust welcomed Matron Frances Pearce and Midwifery Sister Veronica Jarboe from Kambia Hospital in Sierra Leone. Their visit was sponsored by the Kambia Hospital Appeal (KHA) the Cheltenham based charity founded in 1992 by Mr Richard Kerr-Wilson (Consultant Gynaecologist). The charity provides practical help with supplies, equipment and training. It also believes in the exchange of skills and understanding with two way visits of staff between Kambia and the UK.

Frances' and Veronica's varied programme was coordinated by Lead Nurse Vivien Mortimer and Health Visitor Lis Holmes. Frances and Veronica could be seen all around the Trust, one moment in the Under 5's clinic at St Paul's Medical Centre in Stroud Rd followed the next day by a session with the Breast Feeding Initiative team at Cheltenham General. They both found the Health Protection Unit covering prevention and control of communicable diseases and the immunization programmes really informative. Matron Frances wrote 'We would like to thank everyone for the opportunity to work alongside midwives and medical personnel acquiring training that is just not available in Sierra Leone.'

KHA is currently funding training and refresher courses covering everything from basic skills to recognizing obstetric emergencies for Health Aides, Traditional Birth Attendants and Midwives in Kambia District. The Appeal is very grateful for all the continued support by staff from across the Trust. If you would like to know more go to www.kambiahospital.org.uk.

(from September 2006 edition of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Acute Angle newsletter)