Nurse's bid to help poorest in Africa

Carla-Marie Page, 25, is in her second year at the University of Brighton and has hoping the trip to African will broaden her experience as a healthcare professional while helping some of the most vulnerable and poorest people in the world.

During her two week trip in 2016 she will experience the Ghanaian culture staying with a host family and working with local nurses.

Carla, of Granary Close, said: “I would like to present a positive image to the world which is why I am taking the opportunity to work as a volunteer student paediatric nurse in Takoradi, Ghana, not only increase my knowledge and further my experience about medical conditions that are more likely in a developing country, but also to provide me with more informed view of the world and its diversity, learning the comparisons of nursing in a developing country compared to that in the UK.

“I will attend the village’s healthcare centre, complete community outreach work in schools and also work in the local hospital in a speciality of my choice.

“Furthermore I will broaden my knowledge and experience in medical conditions that I would not have previously seen, nurse children who have diseases such as HIV, malaria, sickle cell and gangrene, and also assist in surgery which will all improve my techniques and skills.”

Helping people has always been close to Carla’s heart.

Before becoming a student devoted her time caring for people with learning disabilities and she saved hard to go to Thailand to help in orphanages.

She has done the Cancer Research UK Race for Life, skydived for Alzheimer’s Society and a 25-mile bicycle ride in aid of a children’s hospice.

She has high ambitions for after her nursing degree as well. She hopes to achieve a master’s degree, and then a PhD, specialising in oncology and chemotherapy.

Ghana’s healthcare system suffers from a lack of money to pay for services and supplies, especially in more rural areas, resulting in a low life expectancy.

The most common diseases, HIV, tuberculosis, yellow fever and malaria , impact this, but 70 per cent of deaths occur through malnutrition all of which are preventable.

To help her in her adventure call her on 07969723052 or email [email protected]