Gloucestershire Hospitals Nurse Embarks on Voluntary Mission to Sierra Leone
This November, Ali Brown, a dedicated nurse from Gloucestershire Hospitals, will be travelling to Sierra Leone to provide vital voluntary aid with the Kambia District Foundation Charity. Having supported the charity for many years, Ali will now take her skills and experience directly into the field, helping to improve access to healthcare in one of the most underserved regions of the country.
"I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to do this work. Voluntary service overseas has always been a dream of mine"
Ali Brown, Clinical Site Matron
Her work will focus on assisting in a medical centre, where she will screen local villagers, set up a first aid station, stock a clinic with essential supplies, and provide education on first aid and important health topics. She will also be travelling with five other volunteers all of which bring their own specialist knowledge and skills.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to do this work. Voluntary service overseas has always been a dream of mine, and now that I have the time and resources, I can finally pursue it,” Ali shared. Her nursing journey began in 1986 at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital (GRH) as a pupil nurse, and she has since built a successful career in emergency care, including 18 years in the Emergency Department (ED). Now working as a Clinical Site Matron at Gloucestershire Hospitals, Ali is eager to take her passion for healthcare to those in need abroad.
Sierra Leone’s Kambia District faces many challenges in accessing healthcare, particularly in rural areas where medical services are scarce. By establishing a first aid clinic, the Kambia District Foundation Charity hopes to provide immediate care for injuries, illnesses, and accidents, helping to prevent complications and fatalities in places where hospitals are far away.
To support Ali’s mission, she is appealing for donations of medical supplies that she can take with her on her trip. Items needed include:
- Dressing packs
- Sealed gauze packs
- Sterile scissors
- Dressings
- Tape
- Saline pods
- Alcohol gel
- Steri-strips
Expired or out-of-date items are also welcome.
If you or your family members have any of these items that you no longer need, please consider donating. Contributions can be made via Ali’s fundraising page at GoFundMe, or you can gift items directly through her Amazon Gift List.
“I’ve always been passionate about emergency care, and when the opportunity arose to help set up a first aid clinic in Sierra Leone, I didn’t hesitate. This project will provide life-saving care in areas where medical help is difficult to access,” Ali added.
By supporting this initiative, you will be contributing to a life-saving project that offers immediate medical assistance to some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. Every contribution makes a difference.