Medical equipment previously used by staff and students at Bournemouth University has been donated to a local charity, to help healthcare professionals in South Sudan.
The resuscitation mannequins and baby-weighing scales have been given to Poole Africa Link – a charity which assists Southern Sudanese healthcare professionals in developing their skills and self-sufficiency.
South Sudan is one of the poorest countries in the world, with low access to healthcare provision and high rates of maternal and child mortality.
The medical equipment donated by BU’s School of Health and Social Care has been taken to Wau Hospital in South Sudan, where it will be used to assist with training and patient care.
Hilary Fenton-Harris, Poole Africa Link Coordinator, said: “Receiving good-quality needed kit is a great encouragement to the people in Wau who work under conditions that it’s difficult to comprehend for most of us used to UK health care.
“Practising resuscitation scenarios plays an important part of the training we give in Wau both at the hospital and the training schools.
“The resuscitation mannequins given by the university were well received by both schools of nursing in Wau by the students and the nuns who teach them.”
She added that the baby weighing scales donated by BU had also made a big difference to clinics and care in the region.
“The baby weighing scales were received with great excitement by the community midwives who had no means of weighing babies prior to this,” Hilary said.
“We also gave some to a local malnutrition clinic and the paediatric and labour wards at the hospital. They will make a real difference to the care they can give.”
Events Management students from BU are also planning to support the charity, by holding a black tie fundraiser. It will take place at the Haven Hotel in Sandbanks, on March 29.