Volunteer year in Ghana makes a real difference (From Bournemouth Echo)

Volunteer year in Ghana makes a real difference

4:00pm Monday 15th March 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(1)

SINCE January, Nick Eastcott has swapped picturesque Swanage for hot and humid West Africa.

The retired NHS manager has embarked on a year-long volunteer placement in Ghana, which aims to improve the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged children.

Nick is working with children’s rights charity Afrikids who recently received funding from the Vodafone Foundation and the World Of Difference International scheme.

Nick has been volunteering with Afrikids since his retirement, but it is only after funding that he has been able to spend a considerable amount of time in Ghana.

“It’s unbelievably rewarding as you can achieve so much in a short space of time. You don’t have to fight the bureaucracy as the needs are just so obvious and you can do something about it,” says Nick Eastcott.

Swanage resident Nick is currently working as a medical centre manager in Bolgatanga, Ghana.

He is focused on developing the relationship between AfriKids and the Ghana Health Service to provide free care as a medical centre.

“We spent time together and thrashed out what were the priority needs out here and how we could help commit to those,” says Nick.

Nick is also trying to establish a formal link between the charity and the Southampton University Hospitals’ Trust, enabling UK health professionals to go to Ghana and share specialist training.

“Compared to Ghana, the UK healthcare system is so well-endowed with equipment and support.

“However, when these professionals go to Ghana they really have to think on their feet and how they treat patients when they don’t have specialists to call upon.”

“It sounds like it’s all one way, but actually it isn’t. They’ve got to rely on their own resources and they realise that when they go back to the UK.

“They may complain at home how they haven’t got the latest gizmo, where in Ghana they haven’t even got the original gizmo. It puts things in context when faced with these life and death challenges.”

Nick is currently drawing up an ambitious plan for the next two years involving AfriKids, Ghana Health Service and Southampton University Hospitals’ Trust.

Next month, four professionals from Ghana will come to the UK and formally launch the project.

“You can make an important and substantial difference to people’s lives.

“I feel very privileged.”