A CONTAINER load of hospital equipment has crossed the world from Herefordshire to Tanzania in east Africa, writes LIZ WATKINS.

It was loaded on a cold morning in January when volunteers gathered at the ambulance HQ at Grafton in Hereford to help pack the 40ft container to the gunwales .

Now they have heard the valuable load has arrived at its destination, the local hospital at Muheza and staff there have sent email pictures back to Hereford to prove it.

Among the equipment they unloaded were beds, operating tables, wheelchairs, lockers, screens, curtains and medicines.

Skills shared

Many such loads have completed the long journey from Herefordshire since the Hereford-Muheza Link Society was formed 19 years ago.

In those days the African hospital was tiny, but with the help and support from people in this county it has become one of the most forward in Tanzania.

Staff from Hereford hospitals have been to Muheza to share their skills and experience across a wide field and Tanzanian doctors and nurses been to Hereford to gain more.

In charge at Muheza at the moment are former Bodenham GPs Karilyn and Richard Collins and great strides are being made in improving the hospital.

Recently Dr Karilyn received a grant of £40,000 from the Princess of Wales Trust enabling her to open a hospice in the grounds at Muheza hospital, the first of its kind in Tanzania, and already attracting great interest in that country.

At present, a doctor from Muheza is at St Michael's Hospice at Bartestree, gaining experience.

Dr John Wood is secretary of the Hereford-Muheza Link Society and has made several trips to the hospital in Muheza.

There is little money to go round there and the help from Herefordshire is greatly appreciated.

He says gathering goods for the next load of equipment is ongoing and gifts would be welcome.

Anyone with anything to offer, even their voluntary services, should phone him on 01432 850543.