Old hospital gear saves African lives

OUTDATED hospital equipment is saving lives in Africa.

John Ennis, estates engineering officer at Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, is about to make his second visit to the tiny island of Ukerewe in Lake Victoria, Tanzania, with more supplies for the hospital there.

After his first visit last year doctors told him that donated orthopaedic surgical instruments, plates and pins had helped save lives and limbs after a major accident on a construction site where 14 workers had been seriously injured.

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Mr Ennis, from Outlane, Huddersfield, said: " Knowing that our

old and unwanted NHS kit has made a difference to the injured men and their families is good to know. "

The theatres have been transformed but workers said there is still a lot to do. This year the aim is to install a water storage system at the hospital.

At the moment water and electricity is only available for four hours a day so storing it to guarantee continuous supplies is vital.

Mr Ennis added: "It's good that a team of volunteers from all walks of life can come together and achieve something so worthwhile. It was a great team effort."