<p>Hello!</p> <p>On February 3rd I will travelling to Uganda with two of my work colleagues Linda and Jane to work at Kisiizi Hospital.</p> <p>The good folk at Kisiizi Hospital already have links with the hospital where I work in Chester in the UK ( Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust). They have asked for Occupational Therapists like my humble self to help out in their mental health unit.</p> <p>The hospital has 235 beds with 25 beds in the mental health unit and currently only one occupational therapist. The hospital is in a rural location but is known throughout Uganda. Our colleagues who have visited here three years ago have told us that the staff work with very scant resources but a huge amount of care and thoughtfulness.&nbsp;</p> <p>Our two and half week trip is fully self funded and we are doing this in our own time. Hence we have been fundraising as much as possible to help support the trip, and to buy resources which we can give to the hospital to help provide therapy for their mental health patients. So far we have purchased textbooks, art materials, computer equipment, stationary and we'll see what else we can cram into our allowable luggage.&nbsp;</p> <p>Loads of my lovely friends and family have already shown amazing support at the various fundraising events over the last months. Some of you have kindly asked if there is a way to donate online so I have set up this page.&nbsp;</p> <p>Thanks so much for any support you can give.&nbsp;</p> <p>I will let keep you up to date with how the trip went and we will try our very best when we are out there!&nbsp;</p> <p>Maria x</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The official bit:</p> <p>"All donations received will be used for Kisiizi Hospital Uganda restricted fund, to help strengthen interventions in the care of those with acute mental illness in the hospital, to address and improve the mental health needs of all hospital patients and to develop provisions in the community around the hospital"</p> <p>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving &ndash; they&rsquo;ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they&rsquo;ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it&rsquo;s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</p>