Over the next few weeks, myself and some other medical students are volunteering at Dixcove Hospital in the Ahanta West region in Ghana as part of our medical elective.

When we first arrived at the hospital it was a shock to see the stark difference compared to what we are used to. The hospital is lacking a lot of basic medical supplies that we often take for granted having on demand access to in the UK. From struggling to find a thermometer and not having disposable gloves for nurses, to being unable to administer oxygen to preterm babies due to lack of equipment.

We are noticing a lot of easily accessible things that can be done to allow doctors and nurses to make hospital stays more comfortable and safer for both the sick patients and the staff. These include providing gloves, nappies, stethoscopes, blood pressure machines, drip stands, ECG machines, oxygen flow metres and defibrillator pads.

We are hoping to raise a bit of money to get some supplies for the hospital staff to allow them to more effectively care for and treat patients. Even a very small amount goes such a long way here and will help save lives. For example, a box of gloves costs as little as £2.50, a thermometer only £3.88 and an essential oropharyngeal airway only £1.10.

We will collect the money whilst here to buy the equipment from a local supplier and deliver it directly to the hospital.