FROM West Devon to the plains of West Africa — two ambulances set off yesterday (Wednesday) on the first stage of their long journey from Tavistock to the Ugandan towns of Fort Portal and Kampala. The used ambulances were donated by the St John Ambulance organisation. Once in Africa, they will be turned into mobile medical clinics to serve remote rural communities across West Uganda. The shipment was organised by Tavistock charity The Great Lakes (Africa) Mission, run through King's Community Church. King's Pastor Colin Bond said that the ambulances will be invaluable in Africa. 'They'll be refurbished so that they can deal with the sort of common medical problems that send us to our local doctor's surgery — problems that, without medical treatment, can quickly turn into something much more serious in an African village.' Other medical equipment was also shipped to Africa along with the two ambulances, including a mobile x-ray unit donated by the Derriford medical centre. The Great Lakes (Africa) Mission has helped to set up a number of hospitals and First Aid posts in Uganda and Rwanda since its launch in 1997, and has sent five containers of medical supplies to those countries from Tavistock in the last five years. Volunteers are currently raising funds to open a 32-bed hospital for refugees on the border of Uganda and the worn-torn Republic of the Congo. For further information on their work, contact Pastor Colin Bond on 01822 833844, or visit http://www.kingsnews.org.uk">www.kingsnews.org.uk
