A nurse from Fakenham is to join a group of British medical volunteers who are providing support to a rural hospital in Kwale County, in Kenya.

At the end of November Natasha Adams, 23, from Fakenham, will begin a two week placement at Msambweni Hospital where severe staff shortages and high mortality rates are threatening to cripple essential healthcare functions.

The placement was arranged through volunteer organisation Camps International and she will spend the time offering her skills, support and advice to nurses on the wards.

“I have always wanted to help the less fortunate and now that I have two years of experience I think this is a good time to try and make a difference,” she said.

Since graduating as a nurse Miss Adams has been working on trauma ward at the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital and in her spare time she has volunteered for the St John’s Ambulance team and helped at careers days at Wells Primary.

But she says that she has never done anything that compares to working at Msambweni.

“I’ve never travelled away to volunteer,” she continued. “The hospital is situated in an area experiencing high levels of poverty. They are under staffed and lack the necessary resources to reduce high mortality rates.

“I would be lying if I said I was not a little worried but I guess it is the fear of the unknown. I think the trip will either be one I absolutely love, or one I’ll put down to experience.”

Alongside her time spent at the hospital Miss Adams will also have the opportunity to experience an African safari, with Camp International organisers taking her and her colleagues to one of Kenya’s top national parks.

With her departure set for November 25 she is now hoping to raise £500 towards the vaccinations, malaria tablets and working insurance that she will need for the trip. If she exceeds that target she says she will use the additional funds to buy pens and books for school children in Kenya.

She is also asking the public and local businesses to donate raffle prizes, which will be used for big Christmas hampers that she will raffle off at Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.

To support her trip you can donate through Just Giving.