Parishioners at St Mary’s R.C. Church in Newton Aycliffe welcomed a medical team from Ghana to a Thanksgiving Service recently.
The team, which includes Thoracic Surgeons, Cardiologists, Intensive Care Nurses, Theatre staff and a Pharmacist are from Kumasi but are currently based at James Cook Hospital for four weeks, learning new skills working alongside the resident Cardiothoracic team.
Parish Priest Fr. Anthony Cornforth led the Service, with the Gospel being read by one of the African medical team. In good African tradition, refreshments were served afterwards.
The medical team were keen to meet Fr. Dominic Asare (pictured), who is living in Aycliffe at the moment, helping out at St. Mary’s Church. By an amazing coincidence, he is familiar with the hospital in Kumasi, as he comes from the local area.
The team commented on the warm welcome they have received everywhere and the help they are getting from James Cook Hospital, whose cardiac team are planning to return to Ghana on 19th October to perform life-saving surgery during their one week stay.
Many young people in Africa are affected by rheumatic fever, which destroys heart valves. The team hope to carry out valve replacement surgery, as well as implanting pacemaker devices. The James Cook Team have a long term goal to enable the African hospital to become self-sufficient, by providing ongoing training and support.
The Parishioners at St. Mary’s chose this charity as their 2019 Parish Project and have supported it financially. Should anyone wish to donate to this cause, cheques can be sent to Mr. K. Robson, Secretary of The South Cleveland Heart Fund, 117 Roman Road, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, TS5 5QB made out to the South Cleveland Heart Fund but clearly marked “Ghana Mission” or to St. Mary’s Church, 1 Burn Lane, DL5 4HT.
