AN AWARD winning mental health nurse has been sharing her knowledge and experience with healthcare colleagues in one of the world’s poorest countries.

June Lovell recently took a two month break from running a team of Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board’s specialist nurses and counsellors in North East Wales to work in Uganda, East Africa.

The work placement was part of the Welsh Government’s Wales for Africa programme, which supports and encourages people in Wales to take action on poverty in Africa.

From her base in Mbale, an eight hour drive east of the capital Kampale, she supported a number of healthcare projects.

These included educating local school girls on women’s health issues; working in an orphanage to identify children who needed medical or psychiatric interventions - and even helping with the delivery of three babies.

She said: "I was fortunate to work in all areas, delivering workshops to staff, counselling, teaching children, developing new ideas and projects, and working on projects in the community.

“One of the highlights of my work was to educate over a thousand girls about periods in a local school and health centre.

"This involved giving out washable pads and introducing a system in deprived areas to help girls to make their own.

"This led to a substantial reduction in absenteeism as they no longer needed to miss school every month.

“At a local village one boy, aged ten, who had contracted cerebral malaria at a young age was controlled by his family by tying him with a rope to part of the house.

"This had been in place for seven years to prevent him from running away. Following medication we were able to provide he is now much improved.”

June, who is based in Mold, decided to support the Wales for Africa programme after developing her skills during a long and successful career in the NHS which has seen her gain recognition for her innovative approaches to supporting vulnerable people.

In 2016 she was given an award from BCUHB for her work to support people who are addicted to prescription drugs. Last year she was invited to an exclusive World Mental Health Day celebration at Buckingham Palace in recognition of her work to significantly expand the scale and scope of counselling services in North Wales.

Reflecting on her time in Uganda, she said: "I learned a lot about myself and how to get things done with minimal resources. I also experienced what a kind and caring culture exists in Uganda and their generous nature.”

If anyone wishes to find out more, email June at june.lovell@wales.nhs.uk