A MUM-of-two is preparing to swap East Lancashire for Africa to help tackle the Ebola crisis.

Julia Hogan, who works as a team leader for Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust’s Contraception and Sexual Health (CaSH) service, is set to fly out next week following five days of intensive training.

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Mrs Hogan, a qualified nurse from Nelson, will spend five weeks in Sierra Leone providing nursing care at treatment centres.

She will spend three weeks on her return away from work as part of Public Health England’s protocol for people returning to the country after volunteering to assist with the Ebola crisis.

Mrs Hogan, who will celebrate her 54th birthday while out in Africa, said: “I qualified as a nurse in 1981, working at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

“I have been with the CaSH service for 10 years leading the team and providing sexual and reproductive health care to people in East Lancashire.

“I applied to volunteer to help out with the Ebola crisis as I have always wanted the opportunity to use my nursing skills in an area where they are really needed.

“This will be a big challenge and I am really looking forward to working with African colleagues and being in a completely different setting.

“As a team, we are always looking at different ways to develop links with professionals overseas to transfer knowledge and skills.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the challenges and obstacles faced by healthcare professionals working in areas with lower resources and share skills and knowledge.

“On a personal level, I am grateful to have an opportunity to be able to make a difference to a crisis hit area and develop my nursing skills overseas.”

Dee Roach, executive director of nursing, quality and governance at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are extremely proud that one of our nurses has made the decision to volunteer an area hit by the Ebola crisis.

“We are focused on providing compassionate care to the people of Lancashire and it is great that these values will be travelling with Julia all the way to Sierra Leone.

“We wish her the very best in her travels and look forward to hearing of her experiences on her return.”

She is hoping to keep a blog of her experiences over the next five weeks which will be published via the trust’s Twitter account – @LancashireCare.