THE maternity team at Redditch's Alexandra Hospital in welcomed a visiting midwife from Sierra Leone on November 11.

Marie Sapateh is a midwife from Lumley Government Hospital in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown. She spent a week with staff from the Alexandra Hospital during a recent visit to the UK.

The link between the two hospitals was set up by Redditch midwife Helena White in 2011. Alex staff have made two visits to the hospital in Sierra Leone to provide training. Since their last visit in 2012, Redditch midwives have continued their mission by fundraising and donating equipment.

Ms Sapateh is a specialist epilepsy link midwife. Her visit to the UK was sponsored by Medical Assistance Sierra Leone, and involved a one month placement to learn about epilepsy treatment at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

She extended her trip to visit midwives in Redditch, spending time both in a hospital setting and with community midwives, visiting pregnant women in their own homes.

To support the African Maternity Health Link set up by Helena White, contact theafricanmaternityhealthlink@hotmail.co.uk.