The midwives' calling

Second year students Amelia Hilsdon and Charlotte Hackett are already providing maternity care to the local community in Hastings and St Leonards and at the Conquest Hospital.

They now plan to work in Tanzania for two weeks in October to provide midwifery care to the community in Arusha city.

Amelia told the Hastings and St Leonards Observer: “We will spend time at the city hospital where around thirty babies are born every day. The visit is part of our third year module and is called Midwifery International Elective.”

Both friends are mature students. Amelia said: “We decided to go back into education in 2014, first undertaking an access course at Ore Valley College. We continued on to the University of Brighton to study midwifery and fell in love with this career choice after having our own children.

“We want to be able to give back to our community and to help other women and families at their most vulnerable time.

Amelia and Charlotte

“It is an amazing job; we are privileged to be welcomed into so many people’s lives. The experience to be gained as a student midwife visiting a country like Tanzania is life changing.

“The trip provides an opportunity to help those in need in a developing country whilst also gaining new skills, learning about the Tanzanian culture and seeing how the hospital utilises the little resources they have available to them.

“Furthermore, we will return to Hastings with new skills and experiences to use in our ever growing multi-cultural community.”

Amelia and Charlotte are taking part in the 5k Brighton Color Obstacle Rush on 6 May. They have a GoFundMe page and a blog where they will document their experiences until after they return from their trip.