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The 12-strong team of Territorial Army medics prepare for their mission to Ghana [Picture: MOD]

A 12-strong team of Territorial Army medics from the North West are preparing to swap hospital wards and GPs surgeries for a two-week mission to Africa.

208 Field Hospital (Volunteers), based in Childwall, Liverpool, is sending a dozen of its troops on an expedition to Ghana. The mix of soldiers and officers  will fly out to Ghana early in December.

The first part of their trip will incorporate an adventure-training exercise to canoe a 90-mile stretch of the White Volta River. Whilst there they will meet some of their regular Army counterparts from Preston-based 5 General Support Medical Regiment, currently attempting to become the first team to canoe the 650-mile-long White Volta River.

The TA team will then undertake a number of humanitarian aid tasks selected by the office of the British High Commission in Ghana. Although details of the tasks are still to be agreed, it is likely the Ghanaians will request to make use of the wide variety of medical skills and experience held by many of the team members.

The team includes include an eye surgeon, staff nurse, hospital manager and a practice nurse. Many of the team have previously deployed on British Army operations abroad, including Iraq. As reserve soldiers, they juggle the demands of everyday civilian lives with serving the military in their spare time, mostly at evenings and weekends.

Captain Zoe Starmer, 28, one of the team members, said:

"This is far from a holiday but we are all really looking to it! It will be a great experience and an opportunity to put our various skills to the test in a different environment."

Adventurous training is considered a vital element of the Army's training calendar. In 2005 alone, the list of adventure training exercises completed by soldiers from the North West includes trekking through the American wilderness and taking part in 100km endurance marathons.

208 Field Hospital (Volunteers) is one of two TA field hospitals in the North West region. Although it has its Headquarters at the TA Centre in Childwall, Liverpool, there are additional training bases at the TA Centres in Ellesmere Port and Blackpool.

Related Links:

• Deployments in Africa
• 208 Field Hospital (Volunteer)

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