AN ABERLADY woman is raising money for a mental health hospital in Ghana in memory of her late father.

Jacqui Abizie-Mckendrick works as a mental health nurse for NHS Lothian, following in the footsteps of her father Matthew, a doctor at Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital in Ghana’s central region.

Jacqui said: “I moved to Scotland from Ghana in 1994, marrying my husband Brian in 2005. I trained as a mental health nurse and work across the county.

“A few years ago, I went back to Ghana and back to the hospital, and spent some time in the units there speaking to the nurses. It made me realise how lucky I was to have everything I needed readily available for my work in the UK.

“I decided to see if I could do something to help.

“I am going back this month and am hoping to raise enough to get some equipment for the wards.

“It won’t be a one-off thing, my plan is to keep fundraising and keep trying to help them, maybe even encourage others to come over with me to see the hospital and the wonderful work the staff do.”

The full list of equipment Jacqui is hoping to supply can be found on the fundraising page and includes a defibrillator for the hospital and local area, blood pressure monitors, gloves, aprons, alcohol gel, mattresses, pillows and personal alarms for the staff.

Jacqui asks people on her fundraiser page to “please donate whatever money you can”.

She added: “Every contribution, no matter how small, will make a difference to the patients.

“I am also looking for any medical equipment and books that are no longer required, plus volunteers to help with raising more funds, trainers to help with basic life support training and training in management of violence and aggression on the wards.”

Anybody looking to donate can visit gofundme.com/f/jacquibrian