The need - In developing countries there is often a lack of trained technicians and engineers. Equipment is not usable because of simple faults, which can be easily rectified with the minimum of resources, however the expertise and ability to share knowledge is minimal in a lot of countries.

The solution - With decades of experience of dealing with all aspects of Medical Equipment, the Hilditch Group established the Amalthea Trust. The charity’s specific aim is to train medical engineers in developing countries to diploma or degree level, through partnership programmes with local colleges and hospitals.

How it works - The charity assists in developing training programmes by a number of means, either sponsoring UK engineers to visit hospitals in order to develop training programmes and train personnel, or providing funding for existing medical engineering departments to upgrade training facilities, offer apprenticeships and sponsor training in situ.

Teams of volunteers regularly venture to locations such as Ethiopia and Uganda to provide crucial training in areas where medical need is high and the ability to share knowledge regarding the safe upkeep of life saving equipment is low. At Kyambogo University the charity has already trained 80 engineers to diploma level.

To find out more about how the Amalthea Trust improves healthcare in developing countries or if you are a healthcare professional and want to find out about volunteering opportunities, please visit the Amalthea Trust website: www.amaltheatrust.org.uk