Doctor to talk about fight against Ebola

Dr James Meiring, 30, spent several weeks in February and March as a medic in West Africa, where almost 10,500 people have died of the virus over the past two years.

The Gazette has carried a series of reports on Dr Meiring’s work during his voluntary stint in the town of Makeni. He was also interviewed by TV news.

Now back in the UK, he has agreed to speak to an audience in his home town about his time at the front line of the world’s biggest health crisis.

The former pupil of St Thomas’s CE Primary, Garstang High School and Baines Sixth Form, Poulton, will talk about tackling Ebola at the information evening for anyone interested in learning more about the deadly virus and its impact. Edward Parlick, one of the organisers, said: “The meeting will hear about the highs and lows of dealing daily with life and death situations –often the latter.

“It will perhaps be one of the most unusual talks held in Garstang in recent times, but it will not all be ‘heavy’ and will feature tales of hope and happiness James discovered while working in Makeni.”

The presentation will feature graphic photographs from the Makeni Ebola treatment centre (built by The Royal Engineers), videos and even some contemporary African music.

Dr Meiring, who studied medicine at Sheffield University, is married to a fellow medic, Ruth. The couple have a young son. Dr Meiring, who works for the NHS in Sheffield, is a regular visitor to the Garstang home of his parents, Leslie and Joyce Meiring.

His talk and presentation is a ticket-only session. It will be held at Garstang Arts Centre on Saturday, April 18 at 7.30pm.

Tickets are available from Market Place News, Market Place, Garstang, priced £5 (including refreshments). All proceeds from ticket sales will go to Street Child UK, a British-based charity helping children orphaned by Ebola.

For more information call (01995) 605824.