PAS MIRA Medics safe return from deployment in Sierra Leone

In March of this year, three of our MIRA trained Medics were deployed to Sierra Leone to support a scientific research team in an environmental survey. A challenging project, made even more gruelling by the remoteness of the location, Vincent Carlsen, Rob Thake and Darren Good found themselves challenged beyond the boundaries of what they expected.

We caught up with Vince on his return for all the gritty details and to learn how this experience has had a profound impact on his life.

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Posted in a remote location in Sierra Leone, Vince, Rob and Darren were responsible for looking after the medical and safety needs of the research team, paying attention to health and safety, site safety, site hygiene and monitoring the general well-being of the Scientists they had been assigned to, working through the intense humidity and heat in the gruelling environment in the jungle.

Separate teams, responsible for researching different areas were studying; Primates, Habitats, Land fertility, Amphibians and Social Affects. Our PAS staff separated, each taking responsibility for a different team. When the medical needs weren’t high, they proactively involved themselves hands-on, assisting the scientific teams with their work.

Vince described his experience in Sierra Leone as a “massive culture shock,” continuing that “it makes you appreciate everything you’ve got.” In the populated areas there was mess and litter everywhere, but outside of these areas, through hikes and outside of the jungle the surroundings were full of amazing, breath-taking scenery that continues for miles and can only be seen to be believed, “pictures don’t do it justice.”

When asked what he found challenging about his time there, Vince recalled how it was extremely “physically demanding.” Working and hiking in scorching temperatures, whilst lugging heavy packs full of medical supplies daily, was not for the weak.

Particularly challenging, was meal times, where the team had to be weary of what they ate, and particularly careful of ‘Bush Meat.’ If it was not obtained and prepared in the correct way, they would be at risk of Ebola among other diseases, and with a language barrier it was often difficult to obtain what was in the food they were presented with. Vince consumed mostly rice with beans and fruit. Coffee and biscuits, seldom available were luxury.

One of the highlights of his experience Vince found in Freetown. At first they would find themselves flocked by people, because they were very obviously foreign, but they soon learnt to keep a low profile while exploring. This one particular highlight for Vince was exploring the history of the town and visiting the Cotton Tree, which stands in the centre of the oldest part of Freetown.

Reflecting on his post in Sierra Leone, Vince spoke highly positively about the entire experience, which has evidently had a profound positive impact on his outlook on life.

“I learnt my limits and faced the hardest task I’ve ever done.”

Having lost 11% body fat, and improved overall health and fitness, Vince plans on maintaining his new fitness levels, explaining that his experience “opened his eyes to change” and that the cultural shock “makes you appreciate everything you’ve got.”

When asked if he would take another, similar post in the future, Vince replied without hesitation:

“In a heartbeat.”

To support and prepare them for their challenge, Vince, Rob & Darren had to undergo various medicals, weeks of briefing, relevant training and receive numerous vaccinations both pre and post trip.

We’re pleased to have our team home safely and to hear that they had such positive experiences. Well done to them for enduring this challenge, we are proud to have them as part of the team at PAS.

Steve Harriss, the Service Delivery Director, developed the project –

“I saw an opportunity to develop PAS into a new area of operations. I fully understood the risk involved with this as I served in Sierra Leone and would not have considered undertaking it if we did not have the calibre of staff to do it. The team were nothing short outstanding.”

We received the following feedback from the company we worked with:

“As we work across the globe within the medical service and repatriation industry, on many occasions with very short notice we have called up on Private Ambulance Service (PAS) to assist. PAS is a preferred provider and have provided a variety of services to us. This includes medical escorts on commercial flights, private ambulance transfers across the UK. The latest service PAS have provided is the deployment of 3 MIRA trained medics to work on an environmental survey in Sierra Leone. This was a challenging project made even more of a challenge by the remoteness of the locations and the type of work being performed.

I have no doubts in recommending PAS to any of our clients as the service, standards and value for money is excellent.”

We look forward to taking on further interesting and challenging projects in the future.