Co Monaghan based woman, Emmy Coffey, will join Tik Tok star Garron Noone, entrepreneur Gareth Sheridan, and more than 20 volunteers on a humanitarian mission to deliver ambulances from Ireland to Uganda to support the critically ill and dying in east Africa.
The convoy, being organised by the Hope on Wheels organisation, will see 11 ambulances driven overland from Mombasa in Kenya to Kampala in Uganda on an epic journey covering more than 1,200 kilometres through stunning countryside, remote roads, and national parks, starting on May 24th.
Emmy, an entrepreneur who formerly worked with Unicef and ran Gareth Sheridan’s Presidential bid, said she is delighted to be joining the mission which aims to transform end of life for the critically ill in Uganda.
“When I heard about this opportunity I didn’t hesitate. The needs for palliative care in Uganda are huge, with less than 11 per cent of the 500,000 in need of pain relief and palliative care accessing it. Thousands of people die every year suffering and in serious pain. Anything that can be done to increase access to care is worth supporting,”
Emmy is no stranger to humanitarian missions, having previously visited Sierra Leone with Aer Lingus and facilitated the establishment of the first African Drone and Data Academy (ADDA) in Malawi during her time with Unicef Ireland
The convoy is made up of volunteers from all walks of life including a past and serving member of the Gardai, a former journalist, a GP, businesspeople, farmers and retirees. “Of course, I am also excited to be travelling with an amazing group of people, including Garron Noone, and going back to East Africa.” said Emmy.
The ambulances, which have been donated by the National Ambulance Service, Dublin Fire Brigade, and Civil Defence have been shipped to the port of Mombasa ahead of the start of the convoy. Partnering with the Palliative Care Association of Uganda, and the Ugandan Ministry of Health, the ambulances will be officially handed over to hospices for use as mobile outreach palliative care clinics, bringing essential care and pain relief to critically ill patients in remote communities.
Adding a high-profile voice to the mission are Irish social media star Garron Noone, and entrepreneur Gareth Sheridan, who will both join the convoy and use their platforms to raise awareness of the urgent need for accessible hospice and palliative care services in Uganda.
HOW is inspired by the late Dr Anne Merriman, founder of Hospice Africa Uganda, whose pioneering work brought affordable pain relief and compassionate care to thousands of patients across the continent of Africa. She was born in Liverpool to Irish parents and did her medical training in Dublin. She died last year aged 90.
The Hope on Wheels convoy departs Mombasa on May 24th, with arrivals and handover events planned in Kampala after arrival on June 1st.
