A former Haverfordwest woman is flying out to Ethiopia today (Friday) as part of a project to provide expert medical treatment for children with facial disabilities and disfigurements.

Catherine Collins, who is now a ward sister in a London Hospital, but grew up in Haverfordwest, will be one of 14 volunteers who will fly out to Ethiopia to take part in Project Harar.

Set up more than ten years ago, Project Harar helps young people with serious facial disabilities including tumours, animal attacks, cleft lip and cleft palate.

Catherine will be part of a specialist team that will prepare, operate on and then rehabilitate between 40-50 young patients in just two weeks, having been brought in from rural areas of the country.

She will be working with five local nurses at a public hospital in the country’s capital Addis Ababa on the postoperative care of the patients.

She said: “It is going to be really complicated surgery in very different conditions.

There will be an exchange of skills and we’ll be there to give expert support.

“I’m really excited, it’s an incredible opportunity.”

For more information visit www.projectharar.org.