A nurse from a hospital Trust has been selected to meet with Zimbabwe’s Health Secretary in honour of Black History Month.

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is to meet the nation’s Health Secretary as she develops a project to support the state’s healthcare system.

Practice development lead nurse for Essex Partnership University NHS Trust, Lucia Vambe, held talks with Obediah Moyo today (Friday, October 11).

Ms Vambe is currently developing a Zimbabwe Life Project to support the country’s healthcare system while highlighting the achievements of her African and African-Caribbean colleagues.

Sean Leahy, executive director of people and culture, said: “Black and minority ethnic staff have been a critical part of the NHS workforce for many years and account for almost a quarter of our workforce.

“It’s clear that our African and African-Caribbean employees make a vital contribution to our services.

“We want to mark Black History Month by celebrating their work and achievements to show how much we value them and to demonstrate our commitment to doing all we can to improve their experience and provide them with fulfilling careers.”

The Trust is keen to celebrate their success to raise awareness of black staff’s work throughout its mental health, community and specialist services.

Managers are also keen to inspire more of African and African-Caribbean staff to take advantage of work and training opportunities open to them across Essex, Suffolk and Bedfordshire.

Mobolaji Lewis, the Trust’s head of physiotherapy and senior community mental nealth Nurse Dairo Olusegun, who has completed the national Florence Nightingale Windrush 70 Leadership Programme, also attended.

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is using its commemorating Black History Month by copying in @bhmUK and using hashtags #BlackHistoryMonth, #BlackHistoryMonth2019 and #bhm.