A COUNTY DURHAM goods vehicle driving instructor has been training charity workers in an African state as part of a three-week secondment.

Malcolm Kidd, 49, an instructor for North-East logistics training company Van Hee, worked with Transaid in Nigeria, instructing six new trainers.

The trip marked the first overseas project between Gateshead-based Van Hee and Transaid, the transport industry’s charity.

Mr Kidd, from Newton Aycliffe, was in Yobe State, northern Nigeria, one of four states in the region where Transaid is helping to improve immunisation coverage and access to healthcare for women and young children.

Key to achieving this is Transaid’s effort to improve the way transport is run.

Mr Kidd said: “My trip coincided with the arrival of 35 new ambulances and I spent much of my time helping to train a group of ambulance driver trainers.

“They were incredibly eager to learn. As a result, they have already trained their first 20 drivers.

“Research two years ago has estimated that there is only one health service vehicle per 100,000 people in the region, which suffers from high child and maternal mortality rates.

“If the training we have delivered proves successful in improving vehicle utilisation and safety across the fleet then we will have helped to save lives.”