TWO businesswomen will swap their normal roles later this month to help at a leprosy hospital in rural India.

Pamela Suhadolnik and Jo Daly, both from Darlington, will spend ten days in India providing free dental treatment at the hospital, a medical centre and local school.

They also hope to train a teacher and pupils in dental hygiene techniques so it can become a regular part of the curriculum.

They will take with them toothbrushes, dental supplies, and other equipment to help continue their work when they leave.

Mrs Suhadolnik, who owns Chipmates fish and chip shop, in Haughton, first became interested in the problem of poverty in India when she travelled to India in 2006 with television presenter Fern Britton to take part in Cycle India.

Two years later, she learnt of the hospital from its proprietor, Dr Vikas Amte, who was a guest speaker at a Darlington Rotary Club meeting, and visited the hospital that year for a filming project.

When Mrs Suhadolnik returned, her friend, Dr Daly, who has done similar work in Burkina Faso, Nepal and Romania, offered to help.

The Maharogi Sewa Samiti leprosy hospital was set up more than 60 years ago when the Indian government donated some scrubland in Anandwan to Dr Amte’s late father.

Now based over three centres, each self-sustaining villages, they treat thousands of people a year.

Mrs Suhadolnik said: “I was excited to find out about a project that works well because it is self-perpetuating.

“It is not a charity, but they are grateful for any help and any publicity they can get. It keeps going because it is self sustaining.

It is magical to see how it all works. The people there are so amazing and so cheerful.”

Dr Daly, from Springs Dental Studio, in Yarm Road, Darlington, is also planning a project to Peru in August.

Speaking about the trip to India, she said: “We will have to go by jeep to get to the camp. We will also be treating the blind as well as tribal people and children at a school.”

Anyone who wants to help can donate toothbrushes or money with which to buy pharmaceuticals by calling 01325-461541 or visiting Chipmates.