AN exciting adventure into the heart of Africa is something many dream of.
To volunteer vital skills and improve the medical systems in one of the world's poorest countries is also something one might only see in a movie or only hear about.
But not Nathan Daley.
The Queensland Ambulance Service officer is leading with his head and heart as he flies to East Africa to establish a desperately needed medical evacuation service.
For 10 years Mr Daley has been the ambo at Cunnamulla, the busiest two-man station in the state's south-west.
"We are averaging 500 calls a year," he said.
"It's very interesting medicine. You can be hours away from any other assistance, which is very different from Brisbane where you are 20 minutes from a tertiary receiving hospital."
Mr Daley spent 14 years working in Brisbane before heading west and embracing country life and his community.
"We have a wonderful working relationship with the Cunnamulla Hospital and you really feel part of the health team."
Mr Daley said that city ambos are one of many paramedics who could respond to an incident.
"When something happens in Cunnamulla it is either Paul Chapman or myself, so you develop a sense of ownership, a protective feeling towards the place and the people."
While studying his master's in public health through James Cook University, Mr Daley travelled to Tanzania for a two-week study tour in September last year.
He was immediately impressed by the expatriates running Plaster House, which offers a place for children to recuperate after surgery.
"Plaster House wanted to establish an air ambulance and once they heard I was an isolated-practice paramedic in the far west of Queensland we quickly began discussions."
Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world with its population of 49 million people predominantly living in rural and remote areas.
"This is a poor country with limited medical resources and limited health professionals," he said.
"What medical care there is still has a cost because it is a users pays system and, with an average monthly wage of around US$100, many can't afford to pay."
As a self-funded volunteer, Mr Daley will spend six months establishing and crewing an air ambulance out of Arusha, a city of four million people.
He hopes to be able to train and empower local staff to keep the air ambulance service going once he returns to Cunnamulla.
"I am sure I will have an on-going role with return visits because once you invest in a project like this you are committed to making it work."
