About Mini's Village Foundation
We provide free HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B healthcare and education in the West African country of Sierra Leone.
MVF is both a UK-registered and a Sierra Leone-registered charity. HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B are two of the largest and more preventable causes of death in Sierra Leone, currently one of the least developed nations in the world. However, the associated stigma has led to healthcare avoidance in the population.
Our central aim is to provide ongoing healthcare, free at source, for HIV-positive and HBV-positive people. To achieve this, a dedicated clinic will be built in Lungi, an easily accessible location for maximal access to the affected population. Also, a series of projects will be developed to educate the general population and healthcare professionals on these conditions and against stigma.
Our Story
It is safe to assume that most people in Sierra Leone have lost friends, relatives or loved ones to HIV/AIDS. In 2017, I lost someone very significant in my life to HIV/AIDS – My Mother Miniratu . She was a young energetic nurse with a great sense of humor who loved caring for her patients. Tragically, she contracted the virus through a needlestick injury at work while trying to sterilize needle . Her diagnosis was a heart-breaking moment for us as a family – especially to me her only daughter. Access to treatment was limited if not impossible to get.
The news of her HIV status spread through our community like a bush-fire in the harmattan. The stigma she had to face was outrageous. Her friends and neighbours no longer wanted to be associated with her and she was not allowed to take part in community activities or even sold food products. Miniratu went into isolation due to depression, sher condition got really worst, she was admitted to the hospital by a family friend whom i sent to pick her up and take her to the hospital, the following day i flew from UK to Sierra Leone to be with my mother, 2 days after I arrived, i lost my Mother (Miniratu).
Miniratu for short ( Mini's) story has been the inspiration for me to launch a foundation in her honour to protect those who get infected with HIV or HBV – not only from these conditions but also from the stigma associated with them.
Ramata Rebecca Kanu
Co-Founder and CEO
What We Value
We are striving to carry out our mission with the highest standard of professional conduct and the most up-to-date techniques. We acknowledge the impact that these diseases have on patients and their families, so we will endeavour to support them in their ongoing care. We also believe that all patients have the right to be treated with true confidentiality, including their medical records. This way, we will minimise the continuing stigma associated with having these conditions.
Patients and their care are the most important pieces of the puzzle, but our staff and volunteers also play an invaluable role. Therefore, we must always act with integrity and honesty, ensuring the needs and requirements of every person involved with MVF – from patients and their relatives to our donors, funders and collaborators.
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Care & Support
We will treat patients with kindness, respect and compassion. Their struggle is ... but their welfare ...
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Professionalism
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Equality & Non-Discrimination
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Community Outreach
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Innovation
The latest testing and screening technologies...
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Transparency
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Meet The Team
Co-Founder & Chairman
Lahai Philip Ambulai
Lahai Philip Ambulai is the CEO / Founder of UK medicare Screening Ltd . Mr. Ambulai holds
B.Sc. (Hons) Biomedicine at Kingston Univeristy, Higher Diploma in Surgical
Management at Oxford University (Pembroke College), M.SC. Infectious Diseases and Bioinformatic
Genomes at University of Kent. Mr. Ambulai has over 12 years of clinical
experiences both in the NHS and Private sector. Mr Ambulai is a Founder and currently Chairman at Mini's Village Foundation.
Co-Founder & CEO
Ramata Rebecca Kanu
Ramata Rebecca Kanu, is a Director of UK Medicare Screening Ltd, and Co-founder of MVF. She holds Higher National Diploma in Human Nutrition, BSc (Hons) in Healthcare Science, a PGDip in Bioinformatics and a MSc in Public Health.
Trustee & Chief Advisor
Prof Francis Amara
is a Professor of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics at the University of Manitoba (Canada). Born in Sierra Leone, he has launched 11 Kenema-STEM Philanthropy Network to promote STEM and medical education in his home country. He is currently the Chief Advisor for MVF
Trustee & Senior Medical Advisor
Prof Simon Taylor-Robinson
is a Senior Clinical Advisor and a Professor of Hepatology at Imperial College London. He is also former Dean of Imperial College School of Medicine (UK). He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians as well as a Fellow of the West African College of Physicians. He has much experience in HBV projects in West Africa (Gambia, Senegal and Nigeria) and holds an honorary Professorship at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research in Lagos, Nigeria. He is currently our Senior Medical Advisor.
Trustee & Senior Education Advisor
Prof Michelle Croston
is the Lead HIV Specialist Nurse in the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. Her extensive national and international career has focused on HIV with much experience in public education and reducing stigma. She is currently our Director for Education.
Trustee & Senior Financial Advisor
James Maltby
Deputy CEO
Álvaro del Valle Palacios
Álvaro del Valle Palacios is a lawyer with a LLB from Complutense University of Madrid and a PGCert in Human Rights Law from the School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London). He is currently finishing a MA in Corporate Communications. He is the executive members and Director for Media and Communications for MVF.
Senior Management Advisor