A LEADING plastic surgeon from Wirral is heading to Jordan on a mission to treat wounded Syrian refugees whose lives have been torn apart by the civil war engulfing the country.

Dr Ali Juma will travel to Jordan in January to help with an international humanitarian effort by offering his medical skills in the capital, Amman.

The eight-day mission, organised by worldwide charity LEAP Global Missions, will see Dr Juma and a cohort of international plastic surgeons perform round-the-clock reconstructive surgery on children and adults who have suffered devastating war wounds including electrical burns, and traumatic injuries caused by gunshots and explosives.

The 53-year-old, who based at Spire Murrayfield Hospital in Heswall, has more than 23 years’ experience in plastic surgery, will also share his specialist expertise with locally-based doctors to enhance their work and learn more about surgical developments elsewhere in the world.

He said: "I have family and friends in Jordan and have visited the country before but to go to Jordan on a medical mission will be really interesting.

"I have a positive nervousness about going because I've never practised abroad before."

Dr Juma, who lives with his family in Aigburth, continued: "The fact that I'm helping people is really exciting to me as a doctor because you want to give something back.

"One way to give is to donate your time as well as expertise. It is time away from my wife and children, and without their support it would have been difficult.

"It'll be nice to meet other surgeons.

"It will be a learning experience as well as a humbling one because you're working in another country and giving to people who need your expertise.

"At the same time, you're meeting other organisations and being introduced to people from across the world so you can learn from their experiences and surgical techniques.

"This is the first mission I’m doing with the foundation.

"It will be educational, engaging with local organisations and people from adjacent countries, and some will be scheduled clinics and theatre.

"We'll be talking to individual companies for equipment over the next few weeks, and all help is welcome."

LEAP Global Missions provides free specialised surgical services to people in need across the world.

In the 24 years the charity has been in operation, it has delivered 9,080 free surgeries in 21 countries, 585 of which were held last year alone.