A PONTYPOOL student helping Aids orphans in Uganda has vowed to carry on her work despite battling a series of health setbacks.

Emma-Sian Ford, aged 19, from New Inn, has been working in the African state for eight months.

But the devout Christian recently contracted a serious infection and a rash from using unclean water, and has been suffering with a heart that beats too fast.

He heart problem is caused by a benign tumour on her adrenal gland, which is causing adrenalin to be pumped into the heart, making it race. Her father, Barrie Ford, said: "I have a genetic heart problem which is linked to diabetes, and she had feared it was the same.

"But when she comes back from Africa, she can have a small operation to remove the tumour and that is expected to sort the problem out, which is good news."

Mr Ford said he and wife Helen are very proud of Emma's work. He said: "She has been very ill but is working through the illnesses. She is too wrapped up in her work to think about anything else, even herself. She would die out there to help these people. I keep saying she has to put herself first sometimes."

Emma is expected home at the end of June, and her parents are arranging doctor's and dentist's appointments for her.

Mr Ford said: "People have come up to me and said it's great that she's out there doing such a good job. The work has taken over her life. They call her Mother Emma because she looks after them all. She's a very caring girl with a heart of gold."

Emma's constant texts and e-mails home have revealed some emotional stories.

"A few weeks ago a young homeless girl and her sisters, whose mother had died, came to Emma for help," said Mr Ford. "They were homeless, had no money and only the clothes that they were wearing. The girl was convinced that Mother Emma would be able to sort them out."

Emma managed to persuade their uncle to take the girls in, and even gave him some of her own money to look after them.