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Anna with a mother and her child, who is getting better after treatment provided by MSF in the Somali region of Ethiopia. [MSF]
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Most of the children are dying from simple illnesses - diarrhea, chest infections, preventable childhood illnesses such as measles and malnutrition. We use IV fluids, antibiotics and nutritional support to nurse these children back to health. Amazingly, most of our patients do recover, despite the limitations of what we have to offer. Some are not so lucky. It is so sad watching a baby die from pneumonia, when in a more advanced setting they would easily survive. The nearest proper hospital is a two day drive away so it’s rarely an option.
When I am not volunteering as a medical doctor for MSF, I work as a General Practitioner in the NE of England. Next time anyone complains about the National Health Service there I suggest they put themselves in the shoes of a typical nomad like Fatima*, who walked for 4 days with no food or water to reach the clinic with her 4 month old baby. She was so exhausted that her breast milk had dried up. Her baby weighed only 2.5kg and was close to death. We were able to admit them both to our inpatient ward and the child is slowly improving with intensive nutritional support. She is one of the lucky ones – many don’t make the journey.
Work can be very frustrating. I am so busy during the day that I never have time to finish anything properly! I juggle ward rounds, reviewing complicated cases in our out patient department, admitting emergency cases, doing minor surgery in our small dressing room and assisting difficult deliveries. Add to this training local staff, sorting out human resource problems and trying to chase goats out of my ward and I hardly know whether I am coming or going. It can also be stressful living and working in an area of armed conflict, with severe restrictions on any form of social life.
Despite all the difficulties and challenges, I do love my work. It is so satisfying seeing critically sick children recover, when, without the efforts of the MSF team, they would certainly die. MSF is not only providing healthcare, our presence in Wardher also gives hope to what is a very neglected population.
*False name to protect anonymity
(MSF via China.org.cn December 3, 2008)
