After working for almost a decade as a general physician in various public and private health organisations, I wanted to do something new. I had worked in a government hospital, on private projects supported by international donors, in the city, as well as in remote areas. I had been a clinician and a manager. But … Read more
As I was getting ready for my mission to Papua New Guinea to work as a logistician, I had so many thoughts racing through my mind about the place, people, culture, work and how to cope living away from my family for 12 long months. This was to be my first mission as an international … Read more
Last June riots erupted in Osh, in southern Kyrgyzstan, killing at least 400 people and injuring thousands more. MSF teams provided medical care and assistance to many of the injured. xxxxxxxxxxxx helped one young man who escaped death by leaping from a sixth floor window During my mission in Osh, I was called to see … Read more
The first time I heard about MSF was on 26 May 2009, when Dr Shanti Hegde, an experienced MSF volunteer from Karnataka, came to my institute, along with Farhat Mantoo from the human resources office, to give a presentation about MSF’s activities. I was very much impressed by MSF’s principles, values and medical humanitarian work. … Read more
A lot of expectations and excitement, starting right from the Preparation for Primary Departure (or PPD) training course: who is going where, through chitchats and Facebook; anticipating that next it will be my turn; being proposed for the Central African Republic (my French is not up to the mark!), Papua New Guinea and finally landing … Read more
MY FIRST MISSION WITH MSF Introduction My name is Kalyan Velivala. Let me tell you a bit about how I came to know about MSF. I had been working in India in the field of Internal medicine and in ICU’s .My family wanted me to pursue a specialization .Therefore I applied for a ‘Masters in … Read more
©MSF I worked with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Nigeria from January 2010 till October 2010 as a supply logistician. I am very proud that my first mission as an international staff was in Nigeria, which was where a group of French doctors came up with the idea of creating MSF. It all happened during … Read more
“I think the surgeries and rehabilitating patients with vesicovaginal fistula was one of the greatest contributions MSF made to the people of Nigeria.” I worked at Jahun, a place in Jigawa state in Nigeria on my first assignment with MSF. This was my first work experience in Africa. Before MSF I have been working in … Read more
“I think the surgeries and rehabilitation patients with vesicovaginal fistula was one of the greatest contributions MSF made to the people of Nigeria.” I worked at Jahun, a place in Jigawa state in Nigeria on my first assignment with MSF. This was my first work experience in Africa. Before MSF I have been working in … Read more
My first mission field experience – “Bush knife: the villain of the land”: Papua New Guinea – The country is beautiful and the people are, in large part, very friendly and well-behaved. But between them there is a very strange form of violence, particularly in Tari, the Southern Highlands Province situated about 2000 meters altitude. … Read more