It is with a heavy heart that I am writing my final post on
this blog. But everything requires closure and the time is right to wrap this
up.
Writing this has been a real pleasure. Whilst it has been
quite a mission at times, I have genuinely enjoyed the process and have found
it often therapeutic. Perhaps it is the opportunity to order my thoughts,
perhaps it is the opportunity to offload. Regardless, there is also something
very powerful about sharing experiences with others. Whilst my natural
preference would be to talk about things over a cup of tea or a beer, I have
surprised myself about how engaged with this ‘blogging thing’ I became.
There have also been several moments when it has been quite difficult
to write about the things that I did write about. I have on more than one
occasion felt quite vulnerable by what I was sharing. I have opened my heart
and mind, which I hope has been interesting, insightful and valuable to those
reading it. In doing so, my hope is that for some, reading this will inspire
you to get involved in some way with Global Health. Whether it is to support
projects financially, to influence policies and politics or even to go out to
such places and give time / skills / education / support / care. It is so very
much needed and, in my experience, welcomed. The gaps in Global Health are substantial
and it is, I believe, everyone’s responsibility to help close them.
There is so much more that I could write about – things such
as how LMICs are viewed and portrayed, how to best direct support for them, ways
to cope doing work such as this, how to teach, how to learn, how to enjoy the
time, what I have gotten out of it (loads!). But as I began to pen some of my
final thoughts and conclusions to ‘paper’ I realised that I was in danger of
slipping into longwinded rambling and also the potential imposition of my
opinion on others. I wish to do neither. But perhaps the above ‘questions’
might be useful food for thought for all of us.
So finally, I want to say a few thank you’s. Firstly, to all
of you who have taken the time to read this blog. Thanks also to those who have
left comments or fed back through other media. It has meant a lot and lifted me
through some of the more difficult periods.
I want to thank the Hereford Link for allowing us to
piggyback on their incredible working relationship with Muheza Hospital –
especially K&R without whose enthusiasm, encouragement and willingness to
share, none of this would have happened. I also want to thank Hernia
International, who were so very generous in sharing their incredible experience
with me and enabling the development of the mesh hernia service that we did. I
suspect that this project will remain one of the most personally rewarding
things I will ever achieve.
I must mention the chidlers schools, who have supported them
in coming and have managed to hold their places open for our return (which by
all accounts has not been easy). Their UK school work kept them sane.
Clearly the staff of St Augustine’s Hospital Muheza need a
huge thank you for inviting us to work with them and for being such incredible
colleagues and now friends. They are such an inspiring and lovely group of
people working in a very challenging environment. There is so much to admire,
and I am just delighted that they were so receptive to working with us.
Thank you to all our colleagues who have supported us in a professional
sense. There have been some invaluable conversations, emails and WhatsApp
messaging that has supported us through some of the most challenging times.
There are many friends and members of our extended families
that have offered us a tremendous amount of support. You all made this
possible, so I hope that some of the pride and satisfaction that we feel in
having done it can be shared by you too.
My wife is absolutely amazing and there is no doubt that I
would not be where I am without her. I don’t think I can ever adequately put
this into words, so for now will leave it at that. I must finally thank my
children who had no choice in coming with us (and at times made this observation themselves in a very compelling fashion), who weathered the experience so
very well, and I hope in time will ultimately look back on our Tanzania
adventure fondly. It has been far from easy for them, but I am in no doubt though,
that we have all gained from the experience considerably.
My mind is very much still processing my experience, and
will I suspect for a long time to come. I am so pleased that we actually made
it happen and went. It has been incredible. So very challenging, but
incredible. I also believe I have become a far better surgeon for my time in
Tanzania – who knew for example that I could work effectively for 5 months without ever
seeing the renal function of one of my patients?!
For now we are home though and have, I think, successfully ‘plugged
ourselves back into the Matrix’. There are many things to love about the UK,
but many things that are worth carrying with us from Tanzania. I hope we can
enjoy the best of both.
One of the real highlights of this time for me has been the
extensive collaboration that I have enjoyed. It has been such a privilege to
work with so many different people (many completely unexpectedly), across so
many different contexts and localities. It has been truly fabulous and I look
forward to all the future opportunities to continue this work and make a real
difference to the lives of those who, purely by circumstance, find themselves
in a less privileged position than many of us enjoy.
Many thanks for reading.
Asante sana kwa kusoma. Nitarudi tena.