[Applause] whatever you do will be insignificant
whatever you do will be insignificant
whatever you do will be insignificant but it is very important that you do it
but it is very important that you do it
but it is very important that you do it somebody wants famous called Mahatma
somebody wants famous called Mahatma
somebody wants famous called Mahatma Gandhi use those words once and if you
Gandhi use those words once and if you
Gandhi use those words once and if you want to take those words and apply them
want to take those words and apply them
want to take those words and apply them directly to the humanitarian sector
directly to the humanitarian sector
directly to the humanitarian sector nobody would ever do any work what would
nobody would ever do any work what would
nobody would ever do any work what would be the motivation what would be your
be the motivation what would be your
be the motivation what would be your drive to go and work in a challenging
drive to go and work in a challenging
drive to go and work in a challenging environment leave behind your family
environment leave behind your family
environment leave behind your family your friends be in a really difficult
your friends be in a really difficult
your friends be in a really difficult situation I’d like to talk to you today
situation I’d like to talk to you today
situation I’d like to talk to you today using some examples for my own
using some examples for my own
using some examples for my own experiences about what I think defines a
experiences about what I think defines a
experiences about what I think defines a humanitarian worker and what makes a
humanitarian worker and what makes a
humanitarian worker and what makes a good humanitarian the dictionary says
good humanitarian the dictionary says
good humanitarian the dictionary says that a humanitarian is somebody who
that a humanitarian is somebody who
that a humanitarian is somebody who works for the betterment of the human
works for the betterment of the human
works for the betterment of the human condition somebody who works for the
condition somebody who works for the
condition somebody who works for the welfare of humanity
welfare of humanity
welfare of humanity I think that definition is a good
I think that definition is a good
I think that definition is a good definition but I think that it lacks
definition but I think that it lacks
definition but I think that it lacks depth and so I’m gonna explore that a
depth and so I’m gonna explore that a
depth and so I’m gonna explore that a bit I was a teenager when I first heard
bit I was a teenager when I first heard
bit I was a teenager when I first heard an interview with a doctor and a nurse
an interview with a doctor and a nurse
an interview with a doctor and a nurse from MSF Doctors Without Borders and it
from MSF Doctors Without Borders and it
from MSF Doctors Without Borders and it was like a lightbulb moment I didn’t
was like a lightbulb moment I didn’t
was like a lightbulb moment I didn’t really know what I wants to do with my
really know what I wants to do with my
really know what I wants to do with my life and at that point in time I
life and at that point in time I
life and at that point in time I listening to that interview and I’m
listening to that interview and I’m
listening to that interview and I’m hearing these people who are using
hearing these people who are using
hearing these people who are using skills and knowledge and they’re going
skills and knowledge and they’re going
skills and knowledge and they’re going to exciting places in the world and
to exciting places in the world and
to exciting places in the world and they’re treating people and they’re
they’re treating people and they’re
they’re treating people and they’re going into places that you can’t go you
going into places that you can’t go you
going into places that you can’t go you can’t go there as a tourist and they’re
can’t go there as a tourist and they’re
can’t go there as a tourist and they’re coming across cultures and languages so
coming across cultures and languages so
coming across cultures and languages so so fascinating I got so excited I
so fascinating I got so excited I
so fascinating I got so excited I thought yes that is what I want to do I
thought yes that is what I want to do I
thought yes that is what I want to do I want to be a doctor I want to have an
want to be a doctor I want to have an
want to be a doctor I want to have an adventure I want to be a vegetarian I
adventure I want to be a vegetarian I
adventure I want to be a vegetarian I didn’t really know what that meant yet
didn’t really know what that meant yet
didn’t really know what that meant yet how many of you guys in the last day
how many of you guys in the last day
how many of you guys in the last day week month have come across images of
week month have come across images of
week month have come across images of suffering and injustice
suffering and injustice
suffering and injustice maybe images of war everybody to a
maybe images of war everybody to a
maybe images of war everybody to a person in this room is putting it
person in this room is putting it
person in this room is putting it because we see it all the time it’s in
because we see it all the time it’s in
because we see it all the time it’s in the media it’s all around us it’s on the
the media it’s all around us it’s on the
the media it’s all around us it’s on the news and the newspapers it’s the
news and the newspapers it’s the
news and the newspapers it’s the magazines it’s on our television on the
magazines it’s on our television on the
magazines it’s on our television on the radio to see it on websites and we have
radio to see it on websites and we have
radio to see it on websites and we have is momentary flitting moments of empathy
is momentary flitting moments of empathy
is momentary flitting moments of empathy that go as quickly as they come as soon
that go as quickly as they come as soon
that go as quickly as they come as soon as we click as soon as we turn the page
as we click as soon as we turn the page
as we click as soon as we turn the page as soon as we change the channel but it
as soon as we change the channel but it
as soon as we change the channel but it is very difficult to do that when you
is very difficult to do that when you
is very difficult to do that when you are faced with it directly at 17 I went
are faced with it directly at 17 I went
are faced with it directly at 17 I went out to Sri Lanka to work in an orphan
out to Sri Lanka to work in an orphan
out to Sri Lanka to work in an orphan care center and I was really struck by
care center and I was really struck by
care center and I was really struck by the number of young people in this
the number of young people in this
the number of young people in this orphan centre who were really severely
orphan centre who were really severely
orphan centre who were really severely disabled by medical conditions
disabled by medical conditions
disabled by medical conditions conditions like polio clubfoot and
conditions like polio clubfoot and
conditions like polio clubfoot and measles conditions that are largely
measles conditions that are largely
measles conditions that are largely preventable or treatable if you have
preventable or treatable if you have
preventable or treatable if you have access to vaccinations clean water good
access to vaccinations clean water good
access to vaccinations clean water good quality medical and surgical services
quality medical and surgical services
quality medical and surgical services and that inequality really really felt
and that inequality really really felt
and that inequality really really felt unfair to me and at that point it really
unfair to me and at that point it really
unfair to me and at that point it really cemented this idea that I really wanted
cemented this idea that I really wanted
cemented this idea that I really wanted to do something about it so fast forward
to do something about it so fast forward
to do something about it so fast forward seven years later and I finished medical
seven years later and I finished medical
seven years later and I finished medical school my junior doctor rotations and
school my junior doctor rotations and
school my junior doctor rotations and I’m going to Belgium to learn tropical
I’m going to Belgium to learn tropical
I’m going to Belgium to learn tropical medicine and words like leishmaniasis
medicine and words like leishmaniasis
medicine and words like leishmaniasis and malaria and colors are are floating
and malaria and colors are are floating
and malaria and colors are are floating around in my head and I am getting so
around in my head and I am getting so
around in my head and I am getting so excited because it’s so fascinating it’s
excited because it’s so fascinating it’s
excited because it’s so fascinating it’s such an interesting area of medicine and
such an interesting area of medicine and
such an interesting area of medicine and I really am so thrilled to start my real
I really am so thrilled to start my real
I really am so thrilled to start my real career not just as a doctor but as a
career not just as a doctor but as a
career not just as a doctor but as a humanitarian I want to go to the place
humanitarian I want to go to the place
humanitarian I want to go to the place and I’ve been very lucky I’ve had a very
and I’ve been very lucky I’ve had a very
and I’ve been very lucky I’ve had a very exceptional journey so far and not just
exceptional journey so far and not just
exceptional journey so far and not just in humanitarian work but also an
in humanitarian work but also an
in humanitarian work but also an expedition I’ve been to primary jungle
expedition I’ve been to primary jungle
expedition I’ve been to primary jungle in Borneo I’ve been to post earthquake
in Borneo I’ve been to post earthquake
in Borneo I’ve been to post earthquake Haiti I’ve been to the Peruvian Amazon
Haiti I’ve been to the Peruvian Amazon
Haiti I’ve been to the Peruvian Amazon and to the war zones in Central African
and to the war zones in Central African
and to the war zones in Central African Republic and even the battlegrounds of
Republic and even the battlegrounds of
Republic and even the battlegrounds of the UK’s NHS system all these
the UK’s NHS system all these
the UK’s NHS system all these environments have really taught me that
environments have really taught me that
environments have really taught me that there are certain key aspects that will
there are certain key aspects that will
there are certain key aspects that will make or break your experience not just
make or break your experience not just
make or break your experience not just as a doctor or as a humanitarian but
as a doctor or as a humanitarian but
as a doctor or as a humanitarian but just as a person who’s trying to make
just as a person who’s trying to make
just as a person who’s trying to make impact a positive impact on their
impact a positive impact on their
impact a positive impact on their environment and those are good
environment and those are good
environment and those are good communication skills
communication skills
communication skills flexibility and creativity the power of
flexibility and creativity the power of
flexibility and creativity the power of your own resilience and understanding
your own resilience and understanding
your own resilience and understanding your vulnerabilities and your weaknesses
your vulnerabilities and your weaknesses
your vulnerabilities and your weaknesses my first mission was with MSF in 2013
my first mission was with MSF in 2013
my first mission was with MSF in 2013 and I went to Haiti and I was sent to
and I went to Haiti and I was sent to
and I went to Haiti and I was sent to work in a burns unit and I was
work in a burns unit and I was
work in a burns unit and I was absolutely terrified I have never seen a
absolutely terrified I have never seen a
absolutely terrified I have never seen a burns patient before I didn’t really
burns patient before I didn’t really
burns patient before I didn’t really speak that great French but luckily I
speak that great French but luckily I
speak that great French but luckily I arrived and I had armed with the MSF
arrived and I had armed with the MSF
arrived and I had armed with the MSF protocols and a team of national nurses
protocols and a team of national nurses
protocols and a team of national nurses and doctors who were incredibly
and doctors who were incredibly
and doctors who were incredibly experienced and skilled we managed to
experienced and skilled we managed to
experienced and skilled we managed to collaborate together and do some really
collaborate together and do some really
collaborate together and do some really great work and I learned a huge amount
great work and I learned a huge amount
great work and I learned a huge amount from them but one of the things that I
from them but one of the things that I
from them but one of the things that I really learned about there was certainly
really learned about there was certainly
really learned about there was certainly communication and not just about
communication and not just about
communication and not just about language but also about crossing
language but also about crossing
language but also about crossing cultural barriers and understanding the
cultural barriers and understanding the
cultural barriers and understanding the social and cultural context in which you
social and cultural context in which you
social and cultural context in which you work
work
work and if particularly as a doctor that can
and if particularly as a doctor that can
and if particularly as a doctor that can be very very important especially when
be very very important especially when
be very very important especially when you want to mitigate mistrust and
you want to mitigate mistrust and
you want to mitigate mistrust and misunderstanding with your patients
misunderstanding with your patients
misunderstanding with your patients burns and Haiti are complex injuries and
burns and Haiti are complex injuries and
burns and Haiti are complex injuries and there’s a lot of reasons why people get
there’s a lot of reasons why people get
there’s a lot of reasons why people get them but primarily if you think about it
them but primarily if you think about it
them but primarily if you think about it it’s down to poverty domestic accidents
it’s down to poverty domestic accidents
it’s down to poverty domestic accidents are very common and one such accident
are very common and one such accident
are very common and one such accident resulted in two patients coming into the
resulted in two patients coming into the
resulted in two patients coming into the hospital on Christmas Day after a gas
hospital on Christmas Day after a gas
hospital on Christmas Day after a gas bottle exploded in their kitchen a
bottle exploded in their kitchen a
bottle exploded in their kitchen a couple in their late thirties were
couple in their late thirties were
couple in their late thirties were covered in more than 30% of their body
covered in more than 30% of their body
covered in more than 30% of their body with burns their arms their legs their
with burns their arms their legs their
with burns their arms their legs their chest their faces and they were across
chest their faces and they were across
chest their faces and they were across from each other in their medical high
from each other in their medical high
from each other in their medical high dependency unit and they used to say to
dependency unit and they used to say to
dependency unit and they used to say to each other in the mornings 7:00 on a
each other in the mornings 7:00 on a
each other in the mornings 7:00 on a movie Shelley Sarah how are you my
movie Shelley Sarah how are you my
movie Shelley Sarah how are you my darling yes my love I’m fine and they
darling yes my love I’m fine and they
darling yes my love I’m fine and they were adorable they had a very very
were adorable they had a very very
were adorable they had a very very challenging route to recovery infections
challenging route to recovery infections
challenging route to recovery infections operations the skin grafts nutrition is
operations the skin grafts nutrition is
operations the skin grafts nutrition is very challenging you need to eat a lot
very challenging you need to eat a lot
very challenging you need to eat a lot of calories and protein to get better
of calories and protein to get better
of calories and protein to get better but they made it and two months later
but they made it and two months later
but they made it and two months later they were able to be discharged home the
they were able to be discharged home the
they were able to be discharged home the same day and I spent a lot of time
same day and I spent a lot of time
same day and I spent a lot of time talking to them about the medical care
talking to them about the medical care
talking to them about the medical care physiotherapy compressive bandaging
physiotherapy compressive bandaging
physiotherapy compressive bandaging making sure they have a good diet but
making sure they have a good diet but
making sure they have a good diet but something was missing from the
something was missing from the
something was missing from the consultation they left and two weeks
consultation they left and two weeks
consultation they left and two weeks later I got in a phone call from the
later I got in a phone call from the
later I got in a phone call from the outpatient department and one of the
outpatient department and one of the
outpatient department and one of the nurses said the couple had come back to
nurses said the couple had come back to
nurses said the couple had come back to speak to me really urgently
speak to me really urgently
speak to me really urgently and I took the call and I said what’s
and I took the call and I said what’s
and I took the call and I said what’s the emergency and the husband spoke to
the emergency and the husband spoke to
the emergency and the husband spoke to me and said no no doctor and we’re fine
me and said no no doctor and we’re fine
me and said no no doctor and we’re fine but when they I make love to my wife
but when they I make love to my wife
but when they I make love to my wife again so I’d really miss something very
again so I’d really miss something very
again so I’d really miss something very important and that’s really essential
important and that’s really essential
important and that’s really essential when you work not just as a doctor but
when you work not just as a doctor but
when you work not just as a doctor but in any job in the environment that
in any job in the environment that
in any job in the environment that you’re in it’s really essential that you
you’re in it’s really essential that you
you’re in it’s really essential that you understand what makes people tick and
understand what makes people tick and
understand what makes people tick and that helps you to communicate with them
that helps you to communicate with them
that helps you to communicate with them so I was so focused on having the best
so I was so focused on having the best
so I was so focused on having the best interest of my patients really centrally
interest of my patients really centrally
interest of my patients really centrally but actually I totally missed something
but actually I totally missed something
but actually I totally missed something that was even more important to them we
that was even more important to them we
that was even more important to them we work in a poor resource setting so yes
work in a poor resource setting so yes
work in a poor resource setting so yes MSF meets on some frontier is one of the
MSF meets on some frontier is one of the
MSF meets on some frontier is one of the richest organizations in the world when
richest organizations in the world when
richest organizations in the world when it comes to delivering high-quality
it comes to delivering high-quality
it comes to delivering high-quality medical care but that doesn’t mean that
medical care but that doesn’t mean that
medical care but that doesn’t mean that we always have everything at our
we always have everything at our
we always have everything at our fingertips sometimes you’re forced to be
fingertips sometimes you’re forced to be
fingertips sometimes you’re forced to be creative and to get flexible with the
creative and to get flexible with the
creative and to get flexible with the way that you treat your patients and you
way that you treat your patients and you
way that you treat your patients and you have to remember that although there are
have to remember that although there are
have to remember that although there are protocols patients are not protocols and
protocols patients are not protocols and
protocols patients are not protocols and occasionally you’re forced to go off
occasionally you’re forced to go off
occasionally you’re forced to go off protocol and treat them in the best way
protocol and treat them in the best way
protocol and treat them in the best way that you possibly can with whatever you
that you possibly can with whatever you
that you possibly can with whatever you have to hand imagine trying to be the
have to hand imagine trying to be the
have to hand imagine trying to be the logistician in a war zone getting
logistician in a war zone getting
logistician in a war zone getting materials and drugs across a border
materials and drugs across a border
materials and drugs across a border where there’s active fighting going on
where there’s active fighting going on
where there’s active fighting going on or that there’s been flooding and the
or that there’s been flooding and the
or that there’s been flooding and the river that you normally get over is an
river that you normally get over is an
river that you normally get over is an impassable so sometimes you have to get
impassable so sometimes you have to get
impassable so sometimes you have to get as I say flexible and creative and we
as I say flexible and creative and we
as I say flexible and creative and we discovered that using surgical abdominal
discovered that using surgical abdominal
discovered that using surgical abdominal compresses works really well when you
compresses works really well when you
compresses works really well when you have a large area of skin that you need
have a large area of skin that you need
have a large area of skin that you need to cover with a burn for a burn in
to cover with a burn for a burn in
to cover with a burn for a burn in addition if you run out of nutritional
addition if you run out of nutritional
addition if you run out of nutritional feeding that comes in a packet you can
feeding that comes in a packet you can
feeding that comes in a packet you can send a friendly logistician to the
send a friendly logistician to the
send a friendly logistician to the market to buy bananas some kind of bean
market to buy bananas some kind of bean
market to buy bananas some kind of bean and some milk powder and hey presto
and some milk powder and hey presto
and some milk powder and hey presto you’ve got a high protein high carb feed
you’ve got a high protein high carb feed
you’ve got a high protein high carb feed that’s ready to go and it works you just
that’s ready to go and it works you just
that’s ready to go and it works you just have to think outside the box a little
have to think outside the box a little
have to think outside the box a little bit
bit
bit but the high highs of getting over the
but the high highs of getting over the
but the high highs of getting over the odds and treating patients that you
odds and treating patients that you
odds and treating patients that you thought we’re never going to get out of
thought we’re never going to get out of
thought we’re never going to get out of hospital are sometimes completely
hospital are sometimes completely
hospital are sometimes completely countered by the most terrible low lows
countered by the most terrible low lows
countered by the most terrible low lows and in the resource setting that is
and in the resource setting that is
and in the resource setting that is difficult and challenging it’s not just
difficult and challenging it’s not just
difficult and challenging it’s not just about the materials but also about the
about the materials but also about the
about the materials but also about the space and we are accountable not just
space and we are accountable not just
space and we are accountable not just for our actions but also for our in
for our actions but also for our in
for our actions but also for our in actions imagine here if you were told
actions imagine here if you were told
actions imagine here if you were told you couldn’t get a GP appointment for
you couldn’t get a GP appointment for
you couldn’t get a GP appointment for the next two weeks who here’s had that
the next two weeks who here’s had that
the next two weeks who here’s had that before
before
before pretty frequently right and the NHS is
pretty frequently right and the NHS is
pretty frequently right and the NHS is always in the headlines isn’t it
always in the headlines isn’t it
always in the headlines isn’t it Charlie weights and long term that
Charlie weights and long term that
Charlie weights and long term that waiting for appointments and three
waiting for appointments and three
waiting for appointments and three months or more for your operation but
months or more for your operation but
months or more for your operation but you will always be treated and it will
you will always be treated and it will
you will always be treated and it will be good treatment that you will get but
be good treatment that you will get but
be good treatment that you will get but imagine that two-week wait was a
imagine that two-week wait was a
imagine that two-week wait was a two-week walk to get to your doctor and
imagine if you came to the hospital and
imagine if you came to the hospital and they said oh sorry there’s no more room
they said oh sorry there’s no more room
they said oh sorry there’s no more room come back in a month in some contexts
come back in a month in some contexts
come back in a month in some contexts where we work we are it and the NGO
where we work we are it and the NGO
where we work we are it and the NGO sector is the only thing that is
sector is the only thing that is
sector is the only thing that is upholding any kind of health care for
upholding any kind of health care for
upholding any kind of health care for services that exists in the country and
services that exists in the country and
services that exists in the country and that can be really challenging and
that can be really challenging and
that can be really challenging and sometimes it forces us to make very very
sometimes it forces us to make very very
sometimes it forces us to make very very difficult and painful decisions three
difficult and painful decisions three
difficult and painful decisions three o’clock in the morning in Haiti I got a
o’clock in the morning in Haiti I got a
o’clock in the morning in Haiti I got a phone call from our project coordinator
phone call from our project coordinator
phone call from our project coordinator asking if we had space and at that point
asking if we had space and at that point
asking if we had space and at that point we did not we were full to capacity we
we did not we were full to capacity we
we did not we were full to capacity we were bursting the next day I discovered
were bursting the next day I discovered
were bursting the next day I discovered that we had turned away a father with
that we had turned away a father with
that we had turned away a father with two young children with severe burns two
two young children with severe burns two
two young children with severe burns two days later he came back his daughter had
days later he came back his daughter had
days later he came back his daughter had died and the little boy also died even
died and the little boy also died even
died and the little boy also died even though we made space for him because of
though we made space for him because of
though we made space for him because of complications from his injuries we
complications from his injuries we
complications from his injuries we cannot feel guilty for that though as
cannot feel guilty for that though as
cannot feel guilty for that though as individuals because we are so stretched
individuals because we are so stretched
individuals because we are so stretched sometimes but we have to remember that
sometimes but we have to remember that
sometimes but we have to remember that our responsibility is for the patients
our responsibility is for the patients
our responsibility is for the patients who are already under our care and that
who are already under our care and that
who are already under our care and that can be really really painful but you
can be really really painful but you
can be really really painful but you have to be strict when Europe but you
have to be strict when Europe but you
have to be strict when Europe but you only have limited staff and you only
only have limited staff and you only
only have limited staff and you only have limited materials in Central
have limited materials in Central
have limited materials in Central African Republic we ran a trauma center
African Republic we ran a trauma center
African Republic we ran a trauma center it was purely looking after victims of
it was purely looking after victims of
it was purely looking after victims of violence victims from the war victims
violence victims from the war victims
violence victims from the war victims from road traffic accidents and also
from road traffic accidents and also
from road traffic accidents and also victims of sexual abuse and it was
victims of sexual abuse and it was
victims of sexual abuse and it was challenging because we didn’t always
challenging because we didn’t always
challenging because we didn’t always have the space for everybody and we
have the space for everybody and we
have the space for everybody and we didn’t know we couldn’t treat everything
didn’t know we couldn’t treat everything
didn’t know we couldn’t treat everything that came in the door one of the things
that came in the door one of the things
that came in the door one of the things that you learn when you’re in the field
that you learn when you’re in the field
that you learn when you’re in the field is also as I said about resilience and
is also as I said about resilience and
is also as I said about resilience and also your vulnerability and your
also your vulnerability and your
also your vulnerability and your weaknesses nothing could have prepared
weaknesses nothing could have prepared
weaknesses nothing could have prepared me for the emotional roller coaster that
me for the emotional roller coaster that
me for the emotional roller coaster that was awaiting me when I went to go and
was awaiting me when I went to go and
was awaiting me when I went to go and work with the team looking after the
work with the team looking after the
work with the team looking after the victims of sexual violence
victims of sexual violence
victims of sexual violence you know in six months we saw more than
you know in six months we saw more than
you know in six months we saw more than a hundred and sixty patients under the
a hundred and sixty patients under the
a hundred and sixty patients under the age of eighteen and I’m not even talking
age of eighteen and I’m not even talking
age of eighteen and I’m not even talking about the adults here and some of them
about the adults here and some of them
about the adults here and some of them were as young as two years old and one
were as young as two years old and one
were as young as two years old and one case in particular will always stay with
case in particular will always stay with
case in particular will always stay with me an eight year old girl and her
me an eight year old girl and her
me an eight year old girl and her grandmother came for a consultation both
grandmother came for a consultation both
grandmother came for a consultation both of them had been victims of a really
of them had been victims of a really
of them had been victims of a really horrendous attack I’m not only that but
horrendous attack I’m not only that but
horrendous attack I’m not only that but they had witnessed the murder of their
they had witnessed the murder of their
they had witnessed the murder of their mother the grandmothers daughter and
mother the grandmothers daughter and
mother the grandmothers daughter and this little girl’s mom and the
this little girl’s mom and the
this little girl’s mom and the grandmother had somehow filmed it and
grandmother had somehow filmed it and
grandmother had somehow filmed it and because she didn’t have the words to
because she didn’t have the words to
because she didn’t have the words to express the horror of what they had
express the horror of what they had
express the horror of what they had experienced the video was put before us
experienced the video was put before us
experienced the video was put before us in the consultation room and I don’t
in the consultation room and I don’t
in the consultation room and I don’t know how we got to the end of that
know how we got to the end of that
know how we got to the end of that consultation but we did because the
consultation but we did because the
consultation but we did because the priority was our patients and they
priority was our patients and they
priority was our patients and they needed care but I left that room and I
needed care but I left that room and I
needed care but I left that room and I went into the office afterwards and I
went into the office afterwards and I
went into the office afterwards and I totally lost it I have never cried so
totally lost it I have never cried so
totally lost it I have never cried so hard in my life and I have never felt so
hard in my life and I have never felt so
hard in my life and I have never felt so frustrated and my colleague a Congolese
frustrated and my colleague a Congolese
frustrated and my colleague a Congolese nurse came and asked me my sister what’s
nurse came and asked me my sister what’s
nurse came and asked me my sister what’s wrong and I told him what had happened
wrong and I told him what had happened
wrong and I told him what had happened and he put his hand in my shoulder
and he put his hand in my shoulder
and he put his hand in my shoulder courage my sister that’s part of life
courage my sister that’s part of life
courage my sister that’s part of life part of life I have never been so angry
part of life I have never been so angry
part of life I have never been so angry I have never been so frustrated I’ve
I have never been so frustrated I’ve
I have never been so frustrated I’ve never felt so helpless and hopeless in
never felt so helpless and hopeless in
never felt so helpless and hopeless in my entire career and not only that but I
my entire career and not only that but I
my entire career and not only that but I was disgusted at humanity I was
was disgusted at humanity I was
was disgusted at humanity I was disgusted that anybody could do that to
disgusted that anybody could do that to
disgusted that anybody could do that to anybody else and that somebody else
anybody else and that somebody else
anybody else and that somebody else could normalize it and on top of that I
could normalize it and on top of that I
could normalize it and on top of that I was angry at my colleagues why were they
was angry at my colleagues why were they
was angry at my colleagues why were they not as frustrated as me why weren’t they
not as frustrated as me why weren’t they
not as frustrated as me why weren’t they a shocked but you have to remember that
a shocked but you have to remember that
a shocked but you have to remember that in these contexts our colleagues our
in these contexts our colleagues our
in these contexts our colleagues our staff our friends they are just as much
staff our friends they are just as much
staff our friends they are just as much victims of the circumstances in which we
victims of the circumstances in which we
victims of the circumstances in which we work and they have had to learn to steel
work and they have had to learn to steel
work and they have had to learn to steel themselves and we can learn from their
themselves and we can learn from their
themselves and we can learn from their power from their ability to carry on
power from their ability to carry on
power from their ability to carry on faced with such horror and with such
faced with such horror and with such
faced with such horror and with such challenging circumstances and they do it
challenging circumstances and they do it
challenging circumstances and they do it with grace I spoke to the midwife about
with grace I spoke to the midwife about
with grace I spoke to the midwife about it afterwards and I asked her Sylvie why
it afterwards and I asked her Sylvie why
it afterwards and I asked her Sylvie why weren’t you so angry and she said of
weren’t you so angry and she said of
weren’t you so angry and she said of course I am I have a mother and this is
course I am I have a mother and this is
course I am I have a mother and this is my country and these are my people but I
my country and these are my people but I
my country and these are my people but I am also a midwife I am a nurse
am also a midwife I am a nurse
am also a midwife I am a nurse and that it’s my responsibility that
and that it’s my responsibility that
and that it’s my responsibility that when they come to me I must care for
when they come to me I must care for
when they come to me I must care for them I cannot cry for everyone and it’s
them I cannot cry for everyone and it’s
them I cannot cry for everyone and it’s true you can’t feel everything with such
true you can’t feel everything with such
true you can’t feel everything with such deep empathy because you would break
deep empathy because you would break
deep empathy because you would break that day that I saw those patients my
that day that I saw those patients my
that day that I saw those patients my project coordinator sent me home because
project coordinator sent me home because
project coordinator sent me home because I wasn’t functional anymore and he said
I wasn’t functional anymore and he said
I wasn’t functional anymore and he said it was a Wednesday so don’t come back to
it was a Wednesday so don’t come back to
it was a Wednesday so don’t come back to on Monday at least I’m very glad he did
on Monday at least I’m very glad he did
on Monday at least I’m very glad he did that because one thing that we need to
that because one thing that we need to
that because one thing that we need to understand is where our limits are when
understand is where our limits are when
understand is where our limits are when we pass them we stopped being functional
we pass them we stopped being functional
we pass them we stopped being functional we stopped being able to care for our
we stopped being able to care for our
we stopped being able to care for our patients and as a clinician that’s very
patients and as a clinician that’s very
patients and as a clinician that’s very very important to understand where your
very important to understand where your
very important to understand where your breaking point is and to stop before you
breaking point is and to stop before you
breaking point is and to stop before you reach it but the thing that really
reach it but the thing that really
reach it but the thing that really amazes me about our national staff in
amazes me about our national staff in
amazes me about our national staff in these places really is their is their
these places really is their is their
these places really is their is their resiliency it still amazes me and I have
resiliency it still amazes me and I have
resiliency it still amazes me and I have such respect for them because they work
such respect for them because they work
such respect for them because they work in really challenging environments
in really challenging environments
in really challenging environments imagine coming to work through an active
imagine coming to work through an active
imagine coming to work through an active war zone where people are shooting at
war zone where people are shooting at
war zone where people are shooting at you imagine coming to work because you
you imagine coming to work because you
you imagine coming to work because you have to raise money because your child
have to raise money because your child
have to raise money because your child has been kidnapped them you have to pay
has been kidnapped them you have to pay
has been kidnapped them you have to pay a ransom imagine coming to work and
a ransom imagine coming to work and
a ransom imagine coming to work and treating patients with earn injuries to
treating patients with earn injuries to
treating patients with earn injuries to their hands two days after your house
their hands two days after your house
their hands two days after your house has been set on fire and you have become
has been set on fire and you have become
has been set on fire and you have become a refugee and you know that these guys
a refugee and you know that these guys
a refugee and you know that these guys were very likely to have been involved
were very likely to have been involved
were very likely to have been involved in destroying your home and you’re gonna
in destroying your home and you’re gonna
in destroying your home and you’re gonna treat them with the same respect as
treat them with the same respect as
treat them with the same respect as everybody else how do you do that it’s
everybody else how do you do that it’s
everybody else how do you do that it’s very difficult and it’s much easier to
very difficult and it’s much easier to
very difficult and it’s much easier to do it as an expat coming into an
do it as an expat coming into an
do it as an expat coming into an environment where there’s war or their
environment where there’s war or their
environment where there’s war or their strife along religious or tribal or
strife along religious or tribal or
strife along religious or tribal or political lines because we’re coming in
political lines because we’re coming in
political lines because we’re coming in from the outside and we have that
from the outside and we have that
from the outside and we have that distance but our staff don’t they are in
distance but our staff don’t they are in
distance but our staff don’t they are in it it is their everyday existence and we
it it is their everyday existence and we
it it is their everyday existence and we have to remember that but at the same
have to remember that but at the same
have to remember that but at the same time an organization like MSF has really
time an organization like MSF has really
time an organization like MSF has really really strong values and we must uphold
really strong values and we must uphold
really strong values and we must uphold those values to treat all of our
those values to treat all of our
those values to treat all of our patients with dignity and respect
patients with dignity and respect
patients with dignity and respect regardless of what color they are what
regardless of what color they are what
regardless of what color they are what religion they are what they eat for
religion they are what they eat for
religion they are what they eat for breakfast it doesn’t matter they deserve
breakfast it doesn’t matter they deserve
breakfast it doesn’t matter they deserve to get treated equally
it is this complexity that drives me it
it is this complexity that drives me it is the fact that I learned so much about
is the fact that I learned so much about
is the fact that I learned so much about how to be a good communicator in these
how to be a good communicator in these
how to be a good communicator in these environments that I have become really
environments that I have become really
environments that I have become really creative and flexible that I’ve learned
creative and flexible that I’ve learned
creative and flexible that I’ve learned where my vulnerability is and where my
where my vulnerability is and where my
where my vulnerability is and where my weak points are and I have learned to be
weak points are and I have learned to be
weak points are and I have learned to be resilient and I have learned to be
resilient and I have learned to be
resilient and I have learned to be strong and this is the thing that drives
strong and this is the thing that drives
strong and this is the thing that drives me forwards and this is the thing that
me forwards and this is the thing that
me forwards and this is the thing that drives many people forwards so I’m sorry
drives many people forwards so I’m sorry
drives many people forwards so I’m sorry Gandhi but I’m gonna partly disagree
Gandhi but I’m gonna partly disagree
Gandhi but I’m gonna partly disagree with you because whatever you do will
with you because whatever you do will
with you because whatever you do will not necessarily be insignificant we do
not necessarily be insignificant we do
not necessarily be insignificant we do not know what the future holds and what
not know what the future holds and what
not know what the future holds and what about that couple with the burns and
about that couple with the burns and
about that couple with the burns and what about that little girl
what about that little girl
what about that little girl what will they go on to do we don’t know
what will they go on to do we don’t know
what will they go on to do we don’t know what I do know is that at that moment on
what I do know is that at that moment on
what I do know is that at that moment on those days those patients were treated
those days those patients were treated
those days those patients were treated they got to go home that they survived
they got to go home that they survived
they got to go home that they survived and that’s what keeps me going so
and that’s what keeps me going so
and that’s what keeps me going so whatever you do may be significant and
whatever you do may be significant and
whatever you do may be significant and it is very important that you do it
it is very important that you do it
it is very important that you do it thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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