Other STORies

Kate’s Story

My association with Australian Doctors for Africa began in 2013 with an orthopaedic trip to Toliara, Madagascar. 

I had previously worked in the South Pacific and was passionate about advancement of medical care in developing nations. I think that Dr Graham Forward had planned out my destiny well before I was aware of it as on that trip I fell in love with the place and the people.

Tiavina’s Story

In October 2020, 3 year old Tiavina, along with her mother and grandmother arrived in Toliara. 

They had made the 500 km journey from their home city Ambovombe in the far south of Madagascar to seek treatment for Tiavina’s feet. They did not know Tiavina had clubfeet, or “biko” in the local Malagasy dialect, but knew that without treatment her feet would never be normal and would result in a lifetime of disability and discrimination. 

Sue’s Story

Dr Sue Chapman FRACS Urology

Sue first approached Dr Graham Forward about the opportunity to volunteer in Madagascar in 2008 and visited the country for the first time after the military coup in 2009.  Her vision was to provide endourology services such as TURP* and stricture treatment to the men of Tulear and the surrounding villages.  After some initial hurdles around safe irrigation fluid, diathermy equivalence and electrical connections, we managed to perform TURP for the first time in Tulear on that first visit.

Abdirahman’s Story

One of five boys, little Abdirahman lives 90kms East of Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, and is cared for by his maternal grandmother and aunts. His father was tragically wounded by gun shot in 2010, which resulted in right side stroke and loss of speech leaving him unable to work and provide for his family. The only income the family receives is from renting out their car. Abdirahman’s mother also suffers poor health and is currently unable to care for her children.

Tony’s Story

Dr Tony Jeffries Orthopaedic Surgeon

I have been visiting Ethiopia for two weeks in August yearly since 2006. When I first visited the Black Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa the wards and operating theatres were grim.  The orthopaedic pathology was certainly extreme. Over the years with the extensive training and infrastructure input of ADFA there has been an amazing improvement in all aspects of the standard of orthopaedic care.

Muniira’s Story

Saved from a lifetime of disability through access to clubfoot treatment provided by Diversity Action Network in partnership with Australian Doctors for Africa.

Muniira’s mother did not hesitate when she set off from her home village of Qudhac Raamaale on the Ethiopian-Somali border to travel the 100kms to Hargeisa, the capital city of Somaliland. She had taken this trip before, when her eldest daughter needed treatment, and now it was Muniira’s turn.

Cath’s Story

Volunteer Nursing Co ordinator, Gastroenterology

When Cath walks into an Endoscopy Unit in Madagascar she feels a sense of pride and achievement. Not only is the unit clean and in good order, but the nurses and technicians are professional, hardworking and eager to learn new skills.   When she first arrived in Madagascar in 2011 it was quite a different story.

Dr Said’s Story

Recipient of Australian Doctors for Africa’s Orthopaedic Scholarship and first year Orthopaedic Resident at Addis Ababa University and Tikur Ambasa Specialised Hospital.

My country Somaliland has one of the lowest ratios of physicians to population in the world, and we are almost completely lacking in medical specialists to assist our people.  As our country rebuilds from the devastating civil war, we urgently need to improve our healthcare infrastructure.  However, because we lack recognition from the international community, our options for training physicians are severely limited.