Saturday 5 October 2013

RCOG go to VSO ETHIOPIA!!!!

I met with the RCOG Global Health Team and we had a very successful meeting with VSO Ethiopia. The RCOG are very keen to increase their involvement in Global Health which I feel will be a really positive move which will benefit not only the developing countries involved but also will provide excellent training opportunities for members of the College.

At the meeting we discussed the successes of the VSO/RCOG partnership and how maternal health in Ethiopia has improved thanks to the efforts of previous volunteers. These include Kate Darlow (read her story!!) who took over from Ruth Lawley in Bahir Dah and Mary McCauley who had a very successful time in Yirgalem Hospital and had numerous posters accepted at the FIGO conference for her work there!
Kate Darlow

We discussed how beneficial it will be when we can increase the number of volunteers in Ethiopia as this would allow projects set up by one volunteer to grow and develop. It would be great if both senior trainees and consultants were involved as both different groups have very valuable skills to offer. From a personal point of view I would highly recommend coming to work in Ethiopia! The doctors here have been very enthusiastic to have a UK trainee working with them and it is a fantastic and friendly country!! And believe me - if you have had a little idea in your head that you might want to do this kind of work at some point don't ignore it - just go for it!! Once you start applying there will be some obstacles but you just need to take your time and work round them and then you will find yourselves out here meeting so many amazing new friends and colleagues and learning so much!!


Present at the meeting from the UK were Alison Fiander, Justin Konje, Alison Wright, Lorraine Rossati, Ann Tate and Lizzie Rafii-Tabar.

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