As part of our ongoing DICE (Doctors Worldwide Improving Care in Health Emergencies) and PGF (Postgraduate Fellowship Programme in Refugee & Migrant Health) Programmes, we have deployed out a number of medical faculty to support our teaching and training in the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh. In this two-part series, we speak to two returning faculty who have previously volunteered with Doctors Worldwide before, to hear more about themselves and their desire to work on our current projects.
Today, we meet:
Nadia Ahmed. Consultant HIV and Sexual Reproductive Health Physician
Tell us a bit about yourself?
I’ve been working as a HIV and sexual reproductive healthcare physician for 11 years now, and also trained as a forensic physician for sexual offence survivors for a few years. While I am based in the UK, I’ve worked in South Africa cumulatively for 4 years, and worked on projects in Malawi, Bangladesh, and Iran. I’m very passionate about education and service development, with a specialist interest in adolescent health. Working further in the development sector from an educational and service perspective that speaks to sustainability while remaining in clinical practice remains my ultimate goal. My hobbies and interests outside of work are travel, music, cats and some arts/crafts!
Why did you apply to work with Doctors Worldwide on our refugee healthcare projects in Bangladesh?
I’ve worked on the project before, and for me it speaks to the crucial elements that enable sustainability/education. But I was also excited to see how the project has been developed further to include audit and quality improvement.
What are you looking forward to achieving in this deployment to Bangladesh?
Getting to know the participants, supporting them in the best way I can, getting stuck in!
What made you want to return to work with Doctors Worldwide in the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh?
The doctors working in the Rohingya camps! They want the support from us and were so grateful for the time previously spent with them. Of course, my answers above also hold true too…it’s a project that speaks to real sustainability for the staff and infrastructure not only now, but further down the line.
/ A big thank you to Dr Nadia, for taking the time to answer our questions, & make sure to keep an eye out for the final instalment of this series this Sunday, where we hear from Dr Una Faye, a (retired) Obs & Gyn specialist.
Thank you so much to Dr Una, for taking the time to answer our questions, and make sure to subscribe to our mailing list below, and follow us on social media (twitter, facebook, instagram) for regular updates and campaigns!
*Cover image details: Caption: Dr Nadia Ahmed working in Bangladesh in 2019, during PGF Cohort D
