Meet the volunteers
Name
Dr Ashtin Doorgakant
Specialism
Doctor -
Surgeon
Location
Ntcheu District Hospital,
Ntcheu, Malawi
Personal message
"I have been working for six years as a doctor in the NHS and have built up extensive operative experience, which is severely lacking in Malawi. I want to try and share as much of my experience as I can so that the legacy of my work lasts long after I’ve come home."
Name
Kelly Taylor
Specialism
PaediatricianLocation
Kamuzu Central Hospital, Lilongwe, MalawiPersonal message
“I am a hard working and enthusiastic doctor and am determined to give my all to my placement in Lilongwe to help improve child health in the area. I hope to forge strong relationships with my colleagues at the hospital as early on as possible so that I can share skills quickly and effectively.
Malawi suffers from a very real shortage of doctors – especially paediatricians – and having been fortunate enough to experience a fully functioning national healthcare system myself, I want to help disadvantaged children and their mothers in a country where it does not exist. I have however, got a lot of learning to do in terms of putting the local language – Chichewa – in to practice, but I learnt Swahili when I worked in Tanzania so I am confident that I can learn this too!”
Name
Dr My Yung Lac
Specialism
PaediatricianLocation
Charles de Gaulle University Children's Hospital, Ouagadougou, Burkina FasoPersonal message
“I was born in Vietnam, but have grown up here in the UK. I have been incredibly lucky to have access to good healthcare and education; things could have been very different for me. I became a doctor to help people and I love working with children and their families. It upsets me that so many children in developing countries die of conditions and illnesses that could easily be prevented or treated if there were the right resources.
I am thankful that, with VSO, I have this opportunity to give something back and make a difference. It will be a very challenging and educational experience for me. By giving my time and sharing my skills, I am hoping to make a sustainable difference for the children in Burkina Faso.”
