September 2019 Newsletter
Hello and welcome to our latest news update.
In this month's issue, we will reflect on our recent overseas course in Syria, highlight one of our incredible #wardoctorheroes and find out why three doctors have cycled 2,000 miles to raise money for the David Nott Foundation. We're also delighted to introduce to you our new Chair, Graham Hodgkin.
Thank you as always for your continued support in our global mission train more surgeons and save more lives.
Taking our training to the front line
Our team has recently returned from its latest mission - to Idlib in Syria. With 46 airstrikes occurring since April on healthcare facilities, the most dangerous place to be in Idlib is certainly a hospital.
Millions of people have been left without access to proper healthcare as a large number of hospitals have been put out of action, leaving doctors to face the challenge of saving lives without losing their own.
To help address this problem, we trained 24 surgeons and general practitioners, focusing on improving their skills in emergency trauma surgery and in particular, on managing blast injuries and gunshot wounds. Read more about it here.
Why cycle 2,000 miles?
Over the summer, doctors Keiran Macleod, Elliott Taylor and Richard Elston cycled a total of 2,000 miles between them to help us train more doctors working in austere environments. We've been absolutely bowled over by their level of dedication in taking on these extraordinary physical challenges to support our work and we’re delighted to share their stories with you.
After six gruelling days, 108 hours on the bike, 1,000 miles, 60,000 ft climbed, 486,000 spins of the pedal, and a lot of Haribo, doctors Keiran Macleod and Elliott Taylor both finished the North Coast 500 challenge.
“The cycle was an incredibly tough challenge but was an absolutely fantastic experience - the scenery was unbelievable. It's a huge honour for us both to raise money for the Foundation.”
At the same time, Dr Richard Elston took on the incredible challenge of cycling the 994 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End with four friends. A doctor who’s just finished working in A&E, Richard will be joining the British Army next year. After reading War Doctor, he was inspired by the difference that the teaching made and by the efforts of the local surgeons.
“We are incredibly privileged to be able to choose to take on challenges, to be able to dip in and out of difficult situations; many people do not have a choice and are instead born into war zones where daily life is an existential struggle, incompatible to anything we will experience on our cycle.”
Read more about what motivated them here.
Spotlight on Dr Aeshah Aelghamji
The Foundation's global network of #wardoctorheroes is our proudest achievement. Our work is about investing in people, providing the skills that save lives.
In this feature, we're proud to introduce Dr Aeshah from Libya. Dr Aeshah travelled 1,000 miles to attend our HEST course in Misrata, Libya. She is part of a small team of surgeons in Sabha, south west Libya and is used to fighting to keep patients alive whilst shrapnel and bullets tear through her hospital building.
“A single shot to an oxygen tube could have destroyed the whole theatre where we were operating but we couldn’t stop – we felt we were making a difference.”
Introducing Graham Hodgkin
The Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of Graham Hodgkin as Chair of its Board of Trustees.
Graham commented: “I am both thrilled and honoured to be appointed to the Board of Trustees for the David Nott Foundation. As Chair, my aim is to support the evolution of the charity and to help enhance the scale and impact of its operations. It is a sad fact that conflicts and natural disasters will continue to occur across the world, all with far-reaching humanitarian consequences."
Read more about Graham's experience and motivation on our website.
War Doctor Heroes: Meet Dr Awss
We are delighted to feature Dr Awss from Iraq as our latest War Doctor Hero.
Dr Awss was responsible for eight field hospitals in Iraq during the worst of the fight with ISIS and he continues to treat victims of war there. He has trained with us overseas and recently attended one of our surgical training courses here in the UK (STAE).
Through the sharing of knowledge, his training has not only benefited him but also his colleagues, who work in challenging conditions and face difficult decisions every day. As a result of this skills sharing, Dr Awss and his colleagues noticed a significant decrease in the referral rate to their hospitals.
Aware of the impact these courses have on the provision of treatment in the hospitals under his care, Awss wrote to both the Prime Minister and Minister of Health in Iraq recommending that "every single person who enters into surgery, should have this course."
The work of Dr Awss and all the war surgeons with whom we work inspires us to keep moving forward so that we can continue to save more lives and limbs.
You can help us to train more doctors by donating here.
David Nott named as one of the BA 100
We are very proud to share that David has been named as one of the BA 100, a list that celebrates the top one hundred makers of Modern Britain. Curated by British Airways to commemorate their landmark centenary year, those featured represent the best of business, environment, fashion, film and entertainment, food and drink, music, art and design, philanthropy, science and technology, and sport.
The BA 100, which also includes Olivia Coleman, Dame Jane Goodall, Mary Berry and the entire England Rugby team, celebrates the inspirational people who have contributed towards making Britain the creative, open-minded and welcoming place that it is today.
We are delighted that David has been selected and that the work of the David Nott Foundation has been recognised.
You can read more about the BA 100 here.
Doctors Supporting Doctors
Through the extraordinary dedication of three doctors, Keiran Macleod, Elliott Taylor and Richard Elston, a total of £2,500 has been raised to help us train more doctors working in austere environments. Together, they have cycled 2,000 miles in two epic cycling trips and raised more than £1 per mile!
Keiran and Elliott were studying medicine at St Andrews and found themselves graduating at the same time that David received his honorary degree. Totally inspired after hearing about his work, they decided to take on the North Coast 500 Challenge in Scotland in August. As if cycling 500 miles each wasn’t enough of an ordeal in itself, they carried everything on their bikes and camped each night.
Meanwhile, also starting out in Scotland, Richard and four others began their epic journey cycling from John O’Groats to Land’s End. Richard tells us why he chose to do this for the Foundation: “This cause is especially close to my heart. Working in the NHS, I am always amazed at the speed with which huge resources and expertise are mustered to help anyone seriously unwell, regardless of their age, social standing or race. Sadly, this parity of healthcare does not extend across the globe to those who need it most. However, a small contribution could help train one surgeon and in turn save hundreds of lives. Civilians are mercilessly targeted as conflicts become more asymmetrical and belligerents turn to unconventional weapons, causing complex injury patterns for an overwhelming number of patients in an already challenging environment. Local doctors who work incredibly hard however, often lack the advanced training to save patients who could survive.”
To help us train even more doctors working in war zones, donate here today.
War Doctor Heroes: Meet Dr Aisha
War Doctor Heroes features the stories of our global family of surgeons. Their devotion to saving lives inspires us to keep moving forward. Conflict doesn't stop, neither do we.
In this feature, we're proud to introduce Dr Aisha from Libya. Dr Aisha travelled 1,000 miles to attend our HEST course in Misrata, Libya. She is part of a small team of surgeons in Sabha, south west Libya. She is used to fighting to keep patients alive whilst shrapnel and bullets tear through her hospital building. “A single shot to an oxygen tube could have destroyed the whole theatre, where we were operating but we couldn’t stop – we felt we were making a difference”. After our course, Aisha said: “Your hands can do the work but you need someone to guide you”.
Help us train more war doctors like Aisha by donating here https://lght.ly/1jbkc1g