Serving low-resource hospitals in the DRC
This year, we were contacted by a doctor from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to set up a Friends of David Nott Foundation (FDNF) society – our very first FDNF in Africa. In a bid to support the development of African doctors in hospitals with poor resources, we provided funding for teaching tools used to upskill medical professionals in deep DRC territory.
In June 2023, a WHO report found that the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the DRC has more than doubled to 6.3 million, since the end of 2022. The crisis has emerged as decades of conflict and food insecurity soars in the DRC, made worse by extreme flooding and disease outbreaks throughout the Ituri and North Kivu Provinces.
Chris Kitumaini, a medical doctor and President of our FDNF in the DRC, arranged a training course for doctors at the Murhesa Medical Center, a modest hospital with very limited resources, medical equipment and staff. He shared:
“We travelled to Bukavu, in the South-Kivu Province in the DRC, and then went onto Kabare’s deep territory to get to the Murhesa Medical Center. We picked this location to train in because it is a hospital with very low income. Resources are so limited there."
"In the operating rooms, there is nothing. Women are giving birth on wooden tables. The doctors there are working with the smallest amount of materials, no beds, no anaesthesia machines. Nothing but the doctors and medical assistants."
Basic medical skills
The surgical teaching team, some of whom had travelled from Bordeaux, taught a range of basic medical and surgical skills to a group of 20 doctors from different territories. Some had travelled from small villages to get to the training in Murhesa Medical Center.
Four courses were delivered during two intensive days of training, using surgical toolkits, mannikins and anaesthesia tools funded by us. Dr Raïssa Kizungu, a cardiologist from Bordeaux, led the management of cardiovascular pathologies in the context of war and environments with limited resources. The team used mannikins to teach the group cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and essential tools for resuscitation to preserve life in resource-limited settings. Dr Elie Bugashane, a general surgeon, led the management of battlefield wounds and suture techniques in resource-limited environments. Finally, Dr Charles Kachungunu led the management of head trauma and how to deliver excellent nursing care.
During other practical sessions, the surgeons learned how to do a craniotomy to stop serious bleeding, as well as suture techniques to manage wounds in war and low-resource contexts.
A thirst to learn
“Our first workshop, funded by the David Nott Foundation, was a success. We chose doctors and medical professionals who really needed training. It was a big moment for us.
We now want to focus on training in other places that need us the most – villages deep in the Congo forest. Learning simple procedures, like how to secure broken limbs, could really help people that cannot move to other hospital easily.”
We remain committed to supporting medical professionals living and working in countries impacted by war and disaster.
24 doctors trained during 1st UK course with Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh
For the first time in partnership with Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd), we delivered a Hostile Environment Surgical Training UK (HEST-UK) course to equip 24 surgeons from across the globe with vital skills needed to save lives in conflict and disaster zones.
Aimed at medical professionals who work in, or are planning to travel to, conflict and catastrophe zones around the world, our HEST-UK course brought together surgeons from across the globe, including Australia, Poland, Finland, Denmark, Libya and six from Ukraine, for a transformative week of intensive training.
This marks the beginning of our brand-new partnership with RCSEd, joining forces to upskill humanitarian surgeons and frontline trainers in the making. Our course combined trauma case presentations taken straight from war zones like in Syria, our cutting-edge teaching models designed especially for our use, and human cadavers.
Dr Igor Belkin, HEST-UK participant and surgeon from Ukraine who we sponsored to join our training, said:
“The course was great! All frontline methods were described in detail in theory, and then with the help of DNF trainers, we then worked on and learned more about using cadavers.
These skills are always useful, especially in a country that is at war. After completing another DNF course in Zaporizhizhia in February 2023, I used many learnings in field surgery. Now in Edinburgh, I got even more practice with cadavers.”
Dr Senka Stojanovic, HEST-UK participant and general surgeon from Poland, said:
"Now, possibly more than ever during our lifetimes, the world is fraught with problems of growing divisions and inequality, which among other things impacts access to quality healthcare, affecting not only the current generation, but future ones as well.
I felt incredibly fortunate and grateful for the opportunity to learn first-hand from some of the leading experts in the field.
"The wealth of experience and practical tips brought by the faculty was unmatched and cannot be found in textbooks or surgical atlases."
I highly recommend this unique course to any surgeons who plan to or already work in humanitarian settings around the globe, but who need to build on their confidence and skill to provide surgical care outside of their surgical specialties."
Mariette Naud-Betteridge, Director of Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement at RCSEd, said:
“Witnessing the course first-hand revealed the extensive practice and diverse disciplines required to deliver surgical care in conflict zones. Not only did the course’s structure and the dedication of David and his faculty bring challenging cases to life, the delegates' intense focus and eagerness to learn emphasised the course’s relevance and necessity.
Collaboration between the David Nott Foundation and RCSEd demonstrates our shared commitment to equipping medical professionals with the critical skills and confidence needed to save lives in the most demanding situations. Special thanks also to all who supported the course, including sponsors B. Braun, Essity, and Stryker. RCSEd look forward to welcoming back the DNF team and a new set of delegates in December for the next HEST-UK Course.”
As fighting intensifies across Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan and beyond, there has never been a greater need for skilled, humanitarian surgeons around the world. That’s why our programme of bespoke training courses are so vital and we will continue to grow our international network of war doctors.
Sign up to our next HEST-UK course
"There's no bias towards class, gender, or religion."
Dominic's sister, Lucy Cahillane, passed away on March 12, 2022. After reading ‘War Doctor’ by David Nott, Lucy became a huge supporter of our mission. She was always sharing with Dominic everything she took from the book and all the passion she had for our work.
Dominic shared that Lucy wasn't just a bookworm—she loved helping people, an attitude she would actively look to instil in her daughter on a daily basis. She was especially drawn to the foundation because she believed it was a genuinely inclusive humanitarian organisation that didn't discriminate based on gender, colour, age, or money. Instead, it focused on helping those most in need, like in Syria.
Based in Sussex, Dominic has been working as a musician since the mid-1990s and has a passion for travel. Together with his partner, they decided to honour Lucy's legacy by hiking and raising funds for us.
“The news can be so negative and manipulative; it makes you forget the good in this world and that there are people that just want to help others without seeking reward or notoriety.”
The fundraising challenge
“In 2022 I set up a fundraising page, as my partner Radka Nemcova went on a hike along with her friend Katerina Tumova, through the Himalayas to the Everest viewpoint. Their efforts raised around £2500, which wasn't expected! We were so proud of all we raised for the foundation so this year we wanted to push our limits. Me and my partner travelled this time to South America, we went on a 4-day ascending hike to over 15,000 feet up in the Peruvian Andes to raise money and awareness for the Foundation. To keep our friends, family and other supporters engaged we constantly updated them on where we are and basically how difficult the 4-day hike was going!”
Reaching the top
“Both times when we hit the base financial target and when we reached the top of our hike, we felt a full on emotional outburst, you can imagine what it’s like after hiking for 4 days! There’s an overall feeling of accomplishment but also a feeling of it could have been more, I’m happy with the results but keep thinking let's make the next one bigger and keep pushing. I mean it’s a funny one with the journey being both challenging yet soulfully rewarding”
What's next?
The foundation deserves much more recognition. It sheds a different light on what's happening in places like Ukraine and Gaza compared to what people see in newspapers. It’s a reminder that people do need to help.”
"The foundation's focus is purely on humanitarian conditions, without any bias towards class, gender, or religion."
Dominic is deeply inspired by his sister’s legacy, which really fuels his dedication to the foundation. Her belief in helping anyone in need matches what the foundation stands for.
"I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment, but it always feels like there's more to do. I'm happy with the results but want to make the next one even bigger and keep pushing forward. I never feel like it's finished; there's always something more that can be added."
Dominic Cahillane's fundraising journey shows how personal connections and community support can really make a difference. His story highlights the importance of humanitarian work and how much of an impact individuals can have with dedication and perseverance.
We’d like to thank Dominic for sharing his experience. To find out more about fundraising events or how to support us in an event you have coming up, get in touch.