When one thinks of the Nile first thoughts will undoubtedly centre around the great pyramids and temples of Egypt, or perhaps even the 19th Century explorers John Hanning Speke and Sir Richard Francis Burton. Unless one goes searching, little else is told of this great river and the lives and countries it flows through on its 4000 mile journey to the waters of the Mediterranean.
In May earlier this year ITV screened a four part programme entitled ‘Joanna Lumley’s Nile’, where this intrepid presenter travelled the length of this great river highlighting the many other great cultures, peoples and lands dependant on this special river.
Starting at the Nile Delta her journey took her down through Egypt, across Lake Nasser and into Sudan. At Khartoum the river swells as the Blue Nile, flowing down from the highlands of Ethiopia is joined by the White Nile, flowing north from Lake Victoria. After visiting the source of the Blue Nile, Joanna travelled down through Southern Sudan, into Uganda, stopping briefly at the majestic Murchison Falls. From here she journeyed up through the jungles of Rwanda, finally reaching the source of the Nile furthest from the Mediterranean.
Why am I telling you all of this? Well I was fortunate enough to be part of the small team of 7 who filmed this great adventure. As a travel and expedition health specialist, or expedition medic, my role was to keep the team healthy, or fix them should they break. Providing expedition medical support on such a journey was one of the most amazing experiences one could have. Being part of a film crew enabled us to get to locations seldom visited, meet people rarely seen by the outside world and gain more of an understanding of what this great river means to so many people.
As for working with Joanna Lumley – ‘is she as nice in real life as she appears on TV?’ – She’s nicer!
James
Tags: expedition health specialist, expedition medic, expedition medical support
Posted in Expedition medicine, Expedition medics, Film Crew Medical Support, Travel, Travel Health Links, working abroad | No Comments »
Jess had been on the waiting list to go and work with Médecins sans Frontières for a number of months when earlier this year she suddenly got a phone call advising her they had a suitable posting. Unfortunately for Jess it wasn’t counting turtles in the warm waters off the Maldives (although she would have been bored with that in no time at all), but supervising an HIV/AID’s clinic in rural Zimbabwe. What a challenge. Much of the suffering experienced by nations in Africa barely makes the UK news and it isn’t until we visit or have a close friend working in these areas that we truly appreciate some of the issues. This is no exception. Read Jess’s first letter home and look out for more. Well done Jess – an example to us all.
Click here to read a letter from Jess in Zimbabwe
Posted in Expedition medics, Information, charity work, working abroad | No Comments »
So Jess, as well as being a complete star and covering for me when I disappear off on my adventures, also goes off on some pretty amazing trips too. Last autumn Jess decided that she wanted to get some experience and understanding of the troubles in the Middle East, especially around the Israeli-Palestinian unrest. So she went off to work with Christian Peacemaker Teams. “Why!” I hear you cry. Well, Jess being Jess, is not only interested in the health aspects of travel but also in the socio-political background which is inextricably linked to wider health issues.
She had the most amazing time in an incredibly challenging situation and certainly did gain a better understanding of the difficulties faced by one of the poorest populations in the world just trying to exist. She has written a small piece about her visit and it makes for some interesting reading.
So well done Jess for having the courage to visit one of the most volatile places on the planet and gain an insight into some of the issues.
Incidentally, Jess is now working for the next 12 months in Zimbabwe for Médecins Sans Frontières and there will be another blog update soon.
PDF written by Jess in Palestine
James
Posted in Travel, charity work, working abroad | No Comments »
In the autumn of 2009 one of our clinic staff, Mel, took some time out of her regular work and travelled to the African state of Benin. Here she joined with Mercy Ships to work as a ward and recovery nurse. Mercy Ships specialises in providing healthcare to some of the most impoverished countries. Mel was involved in looking after patients who had undergone major operations correcting facial deformaties and tumours, problems rarely seen in the UK. Well done Mel – a tough assignment but well worth the effort.
Posted in Information, charity work, working abroad | No Comments »
Why am I telling you all of this? Well I was fortunate enough to be part of the small team of 7 who filmed this great adventure. As a travel and expedition health specialist, or expedition medic, my role was to keep the team healthy, or fix them should they break. Providing expedition medical support on such a journey was one of the most amazing experiences one could have. Being part of a film crew enabled us to get to locations seldom visited, meet people rarely seen by the outside world and gain more of an understanding of what this great river means to so many people.
