Clive, Myanmar (Burma) - The HIV/AIDS project in the capital, Yangon

The pictures are taken at the compound in Yangon which comprises of the HQ for the country and a Drop-in clinic for those at significant risk of Aids. It provides counselling, support, testing and HIV treatment. The approach uses peers to do outreach work with those at risk e.g. sex workers by promoting prevention and encouraging them to come to the clinic. Doctors of the World (Medecins du Monde) does similar work with drug users in Kachin and more general community health work in the Delta area destroyed by Cyclone Nargis in 2008.

This picture is from the veranda in the offices where we have a lunch prepared by a cook. The view is great over a small lake with a pagoda in the middle. The compound is about 2 miles from home, our journey is on a road by the side of Inya Lake.

Paul Whitelegg - Volunteer Support Worker for Project:London

Paul Whitelegg is a second year student on the four-year graduate entry programme into medicine. He wants to be a doctor with the NHS when he qualifies. Paul first heard about Project: London when Doctors of the World UK came to St. George's Hospital in Tooting earlier in 2005 to give a talk about opportunities for volunteering overseas. The speaker, Dr. Shera Chok who is a GP in east London, also mentioned that Project: London was being planned.

"I want to help people who are less fortunate than me to get back on track," said Paul when asked about what prompted his decision to get involved. "I had been interested in voluntary work for some time, and wanted to do some medically-related voluntary work that would contribute to the course. Longer-term, I'm very interested in volunteering for an overseas project, maybe in Africa. I think it's a great idea to start the process of getting involved with voluntary work in my home country first of all."

"As a first or second year medical student, there is still a reasonable amount of spare time available to do other activities. Wednesday afternoons are currently free from lectures, which is why my voluntary sessions with Project: London will be on Wednesdays - one session (four-hours) every fortnight. The role of a support worker is great for a medical student although, of course, support workers are not involved in giving medical care. The training sessions given by DOW UK

"It is so helpful to get used to taking people's social histories, as well as working with people who are all part of the cultural diversity of London. I speak fluent Spanish, and when Project: London ran pilot sessions in December 2005, I was able to put this skill to good use with Spanish-speaking service users who came to seek advice. Solving language barrier issues is part of the role of the support worker."

For more information about Project:London and how to volunteer, visit our website.

Liz Annun - Volunteer Nurse for Project:London

Liz Annun is a nurse with 34 years of experience working in the NHS. She says "I enjoy nursing and was considering getting involved with voluntary work at some stage of my career." To find out more she attended a study day organised by the RCN, where she heard Karen McColl, former director of Doctors of the World UK give a talk about opportunities overseas and in the UK. This was in January 2004, soon after Doctors of the World UK started its needs assessment, so Liz has been involved with Project: London from the very early stages.

She continues: "As I found out more about Project: London, I realised there was an opportunity to become involved in my spare time. I've agreed to volunteer for one afternoon a fortnight, which fits in very well with my current job at a Walk In Centre.

Project: London is not taking workers away from the NHS. From my own perspective it is helping me to widen my skills base."

She continues: "The training provided by Doctors of the World UK has helped me to understand the expectations of the project and to prepare me to work as a volunteer.

Now I am looking forward to working with other volunteers in helping service users obtain the levels of healthcare they need. It is good to be part of a team with principles like Doctors of the World UK's."

Next week, read about Paul Whitelegg, our volunteer support worker at Project:London.

For more information about Project:London and how to volunteer, visit our website.

Judith Cook - Volunteer Doctor for Project:London

Dr Judith Cook qualified as a GP in the mid 1960s and worked in general practice in north London for 20 years. Since then, Judith has worked with vulnerable groups including homeless people, asylum seekers and refugees, people dependent on drugs and others who find access to healthcare difficult. Judith has been involved in the work of several health NGOS. She volunteered with Doctors of the World (DOW) in Afghanistan and Liberia. She currently does work in primary care for people who are drug dependent, and continues to work on issues relating to the health of asylum seekers and refugees in the UK.

"Because I had experience working with vulnerable groups in the UK, the DOW UK team came to me early in their needs assessment process, before setting up Project: London, and I offered some suggestions from my experience with these groups. I am aware of the great difficulties that they have accessing healthcare, and I am also aware of the other problems they contend with in their lives, and the fact that they have very important health needs. Many of their health problems are linked to broader issues such as destitution, anxiety and uncertainty about their status, and often to past experiences of abuse, ill-treatment or torture.

I want to work with Project: London to help identify the health needs of these vulnerable people and help them reach mainstream services. Also, because it is an DOW UK project - and I've worked with DOW UK before - and I support the principles on which DOW UK 's work is based."

Next week, read about Lizz Annun, our volunteer nurse at Project:London.

For more information about Project:London and how to volunteer, visit our website.

Haiti, 3 months after the earthquake: a continuing emergency

The situation remains urgent. 1.3 million people are without shelter and the rainy season will make their living conditions even worse.

Humanitarian and health needs remain huge, especially for those without shelter and for the thousands of people displaced within the country. With a health system that has been completely destroyed, aid for reconstruction and healthcare will be a long term commitment.

The earthquake on the 12th January hit a country with more than half the population living on less than $1.25 a day, 65% unemployed, and a life expectancy not beyond the age of 61.

Doctors of the World (DOW), has had a presence in the country for 25 years, is committed to the people of Haiti in the long term and is continuing its work with the disaster victims of Port-au-Prince, Petit Goâve and in Grande Anse.

700,000 people are without shelter in Port-au-Prince.

Sheltered in 400 camps the earthquake victims cram into them and remain extremely vulnerable. There is limited access to water, food and sanitation. Three months after the earthquake, Doctors of the World is still providing daily health care daily in 8 of the districts of Port-au-Prince, based in clinics covering the emergency camp and surrounding area where there are around 10000 - 15000 people.

In large tents erected in the heart of the camps, each team is made up of 10 Haitian staff, everyday they provide:

- General medical consultations : More than 5500 basic health consultations are carried out each week
- Vaccinations for pregnant women and young children.
- Screening for malnutrition in 7 of the clinics. This affects many children: for many the situation was bad before the earthquake, now it is even worse.
- Reproductive health activity (family planning, gynaecological consultations, pre- and post-natal consultations) which make up 20% of the consultations.

"Fok Nou Pale!" - We've got to talk!

A team of some 50 Haitian community workers go to one or two camps every day. They provide a link between the mobile sites and the health care structures. They organise games at workshops for the children but also provide discussion and support groups for the adults.
Doctors of the World staff walk through the camps with megaphone to let everyone know about the free clinics. At the same time it is an opportunity to inform people about disease prevention, hygiene, contraception, as well as about violence and psychosocial support.
"Fok Nou Pale!" In the local patois Magna says, "we've got to talk! It does you good, come and see us at our clinics." Armed with her megaphone, she makes her way, with difficulty, between the tents. "Don't overlook your health! DOW clinics are not only for the injured but for everyone, boy and girl, young and old, and for expectant mothers as well! "
The people of Haiti are affected and will be affected for a very long time. Aftershocks provoke renewed fear, sleeplessness and anxiety attacks. The earthquake has also revealed important psychoses, especially amongst adolescents. After 3 months, certain cases prove the need for psychiatric help but at the moment healthcare provision for this is almost non-existent.

For information more on the following aspects of our work there, please visit our website:

An upsurge in cases of sexual violence.

Rebuilding a health system with free access for those who need it. 

Doctors of the World's call for the continuation of free healthcare, at least initially, for pregnant women and children under 5.

Fundraising and funds spent.