We have had to say goodbye to doctor Laura. For the last six months, she has been an important part of the clinical team and she did a research project into the obstacles experienced by people in local communities to reach health care, on which she talked on the Well Body Talk show. This means she has successfully finished her medical specialization in Global Health. She shares a bit of her experiences at LHMC:
‘After six months at Lion Heart Medical Centre, the time has come for me to say goodbye and to hand over the position of Global Health resident to Dr. Amie. Looking back, I can honestly say it has been one of the most valuable experiences of my training, both professionally and personally. From day one, the team made me feel welcome, and I quickly felt part of the Lion Heart Family.
I have learned so much—not just about medicine, but also about how things work in Sierra Leone, about teamwork, and about finding solutions with the resources available. During the busiest on-calls, seeing the dedication and commitment of everyone working at LHMC is what kept me going too. I even picked up some Krio and a little Temne along the way!
A special thank you to Dr. Elijah for his guidance and support throughout these months, and to everyone at Lion Heart for making me feel so at home. I will miss life in Yele, the delicious plassas, and most of all, the wonderful people I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with.
I leave with a suitcase full of memories, new friendships, and lessons that I will carry with me throughout the rest of my career. I hope our paths will cross again one day. Until then, tenki plenty, momo yo!’
Her successor has already arrived. We warmly welcome doctor Amie! Luckily, the team of clinicians has received some more support with the coming of Pediatric Clinical Officer Osman Jalloh, a former pediatric student at LHMC. Finally, doctor Yvonne has arrived from the Netherlands with NGO German Doctors to mentor the current pediatric students. She will be staying at LHMC for three months, focusing on paediatric and maternity wards.