Guild Lecture - Médecins Sans Frontières led by Dr Birgit Haüffe
In December 2011, Wycombe High School hosted their first ever Guild Lecture when Dr Birgit Haüffe, an ex-student of WHS, came in to speak about her work at Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). MSF is non-governmental organisation which provides medical aid where it is needed in the world. This would include areas of civil unrest and violence as well as countries affected by natural disasters.
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With ambitions to be a medic, I was thrilled to find out that a doctor from Médecins Sans Frontières was coming in to give a lecture on her work. I had heard about the charity a couple of years ago and have been interested in charity medicine ever since. What was particularly inspiring was the fact that Dr Haüffe was once in the same position as me - a WHS student in her final year who was planning to become a doctor. The fact that she was here, giving the talk, made me realise that a medical degree did not just confine me to a lifetime of endless ward rounds in a hospital; I could incorporate my love of travel and my interest in charity medicine into my future career.
The lecture itself was intriguing, to say the least. It was surprising how, despite the fact that the name of the organisation mentions only doctors, Médecins Sans Frontières relies on teams consisting of not just medical professionals. In addition, it was difficult to fathom how important it was that these teams were politically neutral. The countries in which the missions took place were riddled with civil unrest and it was vital that they did not get caught up in it. However, what really struck me was how Dr Haüffe was able to return to her eveyrday life after her missions. The photos she showed during her lecture highlighted not only how tense the atmosphere was at the site of natural disasters, but also how little the teams had to make do with. It really contrasted with we are all used to in the UK: a resourceful National Health Service with a strong infrastructure.
In the end, it was fascinating lecture which, by the number of questions asked, seemed to have inspired both younger and older members in the audience. In fact, one can assume that, in the near future, another Wycombe High School student could be standing in Dr Haüffe’s position.
Click here to see the Birgit Hauffe’s presentation
Chary Mokhtari Y13, A6