UN volunteers bring medical skills to Somalia
On International Volunteer Day, we celebrate the role played by volunteers who selflessly give their time and energy to make the world a better place.
For the UN, this means our 6,000 UN volunteers — men and women from all walks of life who offer their skills to more than 50 UN missions around the world. Some are doctors, some are teachers; some are managers or analysts or councillors. They work in a huge range of fields, but all have one thing is common: the spirit of volunteerism.
Here in Somalia, we have 100 UN volunteers. This year, as we deal with COVID-19, their work in health centres and clinics has been particularly critical. Let’s meet some of the volunteers helping to reduce infections on top of their normal workload.
Dr Leila Mirembe
Dr Mirembe is a UN Volunteer with UNDP Somalia in Bosaso.
Previously, she worked as a doctor in South Sudan but was inspired to join the UN because of her love of helping people and making a difference in the lives of others.
For the past two years, Dr Mirembe has been treating patients in the Bosaso clinic and working on health issues in the local area.
“Currently, we are giving health education mostly on COVID-19 prevention which includes hand hygiene, covering one’s cough, wearing face masks and social distancing,” she says.
Dr Mirembe and her colleagues have run a poster campaign and also set up new hand-washing stations.
“My proudest achievement so far is the fact that amid such hard times and with limited resources and very difficult movement restrictions, we’ve managed to treat patients with COVID-19 quickly and seen people get better and return to their families,” she says.
After two years, Somalia has become a second home for Dr Mirembe. “I have come to cherish this great country,” she explains. “[The Somalis’] generosity is contagious. They are always eager to lend a helping hand and their resilience to hardships is exceptional.”
Dr Magesa Lutabu
Growing up in Tanzania, Dr Lutabu always wanted to become a doctor so he could help people and save lives. Now he is doing both with the UN Clinic in Hargeisa.
“Working as a UNV has been a new experience for me: interacting with new people, sharing diverse perspectives and helping those in need,” he explained.
Already in post for several months, Dr Lutabu says he likes the warmth of the Somalis and their generosity.
“One night, while I was asleep, someone knocked on my door. It was one of my colleagues seeking my help to treat a guest in the hotel who was feeling unwell. I was glad I to be of help to my Somali brethren,” he says.
“What motivates me in my current role as a UN volunteer and clinic physician is the fact that I treat ailing Somalis at the UN clinic. I share my knowledge and experience in providing the best medical services.”
Dr Kabera Rene
Dr Rene, a Rwandan medical officer who has worked in the Central African Republic and South Sudan, is no stranger to difficult jobs. But his latest assignment in Somalia has been an exceptional challenge.
He and a team of engineering and medical personnel from Mogadishu were tasked with setting up the UN clinic in Beletweyne. It took them four months to get in fully functional, before which he had to see patients in a makeshift office that also doubled as the waiting room and medical store.
Apart from running the UN Clinic , Dr Rene is also responsible for planning for emergencies, including mass casualty incidents, cholera outbreaks and floods.
He also manages the UN’s medical support to African Union forces and has played a leading role in preventing and treating COVID-19 infections by setting up an isolation centre, giving out health advice and putting in place a COVID-19 emergency team.
Dr Rene believes the wind of hope is blowing in Somalia and the country is recovering and on the path to prosperity.
“My journey as a UN volunteer in Somalia has made a huge difference in my professional career and I am incredibly impressed by the results volunteerism can achieve,” he says.
Caroline Maweu
Although not a doctor herself, UNV’s Caroline Maweu is essential to the work of all UN volunteers because she manages the volunteer programme, which is administered in Somalia by UNDP.
Caroline plays a key role in making sure that people with the rights skills are selected and helped to settle in so they can get down to work right away.
She also provides ongoing admin and operational support throughout a volunteer’s assignment.
Her first experience with volunteering was during her work with Junior Achievement Kenya, an NGO that empowers youth on financial literacy and entrepreneurship. It was during that time that she was impressed by how staff from the private sector freely gave their time and skills to mentor youth.
Now she herself is bringing her own 15 years of experience to the volunteer sector.
“Working for UNV Somalia is not only an opportunity to effectively collaborate with volunteers and UN entities in my day-to-day work but also to promote volunteerism, and help Somalia build resilience,” she says. “Helping others, especially vulnerable people, is fulfilling.”
For more on the UN Volunteer programme globally or to see what opportunities are currently available, please visit: www.unv.org
