About Trish
Trish is working for MSF as a community outreach nurse in Chad. This is her fifth mission for MSF. When not on mission, she lives and works as a nurse in the Yukon, Canada. Read more...
Author Archives: Trish Newport
Bear-ing witness
Although it has gotten easier over the years, my transition back to home life is never graceful. Although I know to expect overstimulation around every corner, I am still overwhelmed by it. My only respite is my home, the ‘Chaled’ … Continue reading
Posted in Chad, Community outreach nurse, Malnutrition
Tagged bear, transition, wild, Yukon
3 Comments
Take two
Today I leave Chad. It has been a hectic ending, and I will work until I board the plane tonight – but even in all of the craziness I have had time to reflect on my last few months here, … Continue reading
Posted in Chad, Community outreach nurse, Malnutrition
Tagged hope, humanitarian, leaving
8 Comments
Locked in the outhouse
For as long as I can remember I have always had to go to the bathroom 3 times in the night. I have no idea why, but it happens every night without fail, unless I am moderately dehydrated (which has … Continue reading
Posted in Chad, Community outreach nurse, Malnutrition
Tagged latrine, logistician, Outhouse, spider
7 Comments
Community
Three months ago, just before I arrived in Massakory, a significant percentage of children being admitted into the malnutrition program had complications due to untreated or poorly treated diarrhea. This is the country where cholera has its own season, quality … Continue reading
Posted in Chad, Community outreach nurse, Malnutrition
Tagged children, community, health, oral, rehydration, salts, workers
1 Comment
Hawa
It is amazing what one can become accustomed to. Somehow we have become accustomed to the oppressive 45 degree heat. Lack of personal space is challenging, but I am more or less used to it. We each develop our own … Continue reading
The extraction of an expat
Intense heat is not something I have ever become accustomed to, maybe it is the Yukoner in me. This past week in Chad the temperature soared high into the 40s, even 48 ◦C in the shade the other day! I … Continue reading
Notes
Somedays with MSF I feel that we are really making a difference. Other days I struggle with our limitations and the changes we don’t or can’t make. And most days I fluctuate between these impressions at lightning speed. This week … Continue reading
Posted in Chad, Community outreach nurse, Malnutrition
Tagged chief, desert, nutrition, survey
7 Comments
Seasons
The changing of seasons affects the lives of people differently throughout the world. For most of my life the changing of the seasons brought forth a sense of excited anticipation for whatever the upcoming season might bring. In Chad the … Continue reading
Posted in Chad, Community outreach nurse, Malnutrition
Tagged cholera, meningitis, nutrition, plumy nut
3 Comments
Redefining remote
Before even arriving in Chad, I had heard about the living conditions for the MSF project in Massakory. When ‘seasoned’ expats give the first tour of the ‘living quarters’ to the new Massakory arrivals, they do so with a sense … Continue reading
Posted in Chad, Community outreach nurse, Malnutrition
Tagged children, desert, hunger gap, living conditions, remote, screenings
8 Comments
Mission number 5: white bread and promises
The old stone building housing the MSF headquarters in Geneva is a constant hubbub and fury of activity. Information and people seem to move at rapid speed, with seemingly incredible purpose and motivation. During my first visit to the headquarters … Continue reading