Austrian

Fieldset

An MSF land cruiser and quad bike in South Sudan

My life as a flying mechanic in South Sudan

Alexandra Schuster works as a “flying mechanic” in South Sudan, travelling across the country to provide the urgent technical support that can keep a remote medical project running. In this blog, she shares her thoughts on her first ever mission with Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

30 Aug 2018 / 4 minute read

Raimund Alber

Mental health specialist

The night I met Thomas: Mental health support in South Sudan

"A small incident can be enough. A trigger. A push over the edge. Something mundane."

22 May 2018 / 7 minute read

Irene Breitschopf

Pharmacist

CAR: The medicine woman

Riding, traveling, cycling: sporty Austrian pharmacist Irene Breitschopf has many hobbies. So it’s no surprise that she always brings a yoga mat with her wherever she goes. In her first blog post, written during her first assignment with MSF in Central African Republic (CAR), she overcomes culture shock and steps into her role as pharmacy manager.

05 Apr 2017 / 4 minute read

Regina Giera

Doctor

Sierra Leone: When children laugh again

Doctor Regina Giera decided as a student that she wanted to work with a humanitarian aid organisation.

28 Mar 2017 / 6 minute read

Raimund Alber

Mental health specialist

My name is Mahmoud! I am 10 years old...

MSF psychologist Raimond shares the story of a brave young patient caught up in violent conflict, and how he has learned to cope with PTSD.

24 Mar 2017 / 1 minute read

Karin Walter

Biomedical scientist

Habari! My first mission in Tanzania

Austrian laboratory technician Karin Walter is currently in Tanzania on her first assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). MSF first worked in Tanzania in 1993. We returned in 2015 to provide assistance for refugees living in overcrowded camps, with poor sanitation and little access to healthcare.

19 Jan 2017 / 3 minute read

Bernadette Schausberger

Anthropologist

Sierra Leone: Bringing healthcare closer to the people

Anthropologist Bernadette Schauberger has been on assignment with MSF/Doctors Without Borders in Sierra Leone since April 2016.

12 Sep 2016 / 3 minute read

Diyani Dewasurendra

Doctor

Last blog from Lebanon

After almost nine months I don’t feel like a ‘first missioner’ any more, even though I am technically. I feel like I have been here and breathing this air for many more months than nine.

21 Apr 2016 / 4 minute read

Working as a doctor in a high income country gives the young, unexperienced residents the illusion that medicine is for free and costs nothing.

14 Mar 2016 / 5 minute read

Diyani Dewasurendra

Doctor

Money troubles

As the ‘old’ expats [international staff] are preparing for their end of mission, I am setting new goals for the extension of my time in Lebanon.

04 Dec 2015 / 5 minute read

Diyani Dewasurendra

Doctor

Language is a jungle

It’s been five months now since I arrived in Lebanon.

05 Nov 2015 / 9 minute read

Diyani Dewasurendra

Doctor

My first mission: tents, traffic and teenagers in Tripoli

As far as essential life decisions are concerned, I have always been an intuitive person. My heart tells me where to go and what to do, therefore I don’t need rational planning.

04 Nov 2015 / 7 minute read