**Dr. Stephen Reaney: A Volunteer Doctor’s Journey to Disaster Zones**
Imagine one day working in a hospital in Northern Ireland, and the next, you’re boarding a flight to a war-torn country. This is the reality for Dr. Stephen Reaney, an urgent care doctor from Craigavon Area Hospital, who travels the world as a volunteer providing medical care in disaster-hit countries.
In 2023, Dr. Reaney was in southern Turkey after a devastating earthquake killed over 55,000 people. The year before that, he was in Ukraine after Russia launched a full-scale military invasion. His experiences have taken him to some of the most challenging environments on earth.
“It’s very traumatic for the staff,” Dr. Reaney said in an interview with BBC News NI, “but you just get on with it.” He described seeing typical war casualties – men, women, and children – and treating them with the best possible care. Despite the trauma, he emphasized that his team’s focus remains on providing the best medical attention to their patients.
**A Rewarding but Traumatising Experience**
Dr. Reaney works for Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian organization that sets up field hospitals in crisis zones. He travels with them for about four months of the year, providing emergency care to those affected by disasters. The organization’s tent-like hospital rooms are equipped with basic medical equipment, including trauma beds and ultrasound scanners.
“The diagnostics are really quite simple, but we can do a lot with very little,” Dr. Reaney said, highlighting the resourcefulness required in these environments. However, one of the main challenges his team faces is managing limited resources carefully, as medical supplies can be scarce.
**The Challenges of Volunteering Abroad**
Dr. Reaney and his colleagues work 12-hour shifts, seven days a week, treating patients who have experienced traumatic events. He acknowledged that this role can be both rewarding and traumatising, especially for medics working on their first emergency response. The stress of working in a resource-limited environment with limited medical supplies adds to the challenges.
Dr. Reaney’s story is a testament to the dedication and bravery of volunteers who travel to disaster zones to provide critical medical care. As he prepares for his next deployment, his experiences serve as a reminder of the importance of these humanitarian efforts.
Read More @ www.bbc.com
