Africa, medical, surgery, inspirational, contemporary, cultural-exploration

In the poorly populated areas of Africa there is much needed, but nothing is needed more badly than medical knowledge and skilled surgeons, well except for clean water and sanitary facilities. The author followed one particular neurosurgeon as he worked hard to change things and teach others even as he himself learned more. His story is amazing and inspiring and should serve to teach those who live near cities everywhere to be thankful,
If anyone needs another wake up call, try reading Nine Pints.
I originally won a copy in a LibraryThing Giveaway but only read it just now because it walked back home, seems that it wandered away and was read by several friends. ( )

I was thrilled to win this as an ERC because I really wanted to read this book after hearing about it. It follows neurosurgeon Dr. Dilan Ellegala through his missionary work in Tanzania. It was an interesting read, and I found myself not wanting to put the book down. The story flows very smoothly, and the writing is not dry at all. It did take me a little longer to read it due to the medical jargon, but the author did a great job of explaining everything clearly. I would definitely recommend this book if you enjoy biographical books about travel. ( )

This is a beautiful story of a Sri Lanka-American doctor who embarks on a temporary medical mission and develops an idea to make a permanent difference in the healthcare of a rural area of Tanzania. The story reaches beyond Dr. Ellegala, just as his work did. It is refreshing to read a positive story about foreign mission work that does not shy away from condemning the temporary, sometimes harmful, mission work that is most common and most familiar to much of the western world. This is handled without being overly preachy and illustrating just what a difference a teach-first mentality makes on the lives of so many. I recommend this book to anyone interested in foreign aide work and medical missions. ( )

Neurosurgeon Dr. Dilan Ellegala arrives in Tanzania thinking he’s there to help the locals by performing much-needed surgeries. But what he discovers makes him realize that a better way of helping those with head injuries or brain tumors is for him to teach local medical assistants how to perform the surgeries themselves. This is the beginning of Madaktari Africa, an organization whose mission is to advance medical expertise and care in sub-Saharan Africa through the training and education of local medical personnel, thus improving health care and medical autonomy by investing knowledge, skills, and time, rather than just dollars, into the Tanzanian healthcare infrastructure.

This book really captured my attention, even with all the medical terms with which I am unfamiliar. I’ve long thought that charitable dollars could be used in a much more sustaining way. Thanks to Dilan who had this vision, it is gradually happening in Tanzania. ( )

Exceptional. This should be required reading for anyone contemplating a mission trip - the whole idea of "a hand up rather than a hand out" and teaching rather than doing is the best way to pay skills forward. The characters pull you in, the writing keeps you turning the pages. ( )