Alumni Profile: Ahmed Seedat and the Importance of Building Relationships

Former KSLP Clinical Lead and Ebola Volunteer, Ahmed Seedat

I initially volunteered with KSLP as clinical lead from September 2013 to March 2014, having spent the previous six months volunteering with VSO (Volunteer Services Overseas) in Sierra Leone.

In those early days it was just Oliver and me, shortly joined by Suzanne, so our roles were a little more fluid and we had a bit more space in the office!

My role mainly involved supporting the Connaught Hospital Improvement Committee, particularly in strengthening the Accident & Emergency Department, supporting colleagues at COMAHS in delivering teaching and training for undergraduate medical students as well as working on postgraduate training with a focus on strengthening the internship programme.

I returned to Freetown in August – September for the Ebola outbreak.

Back in the UK I'm a Respiratory Registrar trainee based in South London but left for an OOPE (out of programme experience) in November 2015 – I managed to stay in the UK for just over a year! 

Currently I'm in Yida, Unity State, South Sudan working as a medical doctor for MSF. In Yida, MSF are providing medical care for the refugee population affected by conflict in South Sudan and the disputed South Kordofan region.

Although the context is very different requiring a different approach and perspective I find that as with KSLP, relationships between national and international staff, the wider community and other key stakeholders are extremely important. This can be less than straightforward in an unstable region or area affected by conflict. Nevertheless, building relationships particularly with colleagues and the local community lays the foundations for trust, mutual learning and knowledge exchange which is not only helpful for us as individuals but hopefully translates into wider health gains for the local population.