Wedad Abood Yeser: The doctor who opted to heal war pains

Ajman - Wedad, who is a Yemeni but brought up in the UAE, joined Doctors Without Borders in 2010 and was assigned to work in Yemen."

Wedad Abood Yeser graduated from Gulf Medical University (GMU), Ajman, in 2010 and started looking for a job in NGOs and humanitarian organisations. She loved volunteering work.
Although none of the organisations were ready to give a fresh graduate a job, it was the innumerable volunteering assignments on Wedad's CV that landed her a job with the international medical humanitarian organisation, Doctors Without Borders. "The representative from the organisation asked me if I was willing to work in war-torn areas or conflict zones, and I said yes."
Wedad, who is a Yemeni but brought up in the UAE, joined Doctors Without Borders in 2010 and was assigned to work in Yemen."
Doctors Without Borders was running a primary healthcare centre for surgeries in a remote village in the north of Yemen then. "The organisation was taking over a second level hospital and I came as a medical doctor. It was an incredibly tough experience as I was coming from such a safe environment of the UAE, where I have lived since 1986. And this was the first time I returned to my country.
"I was experiencing fear for the first time there. We were isolated in just a compound and would just be taken to the hospital and then back to our compound. And for the first time, I saw cases of malnutrition, malaria, tropical diseases, which we had only read about in books. At times, I was solely responsible to treat the victims of war.
Wedad came back to the UAE the next year. But her passion for the volunteering work got noticed and she was called again to another war-torn area. This time it was Libya. For almost 16 months, she stayed in Libya, supporting the medical health centre for treating victims of torture, sexual violence and conflict.
Humanitarian work is the soul of medicine
"When I was graduating, I had always thought that working as a doctor would mean working in a fancy clinic. But let me tell you, medicine is beyond that. Humanitarian work is the soul of medicine. I realised the value of what I had learnt only when I experienced it. I realised that this is what they wanted us to do. This is what they equipped us for and that's when the reality of being a doctor hit me."
Wedad's message to all: "If you cannot do humanitarian work (at any level) in your daily busy life, then do it on your annual leave. This is the most satisfying work you will ever have done. Once you come back to your home from such a volunteering work, you will have the best sleep ever. A sleep of peace and satisfaction of helping someone you never knew before and may not ever know.
Wedad was honoured at the GMU alumni meet on Sunday for her humanitarian work.
Varsity to fund healthcare start-up proposals
It was not just a reunion but a day of recognition for the high achievers of the Gulf Medical University (GMU) in Ajman.
Over 200 students of GMU from 10 different countries flew down to be a part of the GMU Summit, where 15 of the university's select medical students were felicitated for holding important positions in various countries by Shaikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, chairman of the Ajman Municipality and Planning Department.
Shaikh Rashid bin Humaid also launched a unique GMU initiative titled 'GMU Startup Lab', which will support aspiring medical entrepreneurs transform their business ideas into reality. Associated with Thumbay academic hospitals, the students will be encouraged to submit their business proposals to the university.
Under the directives of His Highness Shaikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ajman, GMU will be strengthened into a full-fledged university, offering engineering and business management courses.
Founder, president and chairman of board of governors of GMU, Thumbay Moideen, said: "Once the university adds engineering and business management courses, GMU will be renamed Thumbay University."
GMU alumni and awardee Dr Walid Al Deeb, who is now radiology registrar, North Wales School of Radiology, Wales Deanery, said: "It is a historical day because it marks unity, progress, devotion and success in our achievements."
GMU alumni Farah Jameel said: "There is a lot of unlocked potential in these medical students and this platform is impressive and exciting. It will be an opportunity for students to believe in themselves and take a step further towards innovation because they have someone to back them up."
saman@khaleejtimes.com

• Ajman