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A powerful, heart-breaking, surprisingly funny, honest and ultimately uplifting account of life on the medical frontline, and a moving testimony of the work done by Medecins Sans Frontieres and the extraordinary and sometimes eccentric people who work for it.
Damien Brown, a young Australian doctor, thinks he's ready when he arrives for his first posting with Medecins Sans Frontieres in Africa. But the town he's sent to is an isolated outpost of mud huts, surrounded by landmines; the hospital, for which he's to be the only doctor, is filled with malnourished children and conditions he's never seen; and the health workers - Angolan war veterans twice his age and who speak no English - walk out on him following an altercation on his first shift.
In the months that follow, Damien confronts these challenges all the while dealing with the social absurdities of living with only three other volunteers for company. The medical calamities pile up - a leopard attack, a landmine explosion, and having to perform surgery using tools cleaned on the fire being among them - but it's through Damien's evolving friendships with the local people that his passion for the work grows.
Band-aid for a Broken Leg is a powerful, sometimes heart-breaking, often funny, always honest and ultimately uplifting account of life on the medical frontline in Angola, Mozambique and South Sudan. It is also a moving testimony of the work done by medical humanitarian groups and the extraordinary and sometimes eccentric people who work for them.
About the Author
Damien Brown is an Australian doctor based in Melbourne. He began writing seriously after his last humanitarian posting, encouraged by readers of a blog he kept while working in Africa. This is Damien's first book.
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Comments about Band-Aid for a Broken Leg:
A great read. Funny, informative and very inspiring.
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Comments about Band-Aid for a Broken Leg:
This book opened my eyes to what volunteers face going overseas to help other countries and how the people of those countries think that their life is not so bad
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Comments about Band-Aid for a Broken Leg:
Great combination of serious subject matter with just the right amount of comedy. An easy read that is well worth it!
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ISBN: 9781743310212
ISBN-10: 1743310218
Audience:
General
Format:
Paperback
Language:
English
Number Of Pages: 352
Published: 1st July 2012
Publisher: ALLEN & UNWIN ACADEMIC
Dimensions (cm): 23.5 x 15.5
x 2.743
Weight (kg): 0.484
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