(The Capuchin, Summer 1990, pp. 14-16)
Dr Maeve Bradley
Tell me a little about your background
I grew up in Tobermore, Co. Derry, and then, after school, I studied at Queen’s in Belfast, from where I graduated in 1980. In worked in Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry, also in Down and Letterkenny. Then I spent some time in general practice in Wales.
What gave you the idea of coming to Africa?
The mission collection boxed for the black babies at school! That started me off, and then I was helped by a friend who returned from working in the Third World. She gave me addresses where I could get information.
Did you come through an organization?
Yes. The Irish Missionary Union (IMU) and the Agency for Personal Service Overseas (APSO). I went to Zambia in 1986.
What sort of work did you do in Zambia?
General medicine, surgery, obstetrics, paediatrics, community medicine such as work in primary health care and under-five clinics. It was like being a GP, doing hospital and community work and everything else all in one.
How does it differ from work in Ireland?
In lots of ways, there’s a much broader range of problems to deal with; there’s more serious illness and a higher mortality rate. As well as that there are fewer resources as back up; there are problems with patients concealing their symptoms, not taking their medicine, absconding from the hospital, taking local herbal medicine at the same time, or seeing a witchdoctor. The tropical diseases are a new experience, of course, and the numbers to deal with day by day are much bigger. Then everything has to be done through interpreters as there are several local languages. But the nurses take on more responsibility: they diagnose, prescribe and treat patients to a much greater extent than at home, and that’s a big help.
What disappointment have you had?
Being unable to work at times because of illness such as hepatitis and malaria.
What did you get out of it?
Much broader professional experience than at home. Also, I learned a lot about myself, and my views changed in some ways. It deepened my conviction that people are more important than things or techniques. I learned to live in community with the missionaries and hospital staff.
What were the highlights of your time here?
No one thing in particular, but it was great to have the occasional unexpected recovery, or to be able to have a successful delivery in a difficult situation. It was good to come back after a break and be welcomed in the hospital by the patients and staff.
What kept you going when things got tough?
The support of others, and the prospect of a break from time to time.
Have you any suggestion to make to someone thinking of spending some time in the Third World?
Get accurate information first of all so that you can make a good decision. Don’t expect too much in the way of big successes. Learn to rely on yourself and to be responsible for yourself. Look after your health, and remember that you’re not indispensable, so take breaks and holidays from time to time.
What future do you see for Africa?
I think there’ll be a lot of poverty, illness and death for a very long time, and then maybe there’ll be a slow recovery.
Would you do it again?
Yes, but not yet.
Thanks, Maeve.
NELL DILLON
Could you start by telling us something about yourself?
I was born in the village of Beragh in County Tyrone. My people were farmers. When I left school I trained in nursery nursing, and I went to Zambia in 1973.
What were your reasons for going there?
I was influenced by talks and slides and magazine articles I had heard and seen about the work of missionaries. I didn’t feel called to be a sister, but I wanted to do something to help the poor. Also, I was attracted just by the fun of it.
What work did you do while you were there?
I began with health education work in under-five clinics, doing vaccinations and helping women with nutrition, gardening and sewing classes. From there I went on to start a sewing club which trained primary school leavers and produced low-cost school uniforms. Now I’m in hospital administration.
Have you had some disappointments?
Yes. The biggest would be the lack of trust among the people themselves, and their inability to sustain a project after the external help has gone.
How do you estimate the value of your 17 years here?
I think that doing something is better than doing nothing, even if it’s very small. If often seems like a waste of time, so I think you have to be very patient.
What did you gain by it yourself?
I think I learned a lot about human nature, and the experience of living in a different environment from home was also good.
Have you any advice to offer to someone going to the Third World?
Don’t starting counting results; don’t be too serious; look after your health and eat well without feeling guilty because others are hungry; remember that you’ll do more good than harm, and, lastly, enjoy it.
What future do you see for Africa?
I think it will continue to go down until it hits rock bottom, and then it will start to come back up on its own way, not a European way.
When you met with disappointments, what kept you going?
I think you need to have faith. It builds you up again.
Thanks, Nell.