Omar Alrawi
Sixth-year Medicine student
For my final rotation of 5th year, I was given the opportunity to travel overseas and experience paediatrics in another country. I chose to go to Beirut, Lebanon – a decision which was met with a range of responses, a fair few of surprise or even concern. I can understand the misconceptions to an extent as Beirut’s relatively recent bloody past may be the only time the city has crossed many Brits’ radars, but the reality is far from a war torn danger zone. Not only is Beirut a peaceful and safe city in 2019, but a beautiful one, rich with culture and history.
AUBMC where I was placed is a leading medical institution in the region, with patients coming from around the Middle East and beyond. As a result I was able to see a high level of specialised medical care provided for children, some with very rare conditions. One such example was a young child I saw with Johanson–Blizzard syndrome; with a total of around 60 cases described in the medical literature, it’s not one I’m expecting to see again any time soon! I was also impressed by the doctors’ fluency in English, Arabic, and often French too. They really demonstrated the value that speaking multiple languages can have in medicine, communicating comfortably with all of their diverse patient population.
However, my time in Beirut was also my first insight into a healthcare system which isn’t built to care for everyone. It was heartbreaking seeing Syrian refugees forced to choose which investigations they could afford for their children. Although it wasn’t easy being involved in those cases, I think it was an important experience and I’ve come back with an even greater appreciation for universal healthcare and our NHS.
In addition to my experiences in the hospital, I was able to visit the incredible ancient city of Baalbek in the Beqaa Valley, as well as the cave networks of Jeita Grotto, which house the largest known stalactites in the world. Not to mention the food in Lebanon, which was the best I’ve tasted and left me dreading the return home…
I had a brilliant time in Beirut and it would not have been possible without the generosity of the late Miles Vaughan Williams, so I’d like to extend a huge thank you to his family and the Vaughan Williams medical fund at Hertford.