Autobiography
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“When I went to medical school, I never dreamt, that as a doctor, one day the biggest contribution I would make to people’s health, would be to hand out plastic sheets and blankets under armed guard.”
Moved by the devastating media coverage of the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia in 1985, John Tomlinson packed his bags to volunteer for the Save the Children Fund with the intent to help rebuild, and run, a small hospital in a Northern Somali town on the border with Ethiopia. However, faced with diminishing supplies, poorly trained staff and murmurs of civil unrest, the enormity of the task soon became clear. When the actions of a resentful colleague led to his wrongful imprisonment and the escalation of ongoing tribal conflicts drew ever closer, the safety of his staff and himself became increasingly compromised.
Set in the context of a country that is not yet at peace, Noises After Dark offers first-hand experiences of historical events, and pays tribute to the unsung heroes working in conflict zones back then and today. Proving that humour and heart can still be found in the darkest of places, John’s memoir reveals the truth, both good and bad, behind the news stories and ultimately how his time there led to his realisation that health is not only about health care. With a Foreword by Bob Geldof.
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What a story - at times harrowing, at times laugh out loud funny. Throughout the author's account of his time volunteering in Somalia in the 1980s, his humanity, his respect for everyone he encounters, and his ability to keep his sense of humour in even the darkest situations, shine through. Deeply moving, and also a tribute to John, his fellow-workers, and those local people who give time, and sometines take such personal risks, to help others.
I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't put it down. It's a remarkable true story that tells of the difficulties of life in Somalia and the young team trying to help. It is warm, compassionate and honest with a gentle humour that keeps them and us going. I would highly recommend.
Dr Tomlinson has written a superb memoir of his time in Somalia. His work was difficult, stressful and at times dangerous as Somalia descended into civil war. Spending a night in prison and twice being evacuated would not have been what this young doctor signed up for when joining SCF. His account of his experiece in East Africa is well worth reading.
Noises After Dark by John Tomlinson is an autobiographical account of the author's work as a medic for Save the Children in Somalia during 1980s. He describes the successes, the trials and tribulations as well as the dangers of his work building up, staffing and running a hospital in an isolated area of the country. The narrative is set against a backdrop of corruption and a burgeoning civil war with which he and his colleagues have perilous first hand experience. In spite of all the frustrations and difficulties, John's account maintains an optimistic and sometimes humorous can-do attitude. From his experiences he describes how he gained a new perspective on life and new insights into the human condition. I found Noises After Dark to be a well written, personal and thought-provoking book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it.
This well written account of a young doctor's experiences in the Horn of Africa in the 1980s is moving and surprisingly gripping. The author volunteered his services through the Save the Children Fund, and found himself helping to run a small, ill-equipped hospital in northern Somalia, close to the Ethiopian border. His account of the difficulties he and his colleagues faced and how they dealt with them is a testament to the dedication of these workers and, no doubt, the many others who find themselves in similar situations. He recalls with remarkable clarity the characters he meets, both colleagues and patients, the conversations between them, and the many incidents that occurred during his three-year posting, some mundane, some horrific and some amusing. Despite the obvious frustration of having to deal with inadequate facilities, corruption, and tribal conflict, what shines throughout this book is the humanity of the author and the co-workers who helped him to improve the lives of some of the most deprived people on the African continent.
