Apr 18, 2021
In this episode, Lyndsey talks with Dr. Kwan Kew Lai, a Harvard Medical faculty physician, with a specialty in infectious diseases. She is a disaster relief medical volunteer who has volunteered her medical services all over the world.
The conversation of this episode focuses on the insights Dr. Lai will give us detailing the impact investment projects in Africa from a doctor’s experience.
Introduction and Overview:
- Dr. Lai’s “why” behind the volunteer work she does and why she chose Africa to concentrate her volunteer efforts (6:12)
- What Dr. Lai first thoughts were when she first visited Africa and saw first hand the hardships that her patients were facing (11:52)
- What encouraged Dr. Lai to risk her own safety to help others (15:39)
- What are the top challenges for volunteer doctors working in these countries: (20:31)
- Infrastructure (20:48)
- Lack of healthcare personnel (21:39)
Malawi:
- Dr. Lai’s mission in Malawi. Her experience with being selected for the program (23:09)
- Obstacles for her Malawi mission:
- Infrastructure concerns (27:25)
- Privacy concerns (30:13)
- Involvement of NGO’s and the local government (31:46)
- How the turnover of medical staff affects the program (33:07)
- Measurements involved in the Malawi program (35:00)
Future:
- Future of the Malawi region healthcare system (41:19)
- Lack of commitment by the government to support the program (41:37)
- What incentives could be offered to reduce the turnover of medical staff (43:59)
- Challenges to overcome to make future programs successful (44:45)
- Reducing turnover of staff and retaining new talent (44:45)
- How changes in the year end evaluation could improve the program (45:31)
Guest Contact Information:
Dr. Kwan Kew Lai
New book: "Into Africa Out of Academia: A Doctor's Memoir"
Book debut: "Lest We Forget: A Doctor's Experience with Life and Death During the Ebola Outbreak"
kwankew@gmail.com
www.kwankewlai.com