Overview

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. '...as a writer/observer, he is skilful at capturing the moments of sublime joy that living and working in such extremities can provide.' Sunday Herald Sun 'To have such great stories entwined with robust insight into humanitarian aid makes this, for me, the travel book of the year.' The Irish Times 'He writes with wit and humour, at the same time demonstrating his true compassion for his work. A fascinating read.' Liverpool Post 'A young man's boldness is accompanied by a lack of sentimentality and a genuinely questing spirit, and these keep you turning the pages, wondering, as in all the best books, what is going to happen next.' Daily Mail '...a touching memoir of the rewards and the toll of humanitarian work, the power of relationships and the many sides of humanity.' The NZ Herald 'Written with a sense of humility, humour and empathy... a book which will stay with me for a long time. Moving and inspiring.' The Edinburgh Bookshop 'There is such genuine affection and admiration for Africa and its people it counterbalances the horrifying reality it describes, making it a pleasure to read.' Sunday Telegraph 'Now here is a doctor who can write. His bright debut is a pleasure from cover to cover...' Cape Times 'Heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal parts' Medical Journal of Australia

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9781743315569

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Author Information

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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