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. However, faced with diminishing supplies, poorly trained staff and murmurs of civil unrest, the enormity of the task soon became clear. 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. 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. Now, he plans to raise money and awareness for Save the Children charity, through his memoir Noises After Dark.
John: “I went to Liverpool Medical School, which also has a Tropical School of Medicine, and I had already developed an interest in this area of medicine. The real impact was when I saw TV scenes of the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia. The shocking and tragic scenes of the biblical famine in Ethiopia were like nothing that we had ever seen before. The scenes gripped everyone. On a personal note, the report haunted me for days after. At that time, I was still a junior doctor going through training, but I decided that I could do more than just donate and, as a doctor, I could actually volunteer and contribute in some way. So, I volunteered with Save the Children Fund who were very active in East Africa at that time.”
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