Volunteering: Learning by helping

Dr. Tashi Wangchuk

“I am helping people by sharing my knowledge and experience, and at the same time I am developing and improving my own professionalism.”

Dr. Tashi is a UNV Medical Doctor serving in Timor Leste since December 2008. Timor Leste is a lower middle income economy, and continues to suffer the aftereffects of decades-long independence struggle against Indonesia, which damaged infrastructure and displaced thousands of civilians. The country is placed 158^th by Human Development Index (HDI) among the world’s states, the second lowest in Asia.

“The electricity is only available between 6 pm and 12 pm at night.”

In addition to see regular patients everyday Dr. Tashi is on emergency call 24 hours 7 days.

“It is challenging when I have to rush to where the accident happened and take care of the patient right there on the spot. My clinical management and my decision on whether the patient should be evacuated to more adequate medical facility is crucial.”

Dr. Tashi has been working in Suai district, coast side of Timor Leste, for the last six months. This is a mosquito infested area and illness like Malaria and Dengue are very common.

“Weekends are difficult to manage. There is hardly any place to visit and see except beaches for swimming. Spending time with colleagues from my own country, talking to them in my mother tongue is very relaxing.”

Relaxing with other Bhutanese colleagues

Dr. Tashi also served as a UNV in Nepal from 2007 to 2008. 

“I am learning a lot from people from different culture and ethnicity, and also looking at my country Bhutan with a different view point.”