NHS Golden Jubilee surgeon brings life-changing care to rural Zambia
Jonathan with patient Agnes.
For over 10 years, an NHS Golden Jubilee Consultant has been volunteering his own time to bring life-changing care to people in one of the most remote parts of Zambia.
Each year, Consultant Surgeon in General, Colorectal and Surgical Oncology, Mr Jonathan Hannay, travels thousands of miles to Chitokoloki Mission Hospital, a small but vital facility on the banks of the Zambezi River.
Patients have often been travelling for hours, and in some cases even days, to get to the hospital in the hope of receiving treatment they cannot get anywhere else.
Working with local teams, Jonathan provides complex surgical procedures, from cancer operations to trauma and reconstructive surgery.
In many cases, these conditions are rarely seen in the UK, or would have been diagnosed earlier thanks to modern technology which is not available to these patients.
Speaking about his work, Mr Hannay said: “One of the reasons I became a doctor was because I wanted to make a real difference to people who need it most.
“I had hoped to work in a mission hospital, however this opportunity never came along during my training. That’s why I’m incredibly grateful that I can do this now, and can’t thank NHS Golden Jubilee enough for all the support they’ve given me.”
Chitokoloki Mission Hospital is led by Dr and Mrs McAdam, a Northern Irish couple who have dedicated over 40 years to serving communities in Western Zambia.
Dr McAdam, a surgeon, is the hospital’s lead clinician and Mrs McAdam, a theatre nurse, works alongside a small team of Western and Zambian clinicians to deliver care in challenging conditions. Their reputation draws patients from across the region.
When nearby government hospitals become overwhelmed, they refer patients to Chitokoloki, where help is limited, but hope remains.
Mr Hannay said: “Every time I visit, I see how small things, like a stoma bag or fracture repair, can completely change someone’s life.
“There are patients I’ll never forget. There was a woman who had been to 6 hospitals before being referred to us with an advanced shoulder tumour. A colleague called me from her bedside to ask for help.
“10 days later, I flew out and performed her surgery and 2 years on, she’s alive and caring for her family.”
During another visit, Mr Hannay treated a patient named Agnes, who had travelled to the hospital with a large tumour growing from her sternum, an advanced case rarely seen in countries like Scotland. Mr Hannay successfully removed the entire tumour, giving Agnes a new lease of life. On his most recent visit, Agnes returned to the hospital to reunite with Mr Hannay, now 2 years post-surgery and continuing to live a happy, healthy life.
In addition to performing the procedures, Jonathan helps train local clinicians to make sure that support is available all year round for those who need it. He is also working to build links between Zambia and the UK, exploring opportunities for collaboration in research, training and service improvement.
Carolynne O’Connor, Chief Executive of NHS Golden Jubilee, said: “Jonathan’s work in Zambia is truly remarkable and a credit to the NHS. His dedication to improving the lives of others using his own time and skills is inspiring to us all, and reflects the compassionate, innovative spirit that defines our hospital.”
Despite limited resources and patients arriving with advanced conditions, Jonathan returns each year. He describes the experience as “humbling, heart breaking and incredibly worthwhile,” adding, “You go out thinking you’re going to teach, and you end up learning so much more.”
