The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
TG4 documentary to follow work of Inch-based surgeon in the Middle East
INCH-BASED Dr Eve Bruce and her recent work as a medical director at a re-constructive hospital in Amman, Jordan, will be the subject of a TG4 documentary to be aired tonight (Wednesday).
Dr Bruce recently returned from a 19-month spell at the Médicin San Frontiéres hospital, which treats many patients from war-torn nations such as Iraq, Palestine, Syria and Yemen – patients who could not be treated in their home countries.
Dr Bruce is a plastic surgeon and has served on, she estimates, 13 missions over the past five years. This was, however, a new role for her as a medical director, away from the operating theatre.
“I started this mission in June 2018, and I returned just before Christmas,” she told The Kerryman.
“All in all, I was there for about 19 months.
“I think this was my 13th mission. I’m a plastic surgeon, and I’ve previously done missions in places such as northern Nigeria, Afghanistan, and Gaza.
“The documentary doesn’t cover the entire 19-month period, but it does include part of it.”
Dr Bruce explained that the programme in Amman was set up in 2006 during the Iraq War, as where those injured in the war could not access the treatment they needed.
Prior to leaving for Jordan, Dr Bruce also had to come to terms with the death of her 26-year-old son, Jock, who passed away in March 2018, and this tragedy is part of the documentary’s narrative.
The documentary is produced by Midas Productions, and also follows the work of a Sligo GP in Northern Iraq; and a Cork nurse who has worked in Afrghanistan and on a Mediterranean migrant rescue ship.
The 52-minute documentary, titled ‘An Bhearna Bhaoil’, airs tonight (February 19) from 9.30pm.