Madagascar 3: the doctor's story

Bunbury urologist Dr Sue Chapman will be making her third journey to Madagascar in November as part of a team of doctors who are improving the lives of the republic’s islanders.

The surgeon joined volunteer group Australian Doctors for Africa about three years ago and since then has operated on scores of patients and helped to improve local practises.

Dr Chapman performs prostate operations on men who have catheters put in because they cannot pass urine.

She said her technique of performing this operation had a much quicker recovery time and was safer than the technique performed by African doctors.

‘‘The local doctors are only able to do an open prostatectomy which is a cut in the tummy which has a higher complication rate and a much higher risk of bleeding,’’ Dr Chapman said.

‘‘So a lot of the patients are quite worried about having that operation done whereas my technique is a much simpler operation with a much quicker recovery.’’

On her last visit, Dr Chapman took over medical supplies and did 17 operations on 15 men.

Aid work appeals to Dr Chapman because she is able to use her skills to help those who would otherwise go without medical treatment.

‘‘I have skills that can help somebody hopefully go from being chronically infected with a catheter back to a wage earner for their family,’’ she said.

‘‘It’s helping that one person to make a difference for them.’’

For more information, visit www.ausdocafrica.org.