MEMORIES: Oakville doctor, Richard Heinzl, is the founder of Doctors Without Borders Canada. He has written a memoir of his time in Cambodia, doing field work for the organization. (Photo: Riziero Vertolli, Beaver photographer)Aug 30, 2008
By Hiba Kesebi
Special to the Beaver News (Ontario, Canada)
With his passport sewn to his pants and armed with a piece of paper containing the names and addresses of two Canadian pediatricians who worked in Uganda, 22-year-old Dr. Richard Heinzl crossed the border that separated Kenya and Uganda -- on foot and alone.
It was hot. There was no shadow and very little mid-day wind.
But he was accustomed to Africa's climate.
He had been in Kenya with several other medical students from McMaster University on elective in Africa.
But visiting Kenya didn't give the doctor much satisfaction. He wanted to visit war-torn Uganda.
It was 1985, and the entire world knew that neighbouring Uganda was not a safe haven.
A military coup in 1971, and a shift in power from former Prime Minister Milton Obote to dictator Idi Amin, had left the country in horrific circumstances. Amin, who titled himself as Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular, was ruthless. Those who threatened his rule were persecuted and murdered.
"The country was really just committing suicide," recalled the 45 year-old doctor of International Health.
That did not deter Heinzl from going, rather the circumstances made him more keen, more persistent and more determined to visit the country.
"I don't have a reason," said Heinzl, when asked why he left Kenya for Uganda. "I just had to see it...and make some sense of it and how it can possibly happen... how people can get into war.
"My overall objective was to really see what happens to people in populations that are caught up in war."
Through the help of residents, Heinzl was able to get to Kampala, Uganda's capital, where two Canadian pediatricians were working at Mulago Hospital.
The journey to the capital proved to be more life altering than he thought. It was during that trip that he saw the flag of the organization that would change his perspectives and goals in life for the years to follow.
The flag had the image of a "red-on-white cross but the reverse of it, like a colour negative," and it was that of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF or Doctors Without Borders). The organization, which was based solely in Europe, before Heinzl brought it to Canada, is an international, humanitarian aid organization that provides emergency medical assistance to populations in danger in more than 70 countries.
In July 1985, Heinzl returned to Hamilton, Canada.
But the images of Africa, the images of war, and the image of MSF, remained carved in his heart and memory.
"Like everybody here, I had seen this stuff (world crisis) on TV and for whatever reason, I had an interest in international health and human rights and wanted to do something for this important cause."
In 1988, with luck and networking connections by his side, Heinzl was able to meet with Jacques de Milliano, the president of MSF Holland.
Together, they schemed ways to open an MSF chapter in Canada. Heinzl already knew two other people who were interested in taking part in this vision. All that was left was to get the support and approval from the French.
But that proved to be a difficult task. France refused. Francis Charron, one of the French leaders for MSF at the time, said there wasn't going to be a chapter in Canada and that there weren't going to be any new sections, especially outside of Europe.
The refusal did not deter Heinzl.
Just as he was determined to visit Uganda, Heinzl, along with other supporters, was determined to bring MSF to Canada.
"There were a whole bunch of people that came together to build this organization. At the beginning, we had no name recognition and people kind of thought it was a slightly crazy idea," he recalled.
"But we had a group of very idealistic people who believed in the cause and wanted to do whatever it took."
In 1991, Heinzl and supporters of MSF Canada saw their dream realized. Thanks to France's approval, Heinzl was sent to Cambodia.
Cambodia, an ancient Buddhist nation and a former French colony, avoided most of the Vietnam War, however in 1975 the pro-Western government started to crack. The communists and Maoists took charge, opening the door for the Maoist Khmer Rouge.
In 1976 and 1977 the killing was intense. Dump trucks filled with corpses were driven around the capital. In 1979 the Vietnamese moved in and, for a decade, occupied most of the country.
The situation, although slightly improved, saw millions of broken families and fractured cities.
And like many other previous missions, MSF was there to help.
For Heinzl, the most touching and memorable experiences involved kids.
"Kids are important to me, they're pretty much the same all over the world," said Heinzl, his lips stretching across his face to reveal a caring smile.
During his stay in Cambodia, Heinzl grew to know and care for the communities in which he worked.
He would wake up in the morning to the sight of children hiding behind bushes waiting to see him.
"When I'd get up, they would come, calling me uncle, asking for treats," he laughed.
"I had nicknames for all of them."
Cambodia only marked the beginning of Heinzl and MSF's journey though.
Since its establishment in Canada, Canadians have taken on more than 1,800 field assignments with MSF in more than 85 countries. MSF Canada has also managed healthcare projects in Colombia, Cote D'Ivoire, Haiti, Nigeria and Republic of Congo. Aside from carrying on with humanitarian medical assistance, the foundation also seeks to raise awareness of crisis situations, by acting and speaking out as a witness about the troubles of populations in danger.
To date, Heinzl has worked in and travelled to 75 countries including Indonesia (to help out during the Tsunami), Iraq (during the Kurdish Refugee Crises), Colombia, South Africa, Haiti, Grenada and the Dominican Republic.
But of all 75 countries, Africa and Cambodia, remain dearest to his heart.
"There's something very, very special about Cambodia and Africa in general. People are just so strong, so patient and so deep. It's very unique."
His experiences in Cambodia and with MSF Canada have stayed in his memory.
And this year, he's made them available for the public to read about with his new book, Cambodia Calling: A Memoir from the Frontlines of Humanitarian Aid.
"Three years ago, I just disappeared into the cottage and wrote a first draft and shared it with Don Coles, a Governor General Award-winning poet in Canada," recalled Dr. Heinzl. "He (Coles) was very supportive and essential in sort of guiding me in terms of the writing in the beginning."
Cambodia Calling is a memoir of Heinzl's life in Cambodia. It is filled with details and imagery of his day-to-day life in the country.
"I probably have 50 Grumbacher notebooks in my study, with my sketches, ideas, pictures and I relied on some of that," said Heinzl, when asked how he was able to put so much detail into his book.
After writing his first draft, Heinzl disappeared again.
This time he travelled to Cyprus and sat on the ocean coast and wrote the second draft.
His book is not the typical memoir about a doctor's heroic actions. Rather, it depicts the doctor's challenges and obstacles in the country, such as confronting self-doubt and the reality of treating many who cannot be saved.
"I write about unusual things and odd things -- stuff that, for whatever reason, touched me and shaped me and were impressive," he explained.
Heinzl edited his book in Oakville, where he currently resides with his wife, Carrie and his two children.
He admits he's still in love with travelling and Cambodia Calling: A Memoir from the Frontlines of Humanitarian Aid, written in three different places, is reflective of this passion. The book, published by Wiley Canada, is available in Canada for $29.95.
It was hot. There was no shadow and very little mid-day wind.
But he was accustomed to Africa's climate.
He had been in Kenya with several other medical students from McMaster University on elective in Africa.
But visiting Kenya didn't give the doctor much satisfaction. He wanted to visit war-torn Uganda.
It was 1985, and the entire world knew that neighbouring Uganda was not a safe haven.
A military coup in 1971, and a shift in power from former Prime Minister Milton Obote to dictator Idi Amin, had left the country in horrific circumstances. Amin, who titled himself as Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular, was ruthless. Those who threatened his rule were persecuted and murdered.
"The country was really just committing suicide," recalled the 45 year-old doctor of International Health.
That did not deter Heinzl from going, rather the circumstances made him more keen, more persistent and more determined to visit the country.
"I don't have a reason," said Heinzl, when asked why he left Kenya for Uganda. "I just had to see it...and make some sense of it and how it can possibly happen... how people can get into war.
"My overall objective was to really see what happens to people in populations that are caught up in war."
Through the help of residents, Heinzl was able to get to Kampala, Uganda's capital, where two Canadian pediatricians were working at Mulago Hospital.
The journey to the capital proved to be more life altering than he thought. It was during that trip that he saw the flag of the organization that would change his perspectives and goals in life for the years to follow.
The flag had the image of a "red-on-white cross but the reverse of it, like a colour negative," and it was that of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF or Doctors Without Borders). The organization, which was based solely in Europe, before Heinzl brought it to Canada, is an international, humanitarian aid organization that provides emergency medical assistance to populations in danger in more than 70 countries.
In July 1985, Heinzl returned to Hamilton, Canada.
But the images of Africa, the images of war, and the image of MSF, remained carved in his heart and memory.
"Like everybody here, I had seen this stuff (world crisis) on TV and for whatever reason, I had an interest in international health and human rights and wanted to do something for this important cause."
In 1988, with luck and networking connections by his side, Heinzl was able to meet with Jacques de Milliano, the president of MSF Holland.
Together, they schemed ways to open an MSF chapter in Canada. Heinzl already knew two other people who were interested in taking part in this vision. All that was left was to get the support and approval from the French.
But that proved to be a difficult task. France refused. Francis Charron, one of the French leaders for MSF at the time, said there wasn't going to be a chapter in Canada and that there weren't going to be any new sections, especially outside of Europe.
The refusal did not deter Heinzl.
Just as he was determined to visit Uganda, Heinzl, along with other supporters, was determined to bring MSF to Canada.
"There were a whole bunch of people that came together to build this organization. At the beginning, we had no name recognition and people kind of thought it was a slightly crazy idea," he recalled.
"But we had a group of very idealistic people who believed in the cause and wanted to do whatever it took."
In 1991, Heinzl and supporters of MSF Canada saw their dream realized. Thanks to France's approval, Heinzl was sent to Cambodia.
Cambodia, an ancient Buddhist nation and a former French colony, avoided most of the Vietnam War, however in 1975 the pro-Western government started to crack. The communists and Maoists took charge, opening the door for the Maoist Khmer Rouge.
In 1976 and 1977 the killing was intense. Dump trucks filled with corpses were driven around the capital. In 1979 the Vietnamese moved in and, for a decade, occupied most of the country.
The situation, although slightly improved, saw millions of broken families and fractured cities.
And like many other previous missions, MSF was there to help.
For Heinzl, the most touching and memorable experiences involved kids.
"Kids are important to me, they're pretty much the same all over the world," said Heinzl, his lips stretching across his face to reveal a caring smile.
During his stay in Cambodia, Heinzl grew to know and care for the communities in which he worked.
He would wake up in the morning to the sight of children hiding behind bushes waiting to see him.
"When I'd get up, they would come, calling me uncle, asking for treats," he laughed.
"I had nicknames for all of them."
Cambodia only marked the beginning of Heinzl and MSF's journey though.
Since its establishment in Canada, Canadians have taken on more than 1,800 field assignments with MSF in more than 85 countries. MSF Canada has also managed healthcare projects in Colombia, Cote D'Ivoire, Haiti, Nigeria and Republic of Congo. Aside from carrying on with humanitarian medical assistance, the foundation also seeks to raise awareness of crisis situations, by acting and speaking out as a witness about the troubles of populations in danger.
To date, Heinzl has worked in and travelled to 75 countries including Indonesia (to help out during the Tsunami), Iraq (during the Kurdish Refugee Crises), Colombia, South Africa, Haiti, Grenada and the Dominican Republic.
But of all 75 countries, Africa and Cambodia, remain dearest to his heart.
"There's something very, very special about Cambodia and Africa in general. People are just so strong, so patient and so deep. It's very unique."
His experiences in Cambodia and with MSF Canada have stayed in his memory.
And this year, he's made them available for the public to read about with his new book, Cambodia Calling: A Memoir from the Frontlines of Humanitarian Aid.
"Three years ago, I just disappeared into the cottage and wrote a first draft and shared it with Don Coles, a Governor General Award-winning poet in Canada," recalled Dr. Heinzl. "He (Coles) was very supportive and essential in sort of guiding me in terms of the writing in the beginning."
Cambodia Calling is a memoir of Heinzl's life in Cambodia. It is filled with details and imagery of his day-to-day life in the country.
"I probably have 50 Grumbacher notebooks in my study, with my sketches, ideas, pictures and I relied on some of that," said Heinzl, when asked how he was able to put so much detail into his book.
After writing his first draft, Heinzl disappeared again.
This time he travelled to Cyprus and sat on the ocean coast and wrote the second draft.
His book is not the typical memoir about a doctor's heroic actions. Rather, it depicts the doctor's challenges and obstacles in the country, such as confronting self-doubt and the reality of treating many who cannot be saved.
"I write about unusual things and odd things -- stuff that, for whatever reason, touched me and shaped me and were impressive," he explained.
Heinzl edited his book in Oakville, where he currently resides with his wife, Carrie and his two children.
He admits he's still in love with travelling and Cambodia Calling: A Memoir from the Frontlines of Humanitarian Aid, written in three different places, is reflective of this passion. The book, published by Wiley Canada, is available in Canada for $29.95.
7 comments:
Thank you for helping my country Dr. Heinzl.
I think he's nut.He went to school , earned his M.D degree and then make his life miserable.How stupid, or may be no body want to hire him and he desperately need experiences.
He is an angel. You are the one who is NUT. His life is rewarding here on earth and in heaven.
How sure are you that his life will be rewarded in heaven ?
Thank u so much Dr. Heinzl! My country needs more people like u. U are God sent!
As for 8:36pm...he's a devil so he doesn't know what good deeds means. The idiot is jealous cuz Dr. Heinzl didn't say anything good about his country or that the time spent in his country wasn't as memoriable as CAMBODIA!
22 years old Dr? i wouldn't want employ him in my establishment.And you 9:32am, you are full of it if you know what i mean.
10:20am, there are gifted people out there who can become doctors at that age and they're probably better doctors than those 50 year old ones!
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