She’s a Medic striving to keep her team safe against landmines. Unexploded ordnance continues to be a worldwide threat, yet despite these risks of working in the Mine Action industry, the number of female professional volunteers and participants continues to grow.
Meet Betty; a Medic working for TDI in South Sudan. She joined TDI in 2014 and has established herself as a strong-willed member of her team. She may be outnumbered by her male colleagues but chooses “to remain focused and principled in order to survive among the multitudes of men” in this industry.
After completing secondary school, Betty pursued her Comprehensive Nursing and Midwifery Diploma in Uganda. She went on to further obtain a Certificate in HIV and Counselling. The beginning of Betty’s career with TDI was not without its challenges though. The first stretch of her contract was characterised by vicious bees that stung her while managing the medical post during operations. Excessive heat, torrential tropical rains and uncertain security situations only added to the list yet Betty persisted, always displaying a professional demeanour.
Whilst accompanying her team during their issued tasks to clear and destroy landmines, Betty also plays a pivotal role in guiding the team in matters pertaining to safety. Furthermore, she assists with control point setup and establishing the camp during mobile operations.
According to Betty, “TDI’s unstoppable and invincible thrust through mine action operations in South Sudan has demonstrated positively in the UNMAS framework for over a decade. The diversity of the activities conducted by TDI in the region has culminated in the destruction of numerous landmines found during clearance tasks across the country.” Betty recognises the efforts of TDI in promoting gender balance as she has the opportunity to develop within this role, of which she says, “calls for an immeasurable level of passion for humanity.” Betty recognises TDI’s efforts in promoting gender balance as she has the opportunity to develop within this role, of which she says, “calls for an immeasurable level of passion for humanity.”
Betty, thank-you for all of your hard work – you are a vital member of your team and the wider TDI organisation!
