In 2016, I found myself deep in rural Uganda once again, in a vibrant yet underserved community called Kamengo. I was introduced to this community by a good friend, Jimmy Sebulime, who was originally from there. We were there on a medical mission, running a primary care clinic. Kamengo, like many rural communities in Uganda, is a place of resilience. The people live in modest homes surrounded by lush greenery, their lives intertwined with the ebb and flow of the seasons. Yet, beneath this beautiful landscape lies a harsh reality—limited access to healthcare, particularly for women and children, and the ever-present challenges that come with that scarcity.

As a trauma surgeon, I have had the privilege of working in many challenging environments, but nothing could have prepared me for the heart-wrenching experience of volunteering in Gaza. Over the course of nearly two weeks, I worked alongside a dedicated team of Canadian and American doctors, coordinated by the World Health Organization and Rahma Worldwide, to address the overwhelming humanitarian crisis that has gripped this region.