Professor Tony Ryan:

It is important to recognise that aside from these university links there are hospital-to-hospital links as well. The HSE has sought to encourage hospital-to-hospital links. This is why Irish Aid has supported the new ESTHER, alliance which is encouraging such links. Our programme has become one of the first ESTHER European links between north and south. About 20 health professionals, including doctors, midwives, biomedical technicians and ambulance personnel, have travelled under our project to Khartoum and have gained not only professionally but personally. I heard feedback from one person who travelled and his comments reflected what everyone had said. He said that he did not feel proud when he came back, but humbled. That was a common feeling. He was humbled by what was achieved by the people with the resources they had. It can be inspiring for our health professionals to see what other people do. It can be powerful for our people to continue the long tradition of volunteerism that has been part of Irish society.