BIR AYAD - The Bir Ayad field hospital is in a single room with no electricity in a former roadside cafe near the front line in Libya's Western mountains.
It's a far cry from the Canadian medical centre where Abu Abdullah usually works as the head of the cardiology department.
Forget about his advanced cardiology training. Here, the 39-year-old doctor is practicing basic emergency trauma care, using skills he was taught back in medical school. "I was watching the news and I decided I had to come help," he said. "I'm proud to be Canadian as well as Libyan. We never felt this freedom we feel now."
The field hospital has just three beds, basic medicines and an ambulance. It was set up after a big battle nearby and with heavy fighting expected on the nearby front line, doctors expect more casualties to come in soon.
Wounded fighters are brought here from the battle front up the road to be stabilised before they can be sent up the mountains to the nearest full-service hospital.
This is Abu Abdullah's third trip to Libya. Each time he has managed to get two or three weeks off work by swapping shifts in Canada.
When he has to leave here, he will fly home business class and go straight to work the next day. He asked that his full name not be used and the hospital where he works in Canada not be identified to protect relatives.
Diaspora Libyans can be found everywhere in rebel-held territory, returning to help out the five-month-old revolt against Gaddafi.
Colonel Juma Ibrahim, rebel spokesperson in the region, said the arrival of Libyans from abroad was an inspiration for local fighters.
"They contact me on the internet and Skype from Canada, from England," he said. "They leave behind the comfortable life. "Sometimes there is not any place to sleep, there is not any food. And he is coming here, and sometimes he doesn't know anyone." - Reuters
A sacrifice to save his people
BIR AYAD - The Bir Ayad field hospital is in a single room with no electricity in a former roadside cafe near the front line in Libya's Western mountains.
It's a far cry from the Canadian medical centre where Abu Abdullah usually works as the head of the cardiology department.
Forget about his advanced cardiology training. Here, the 39-year-old doctor is practicing basic emergency trauma care, using skills he was taught back in medical school. "I was watching the news and I decided I had to come help," he said. "I'm proud to be Canadian as well as Libyan. We never felt this freedom we feel now."
The field hospital has just three beds, basic medicines and an ambulance. It was set up after a big battle nearby and with heavy fighting expected on the nearby front line, doctors expect more casualties to come in soon.
Wounded fighters are brought here from the battle front up the road to be stabilised before they can be sent up the mountains to the nearest full-service hospital.
This is Abu Abdullah's third trip to Libya. Each time he has managed to get two or three weeks off work by swapping shifts in Canada.
When he has to leave here, he will fly home business class and go straight to work the next day. He asked that his full name not be used and the hospital where he works in Canada not be identified to protect relatives.
Diaspora Libyans can be found everywhere in rebel-held territory, returning to help out the five-month-old revolt against Gaddafi.
Colonel Juma Ibrahim, rebel spokesperson in the region, said the arrival of Libyans from abroad was an inspiration for local fighters.
"They contact me on the internet and Skype from Canada, from England," he said. "They leave behind the comfortable life. "Sometimes there is not any place to sleep, there is not any food. And he is coming here, and sometimes he doesn't know anyone." - Reuters
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