Comments on: “An Imperfect Offering: Dispatches from the medical frontline”

By: TerjeP (say tay-a)

TerjeP (say tay-a) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:38:21 +0000

The IMF was formed to look after the worlds gold and ensure global monetary stability. Having failed at that job it should have been disbanded long ago.

By: Nicholas Gruen

Nicholas Gruen — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:53:35 +0000

Yes, I liked his care and thoughtfulness in answering PA’s questions.

By: Ingolf

Ingolf — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:19:14 +0000

Yes, Rex, I remember that clearly too. Another was when he explained how NGOs had become targets in Iraq and Afghanistan because coalition policy tended to treat them as adjuncts to the “good fight”. More than anything though, what has stayed with me was his stoic humility, clearly so painfully acquired, and the care with which he answered Phillip’s questions.

A truly remarkable individual.

By: Rex

Rex — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:36:53 +0000

It was a powerful interview Ingolf.

I was particularly struck by the part where he describes trying to place a gastric feeding tube down a poor starving HIV infected infant’s throat, and the child cries in pain.

He pauses for a moment to steel himself to the task and looks out the window at lush green mountains and fertile soil, and asks himself why these people are starving amongst such plenty. And the answer he eventually discovers, is that the IMF policies have forced the people to grow coffee and tea as a cash crop on those lush terraced mountainsides, and not food for their children to eat.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:59:08 +0000

Thank you. Ordered.