Meet Tony Redmond, he is the founder of UK-Med, which coordinates the provision of health workers to international crises. Redmond is 63 and spends the majority of his waking moments coordinating NHS responses to Ebola.
Tony Redmond of UK-Med, age 63.
‘As a country we are fortunate enough to be able to respond to emergencies,’ says Redmond. ‘We are part of the world and it’s important that we help people in distress. There are aspects of life that rise above everything else’.
Though he admits the risk to medical staff in Sierra Leone is ‘huge’, he adds that the threat is known, predictable and avoidable.
During the last 25 years Redmond has helped thousands via UK-Med, during all kinds of international catastrophes. The list includes earthquakes, tsunamis and other forms of global problems which lead to suffering. Though he is being hailed a hero for the services he has provided to the world for over a quarter of a century, he is still gracious and dedicated.
Despite sustaining a permanent spinal injury which resulted in Redmond needing a walking stick, he displays a dogged determination and conviction about his efforts and the work UK-Med do.
‘I’m often frightened,’ he says. ‘But what keeps me going is the resilience of the people – the surgeon in Iran who told me not to be sad when I expressed my condolences for his losses, saying ‘It is our loss; you came to help and we are thankful’.’
