Clement Kiire: Son of the Soil

In this episode of Diaspora Stories, we hear from Professor Clement Kiire. Professor Kiire trained in Uganda and first came to the United Kingdom after winning the prestigious Commonwealth Fellowship. He went on to have an illustrious medical career working for the World Health Organisation as well as the National Health Service, spending time both in Africa and the UK. We hear from him about his journey and about his pursuit of excellence - first as a clinician but also as an immigrant. 

In this episode of Diaspora Stories, we hear from Melody Arazaz. Melody was born in the Philippines where she spent some of her childhood before moving to Australia. She now lives in London where she works as a community nurse. We hear from Melody about her journey, navigating continents and identities, before finding a place to settle down in - for now. She talks also of distance and what it means to be far from family especially in the time of the pandemic. 

In this episode of Diaspora Stories, we hear from Sandra Husbands. Sandra is a medical doctor and a Director of Public Health in London. As the daughter of Caribbean migrants to the UK, she describes herself as a Black British person who doesn't exactly belong in Britain but doesn't exactly belong in Barbados either. She talks in this episode about not being seen or acknowledged and the consequences this can have. We hear from her also about the complex interplay between belonging, entitlement and inequality and how this evolves across generations.  

In this episode of Diaspora Stories, we hear from Geetha Subramanian. Geetha arrived in the UK in 1975. Although she had dreamed of becoming a hospital consultant in Obstetrics & Gynaecology focusing on the surgical side of the job, she found that door was closed to her. In the face of multiple intersecting barriers and personal loss, she forged an alternative career as a consultant community gynaecologist in London and through that work made a huge difference to women and girls affected by Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).  

Please note: This episode contains graphic detail of FGM from the start that some listeners may find distressing.   

Information on FGM and where to get help is available on the UK government website here and the NSPCC here 

In this episode, we hear from Cristina Costache. After graduating as a doctor in Romania, Cristina decided to move to the UK on an inkling that it would be a place with which her potential and values would be more aligned.  

She speaks of her time here: of the miracles in Medicine witnessed, of Brexit, of COVID, of longing for home, and of the vulnerability that comes with being in a new country.  

Please note: This episode contains content relating to domestic violence that some listeners may find distressing.

Information on domestic abuse and where to get help is available on the UK government website here and on the Women's Aid website here