Navy People: Saving lives in Pakistan
4 November 2010
Mt Colah medic Leona Nichols is a world away from the comforts of her old Mount Colah stomping ground doing her best to save the lives in Pakistan.
“I was so excited when the Navy gave me the opportunity to come to Pakistan,” said the 29-year-old Leading Seaman. “I said to my boss, ‘I’ll stand on a chair and put my hand up to show you how keen I am, if you need me to!’”
In July this year Pakistan experienced devastating floods which affected more than 20 million people. At the invitation of the Pakistan government, Australia responded by deploying a co-led Australian Defence Force and AusAID Medical Task Force to provide primary health care to the flood-affected population of Kot Addu in central Pakistan.
Leona graduated Asquith Girls High School in 1998 then spent the next few years managing at Asquith’s Pizza Haven, dabbling in an Arts Degree at Sydney University and playing soccer for Mount Colah, Berowra and the Hornsby RSL. She finally decided to join the Navy in 2005 after appreciating her brother’s ‘cool’ lifestyle and career as an Army Medic.
“I joined the Navy rather than the Army because I like showers!” joked Leona, “And I’ve had a pretty awesome time so far. I’ve already been to New Zealand and Tonga then, last year, I got to sail around the world as part of Operation Northern Trident.”
Despite the adventures Leona has already had, Operation Pakistan Assist II takes the cake.
“As a medic, the opportunity to provide humanitarian aid to people in need is the pinnacle of my career,” Leona said, “It’s the experience of a lifetime.”
“I haven’t found things too confronting here so far,” said Leona, “For me the most heart-breaking thing is seeing patients with chronic, long-term conditions. It makes you realise just how tough life here can be. Often people just haven’t been able to afford medication so they’ve had to live with their pain and suffering.”
“I know there’ll be worst stuff to come but, regardless of how hard it gets, I’m still going to be able to say I’ve made a difference for someone.”
Leona already has a plan to get back into to normal life when she gets back.
“I’m going to buy a Vespa in Brisbane and ride it home,” Leona said, “I’ll probably want some time to adjust being back in Australia when I return and I figure a Vespa ride might be just the thing.”
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