Susan Thurstans is an HIV health specialist working for Action Against Hunger in Malawi She tells us how and why she got into working for an international humanitarian organisation. "I left school after my A-levels and then did some voluntary work teaching in a school in Uganda. When I got back, I started my nursing degree.

My first nursing placement was on an HIV ward. This experience convinced me that working with people with HIV was what I wanted to do. I was then able to tailor my degree to include more courses focussing on HIV.

After graduating, I spent three years working in sexual health and HIV in two London hospitals. I really loved my work there, particularly working with patients – one can form close friendships due to the long-term nature of healthcare. I still miss that.

At the back of my mind was the fact that I’d always planned to work in Africa again one day, but was unsure how to go about it. Eventually I decided to go after what I really wanted. I sent applications to as many appropriate organisations as I could find. Two weeks later, I was offered a position as HIV adviser with Action Against Hunger in Malawi. I’ve never looked back.

Now I run 2 programmes here in Malawi, the first working towards integrating HIV treatment as part of the normal care of malnourished children. This is achieved by introducing HIV testing to all the units we are supporting, training malnutrition unit staff on HIV treatment and training local communities in the detection and treatment of malnutrition. The second programme I manage involves monitoring the effects of treating acute malnutrition on mortality in adults who are starting antiretroviral therapy. It’s always busy here and I wouldn’t change it for the world.“

For more information about working for Action Against Hunger, please check out our Global Jobs Section or visit www.aahuk.org

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