Women's Portraits

Inga Wissgott

Interview with Inga Wissgott medicine doctor and author in her house in Vienna

“I want my experiences not lie fallow and I would like to help people as much as possible.”

Sylvia: Your words are an apt statement for our “EWA PROJECT” and they are a good introduction to our interview. What made you decide to study medicine and what were the main reasons for to work with the organization “Doctors without borders”?

Inga: My mother was also a very dedicated doctor and told me much about Adalbert Schweitzer. His work impressed me deeply and accompanied me my whole life. I have never thought that I could make such experiences. After I had finished my studies I married, got children but still held out my work as doctor for surgery in hospital. Meanwhile the organization “Doctors without borders” was found. But this time I did not even remotely think to work for it. When I retired and the time filled with the care of my blind mother and my seriously ill husband was over I thought about joining “Doctors without borders”.

Sylvia: In which countries did you work?

Inga: In Somalia, in Liberia, in Tschad, in Nairobi, in Kenia and in Haiti.

Sylvia: Can you also be called into war zones and how dangerous is it to work in these countries?

Inga: Somalia was such a country. There was civil war. Everywhere it could happen that someone was attacked and robbed. The reason is also the enormous poverty. Therefore we were always accompanied by guards from our accommodation to the hospital.

Sylvia: How flexible do you have to be working under such conditions?

Inga: In these countries we must consider that we do not make great operations and therapies that prolong the life. Chemotherapies are not paid by the organization. I belong to the so called “Flying troops” who have already been retired. I have also been used for eight weeks. There is also a basic group of young doctors, who are employed in different places nearly the most of the year.

Sylvia: What was your most difficult operation?

Inga: It was in Somalia. The three doctors working times were not always divided correctly.  When some of the colleagues were prevented I had to work and operate day and night

Sylvia: Were there any difficulties for you as a woman?

Inga: No there were no difficulties. In this organization work more women than men. However I I also had to make operations, which I have never done before at home. Of course, a trauma surgery doctor has experiences in other fields of medicine, but in Africa there are diseases that we don’t know well. And therefore it is important to consult all the other doctors.

Sylvia: Did you get a win in the living conditions of the people?

Inga: Very little. There is hardly time to have a look at the country. The patients are very shy and reserved and they don’t speak English. Once we were invited to a dinner. The old people are more respected than here in our country. One reason could be that they cannot care for themselves when they are old and ill. They depend on the help of the young people and those again depend on the experiences of the older ones.

Sylvia: A very important issue for us is the circumcision of the women. You wanted to do something against this painful and dangerous tradition. Can you see a chance to achieve something?

Inga: Hardly. One family sent us their daughter to make this operation. Our organization is strictly against the genital circumcision. The people have do accept this.

Sylvia: Do you have also contact to Waris Dirie?

Inga: Yes, she advised me to make recharges about this topic. There are also more women who oppose circumcision or try to flee. But the injury remains, the circumcision is done in childhood. They have great physical and psychological damage. If they refuse to do it, they have to flee with the great risk to be persecuted or killed. In the Koran you cannot read anything about circumcision. You don’t know which Mullah has made this to a religious obligation. Of course many families are proud of this tradition. It will take time for a change

Sylvia: You wrote a diary of your experiences during your travels and had a great success. When there will be a sequel?

Inga: The title of my next book is “Diary of a surgeon as a doctor without borders”

Sylvia. We are looking forward to your next book and wish you good luck with your mission in service of humanity.

Thanks for conversation

Inga Wissgott, born 1942 in Vienna, Study of medicine with the promotion 1966 as specialist surgery, three children and grandchildren. She is working for the organization “Doctors without borders” since her retirement. She writes prose, amusing and satirical poetry.

Inga Wisgott:  „Ärztin ohne Grenzen“, Molden, Verlag 2009

Sylvia Wust (interview), Lieselotte Stiegler (photo und video)