Dr Michael O'Donovan is volunteering in Tanzania, and his colleagues are organising a fundraiser at Danny Byrne's this Friday.

Mullingar medics hold concert for VSO

The medics are going out to party in Danny Byrne’s this Friday... but don’t worry, they won’t be going (too) mad, and it’s for a good cause.

Doctors and nurses from the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar have organised a night to raise money for international development organisation, VSO Ireland and Dr Michael O’Donovan, who is volunteering in Tanzania.

It’s on January Friday 31 in Danny Byrne’s at 10pm and the music is by fellow doctor, Murat Kirca, and his band.

A consultant in general medicine and gastroenterology in the Midland Regional Hospital since 1987, Michael O’Donovan has been volunteering in Tanzania since late August 2013 and has made a three-year commitment to the community.

Working as an internal medicine specialist in the St Francis Referral Hospital in Ifakara in south central Tanzania, Michael has been training and mentoring student doctors and doctors to help ensure Tanzanians receive the best medical care.

By sharing his skills with medical professionals there, Michael and VSO are improving the quality of life for over 1.4 million Tanzanians living with HIV and AIDS. In addition, Michael is providing specialist consultant-level care to critically ill patients.

“I am really thankful to my friends and colleagues in the hospital for organising this event,” said Michael. “The VSO is an organisation that has allowed me to share my skills and experiences to build a stronger patient focused health system in Tanzania.”

Michael’s friends and colleagues are organising the fundraiser, and they encourage all local people to turn up on the night and support VSO and Michael’s work in Tanzania.

www.vso.ie