Prof. Hisham Widatallah

Professor Hisham Widatallah is a professor in the Physics department at Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat, Oman. After received funding from the GMCTF, Dr. Terry Martin — a longtime member of the GMCTF committee — paid two academic visits to Wadi El-Nil University, Atbara and the University of Khartoum where he worked with Prof. Widatallah.  Both visits, which were funded by GMCTF, proved very valuable to his colleagues and students at both Sudanese universities. During 2000-2001, he joined the Open University as a postdoctoral visiting research fellow.

“Today, after over two decades, I am proud to say that research collaboration is still strong and has led to over 20 publications in leading international scientific journals in condensed matter physics and materials science. It has developed into collaboration between the University of Khartoum and the Open Univeristy enabling the training of two PhD students and others through mutual research visits. On behalf of many Sudanese and Southern Sudanese, I would like to thank GMCTF for the support that has promoted our education and training and contributed, in various ways, to the well-being of Sudanese people.”

Dr. Boniface Lumori

Dr. Boniface Lumori is a specialist physician. He currently works as a lecturer at the Mbarara University of Science and Technology. He graduated from the University of Bahri (Khartoum, Sudan) in 2012 and completed a Masters of Medicine in Internal Medicine in 2018. After joining Mbarara University in 2015 for his graduate studies, his educational journey was complicated by economic instability in South Sudan. It became very challenging for him to continue his studies, and this led him to apply for a GMCTF grant.

“After reading through GMCTF website, I got motivated and decided to apply. As expected, I was courteous while using the award fund and managed to amicably meet my academic, subsistence, renting, and transport costs. In addition, the GMCTF paid my tuition fees for one academic year. This lifted my morale further and I started working harder towards achieving my academic goals. Finally, I am grateful to the GMCTF for their support. If it was not for them, I would have not accomplished my graduate training successfully.”

Dr. Justin Lumaya

Dr. Justin Rubena Lumaya Yosepa Wani is a South Sudanese ear, nose and throat surgeon. He graduated from the University of Juba Medical school with a Bachelors of Medicine and Bachelors of Surgery. Dr. Lumaya did his internship in Khartoum, Sudan, rotating through a number of hospitals. After a period in South Sudan as a medical superintendent in various hospitals, he took up posts with the World Health Organisation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as a focal point for tropical diseases and polio eradication.

Dr. Lumaya was admitted to the Masters of Medicine in otorhinolaryngology surgery at Makerere University Medical School in Kampala, Uganda where he undertook a three year residency programme. A grant from the GMCTF enabled him to complete his studies. He returned to Juba, South Sudan where he currently works as the only ENT surgeon providing specialist services in complex problems such as cleft palate surgery.

“I received a GMCTF award in 2017 to undertake postgraduate studies in general surgery at St. Paul's Millenium Medical College in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I am grateful for the three consecutive annual awards the GMCTF made to me. The fund changed my life. I am currently working at Tonj Hospital, Warrap State, South Sudan, delivering much needed services to my people.”

— Dr. Olang Alew

“I was awarded a GMCTF grant in 2014 to study for the three year Masters of Medicine in opthalmology at Makerere University Medical School. The grant helped me to realise my dream of becoming an ophthalmologist. I am now serving the people a remote area of South Sudan. I am most grateful to have been awarded this grant, which has helped me to gain skills that are now useful in serving the South Sudanese people by preventing blindness.”

— Dr. John Mayek

“I am a resident in clinical radiology at Gondar University, Ethiopia. I was awarded a GMCTF grant in 2020. The grant came at an opportune time as I was fianancially hard up, had just arrived in Ethiopia, and had no support from any other source. The GMCTF has enabled me to continue my studies without any financial worries. I would encourage other new residents in similar circumstances to apply to the GMCTF for support. I am grateful to the GMCTF for the valuable support I received to help me to achieve my dream of becoming a radiologist.”

— Dr. Francis Louis Ramadan

“I was awarded the GMCTF grant in 2015. The GMCTF funding I was awarded in 2015 benefited me a great deal in achieving my childhood dream of becoming a surgeon. It would not have been possible to undergo my surgical training without the generous funding from the GMCTF. By removing my worries about finance I was able to focus on my training.

I met all my training aspirations, and on qualifying as a surgeon, I mentored doctors in South Sudan using my newly acquired skills. I believe I have touched the lives of many patients whom I have treated since becoming a surgeon. The doctors I mentored are now confident to treat patients with a range of clinical problems and save lives. Also, some of the patients I have treated with complex  surgical conditions have recovered and been reintegrated into their respective communities where they are contributing greatly to the socio-economic wellbeing of their families and their communities at large.

Currently, I am working in Bentiu State Hospital, Unity State, South Sudan, as a general surgeon. I am grateful to the GMCTF for the life changing, amazing, and awesome opportunity they gave me.”

— Dr. Koma Akim

“I was awarded a GMCTF grant in 2018. I am studying for a Masters Degree in internal medicine at Alexandria University, Egypt. I have not yet defended my thesis  because of a delay in data collection prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. I am now in the final stages of completing my thesis, which I  hope  to complete by the end of 2021. I will return to serve the people of South Sudan after completing my postgraduate studies. The GMCTF grant has helped me to achieve my postgraduate aims and I am grateful to the GMCTF for awarding me a grant.”

— Martin Otwang Dak Ajang