Dr. Moctar Bayor’s story sounds like a novel, a thriller at that. Here he is, a surgeon in the West African country of Togo, saving lives and speaking out for democracy, when a former patient in the military shows up and confides that the country’s dictator has ordered the doctor killed. Bayor refuses at first to consider fleeing but finally listens to reason. Fast forward 22 years and Bayor, now 69, is working at MedShare, the Decatur-based nonprofit that collects and distributes donated medical supplies to countries around the world with underdeveloped healthcare systems. In 17 years, MedShare has delivered more than 1,150 forty-foot shipping containers of supplies to 96 countries. Bayor talked about his life’s journey and his return to his native country for the first time in June.
Q: You have lived quite a life, haven’t you?
A: Everyone tells me I should write a book. I was a doctor at a university hospital when a military man I treated came to my house in the night and told me that I had to go, that the dictator there, who was in power for 38 years, was going to have me killed because I spoke out for democracy and equal rights for everyone. That was Feb. 8, 1993. I refused because I didn't do anything bad — I didn't cheat and I didn't steal and I didn't kill. The man got down on his knees and started crying and begging, saying, "If I let them kill you, God will punish me."
Q: What happened next?
A: My family and I went to Accra, Ghana. When we registered as refugees, the people at the United Nations found out that I was a medical doctor. They asked me to be in charge of the clinic at the Klikor refugee camp. For eight years, I worked as the only medical doctor at the camp of 43,000 people. I worked day and night and there was no sleeping. After the camp closed, I opened my own clinic.
Q: How did you end up here?
A: An official with the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said, "You are famous, you are a star. But you are still in danger." They said I could go to Australia, Canada or America. I chose to come to the United States and was resettled to Clarkston in February 2001. I started my job at MedShare that March.
Q: What do you do?
A: My title is volunteer program associate and I do a little of everything. My medical expertise allows me to ensure quality controls on the various products sorted by more than 12,000 volunteers each year. I just got back from a medical mission trip to Haiti, Nigeria and Ghana. I am so loyal to MedShare. We are helping save lives and heal communities.
Q: You have children?
A: I have six boys and one girl, all grown and living here except for one son who lives in Germany. My brother and his family, who also had to flee Togo because they were in danger, live in New York.
Q: So you visited Togo last month?
A: When I was in Ghana, I decided to go to Togo for one day. I went to the hospital and met with some doctors and nurses. The situation there is still the same. The dictator died but his son is in charge now. It is still dangerous to speak out for democracy. The people are suffering and there are no jobs. It is very sad.
Q: How has your life been here?
A: One of my highlights was coaching a soccer team in Stockbridge of seven- and eight-year-olds. The name of our team was the Winds. We won six games and only lost one. I was so proud.
Q: Again, you have quite a story.
A: God blessed me and God bless America.
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