Thursday, June 19, 2008 3:25PM
So today was rough, and it’s not quite over yet. It’s not easy seeing the lack of basic resources at St. Stephen’s hospital. Lauren and I spent the morning going over supplies and detailing the next number of steps for our study. At 11, Gonzaka (I’m naming one of my kids that), picked us up to bring us to St. Stephen’s. I sat in the back of the ambulance and boy was the ride rough. Imagine going off road in a sports car; I nearly smacked my head against the window.
When we got here, we were greeted by the very friendly staff, specifically Irene, who brought us around the hospital. The floors are concrete and the walls are dirty and cracked. We saw some patients. Lots of malaria. We learned that they diagnose malaria via microscopy. We took a look at one slide and could identify the tropozoites, but it was a real challenge; you see, St. Stephen’s has no power, we were using a mirror to illuminate the slide. We were taught the protocol for testing for HIV and even had a small microbiology lesson about malaria… I got all the questions right (me = gunner).
When we were taken around to see patients, I noticed that there are no male patients. “Men wait until they are really sick,” we were told. I can’t imagine what really sick means when we were surrounded by what I would call “really sick people”. We met a 70 year old woman who had GI pain and other issues that I am going to skip over for brevity and because there are some non-medical people reading who would rather not hear about it. But while we were asking her questions and discussing her case, a young girl about 10 feet behind me vomited violently. No doctor or nurse ran to her aid, mostly because there are no nurses here. She was on a IV. I got sweaty and uncomfortable so I took a seat. I noticed a 3 or 4 year old child lying listlessly, but breathing regularly, on the bed across from the old lady. I don’t think we’re in Sinai anymore, Toto.
I got out of there pretty quickly. Had some water and a cliff bar, felt better with every processed bite.
2 comments:
I take it that the hospital is understaffed - is the exodus of trained medical professionals an issue in Uganda? I know a lot of sub-Saharan countries, particularly the ones where they speak English, have a lot of trouble keeping nurses in particular, since they can move to England, Canada, the US, etc. with their skills.
I can't imagine looking at slides without lights! I mean, I know Leeuwenhoek (whose name I have probably misspelled) did it back in the day, but in all my many, many hours spent with scopes, it's not something that ever would have occurred to me to try.
Have a great first Shabbos in Uganda!
When living in another country don't forget to sit back and observe. Gather your tools of basic survival around you and live as simply as possible but in the most sanitary way possible. Expect very little and enjoy every little opportunity of peace and quiet you can find. Relax and keep an open mind. This experience is going to blow your mind. What luck you have to be where you are at this moment! Enjoy and be peaceful.Breathe deeply and fully. Watch the stars. I love you.
A. Andrea
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