helen weld public health

Winding down. . .

Yikes, only two more weeks before I am departing Bo and beginning my travels home. The time feels like it is winding down fast, especially since there’s a lot happening. As with any big project the accomplishments and progress get blurry in the midst of it all, but given a bit of a chance to step back, it’s good to see that, in fact, we have been making some forward movement interspersed with a few setbacks.

At times I feel as though I am like a movie director as I try to maintain an overview of the WHOLE program and try to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Given the cast of characters involved and the setting of Bo, Sierra Leone, this has not been without many challenges! Sometimes it feels as though my direct accomplishments have been minimal as I seem to spend a lot of time coordinating comings/goings and activities for those who do get things accomplished.

Coleman Griffith departed last week after his almost three month stay. His final project was working on the refit of the ward extension…ripping out old wire screens and reinstalling new ones on all the windows, as well as doing the lion’s share of the painting. John Bosche got into the act too after completing his waste management report and installed all new louvers for the windows and fitted some of the old glass which was a very tedious process since the window frames were warped and each window was different. This saved WAFF a considerable amount in labour costs.

New ward extension

Thanks to the Coleman and John’s diligence and determination, we were able to move the skills training and school portion of the program into this new ward. The back portion of the ward will be the new residence for some of the longer term patients and some of the staff/patients. Despite it only being a stone’s throw from the main ward, it’s great for everyone to have a change of scene during the day and to open up more space in the ward. Meals are eaten there and it is becoming a good social hub of activity in the afternoon once the morning classes have been completed. Sheila Newton, a friend of the Bosches and a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, arrived last week with heaps of beads, needles, wire and string and the women have been busy creating lovely jewelry.

Piling into the van for home

Farewell to departing women

We have had a major exodus of patients since the discharge ceremony on the 20th. It’s always such a mixed bag of emotions for everyone. The patients are excited and nervous to be reunited with their families and communities and sad to be leaving the “womb of WAFF”. Monday they loaded up into the van with their bundles of clothes and new found treasures (some bring home empty plastic soda bottles as presents) and there were hoots, tearful wails and waves as they headed off. Sending patients off “into the world” always feels like watching rehabilitated birds take flight to me.

Hanging out on the ward

Now that the census is down for the moment (numbers will begin to climb again after Easter outreach trips go out), it’s quite serene to just have real hang out time with the patients on the ward. They love the one-on-one time with all of us. I just wish that I could communicate with all of them in their own languages and hear all their stories in depth, as we know they all have experienced so much in terms of their fistula experience, but also from having gone through the civil war.

Sunkarie, a long term patient doing some studying

We are fortunate to have found a clinic and a nurse in Bo which administers 5 year birth control implants. The cost is $10 per patient. Seven women eagerly opted for this prior to going home. Upon giving their histories to the clinic nurse, I was aghast when one of our 35 year old patients told her that she had been pregnant 14 times and had delivered 11 children; six children are alive (her chart has different information). She walked out of the clinic looking very relieved and expressed so much gratitude.

Jenebah and Wuyata with implants

The new website www.westafricafistulafoundation.org is a terrific accomplishment by Selena and Zhao. We are very fortunate to have Ray Rogers and Sean Dudley of Butte, Montana assisting us with getting it launched. Adding, editing and updating to the site will be through Sean, but this is still being finessed.

Volunteers with Dr. Koroma

We have hired a new administrator, Joseph Kpakiwah, who begins April 1st. We are also interviewing for a nurse supervisor and hope to have the position filled before I depart. It feels like a lot of loose ends are getting tied up and a new chapter is beginning.

When I arrived in September it was as though program was a jigsaw puzzle which had been dumped all over the table. Now the border is complete and the pieces have all been separated into colours; thanks to a great team of volunteers and staff. The internal part of the puzzle is ready to be put together. There is progress!