Money well spent. . .

Jan. 28, 2009

Last week, Abigail our skills training teacher, normally fairly reserved and shy, came rushing into the office carrying her limp 2-year old daughter Mariama. Abigail was frantic and borderline hysterical knowing that her daughter was very ill and that she had no means to pay for any medical care. It was a very heart wrenching moment to put myself in her situation, imagining the terror and helplessness to see your beloved baby slipping away. Of course, I reassured her that I would help her out with the finances and anything else.

Mariama was hard to rouse, her belly round and her conjunctivae were white….most probably a combination of anemia, worms, malnutrition, generally weakened by a recent case of malaria and an overdose of over-the-counter remedies at home.

Luckily we managed to track down one of the community health officers at Bo Government Hospital and he tended to her rapidly. Realistically, this was mainly because she was accompanied by a “pumoi” (white person). Blood tests were done and luckily it was determined that Edmund, another teacher, was a proper match for a blood transfusion. Finding a donor for blood is the family’s responsibility. There is no blood bank system here to due poor refrigeration because of the inconsistent supply of power.

In Sierra Leone, families of patients admitted to hospital have to go and purchase all medicines and supplies for the hospital stay; including gloves, syringes and in this case, the bags and tubing required for the blood transfusion prior to treatment. These are often not available and results in a stressful wild goose chase around town resulting in the loss of precious time. Families also have to bring in food and bed linen. The nursing care is a pretty bare bones operation too. One gets a pretty good idea why the infant mortality rate in this country is 16% for children up to one year of age. Thank goodness for programs like MSF (Doctors without Borders) which provides free and professional care.

Mariama and Abigail were in the pediatric ward for 4 days. I would check on them several times a day and with each visit I saw a progressive improvement in Mariama. Upon discharge she was looking like another child. Such a relief. I was glad I was able to help them…I have never spent a more worthwhile $12.

Zhao, Helen and Selena with

Abigail and baby Mariama being discharged

Check out this link to http://thacher.org the website of Julia’s former high school, where they have posted a bit of a story. Click on the right side where it reads, ‘(Long Distance) Calls to Service’.

Some Recent Photos. . .

Bo Marketplace

Baby returns for 3 month follow-up check

Annie's WAFF sign installed

Aminata becoming a computer whiz

Morning watering in the garden

Vero explaining the solar cooker

Sundu and Doctormaggi

Kadiatu and Wuyata basking in the morning sun

Julia's chicken gift

January 27, 2009

EVOLVING. . .

The days are developing a more steady rhythm and routine. It’s good to have the opportunity to take walks in the neighbourhood and also through the rabbit warren of market stalls in Bo. It’s amazing to be in the middle of it all, seeing all the colours of fabric, plastic buckets, chilis, plastic flipflops all within a few feet. A bunch of sweet bananas costs 500 Leones (about 15 cents) and is one of my favorite purchases along with home ground peanut butter from freshly roasted nuts.

Right now we are beginning to really gear up for a big month in February. Dr. Maggi will be arriving as well as a colo-rectal surgeon from Texas. Later in the month two other physicians from the USA are coming to give a workshop which will integrate training, discussion and hands-on practice to improve the level of training and delivery of emergency obstetrical and newborn care for health practitioners from all over Sierra Leone. Combined with the arrival of other volunteers, it promises to be a full, exciting and productive time as the programs all begin to evolve.

Last week’s discharge ceremony was the usual tearjerker, complete with raucous singing and dancing. We also have many new admissions and have some patients who have returned for their 3 month follow up visits. It’s great to be part of the reunions as well as the goodbyes.

The veggie garden is progressing well with Coleman and Julia’s attention, despite a visit from some local goats. The women are very involved too and are eager to supervise, lend advice and take on watering duties every evening.

The solar cooker HotPot donated by my friend Lee Curtis in Yungaburra (www.SHE-Inc.org) has proven to be a great success. Coleman has been researching how to make one from basic available-in-the-local-market materials, such as inner tubes from car tires and window glass. We hope to make them so that every woman can have one to take back to her village upon discharge. The advantages are so many…less deforestation, less smoke, less wood gathering and hauling and of course, more economical. We demonstrated its use yesterday and the women were all very pleased and excited.

Last week Zhao and Selena completed a week of Family Planning and Reproductive Health, teaching at the local university to community health workers and nurses, as well as on the ward. This was very well received. They report that all the students are very thirsty for knowledge. This week we have really started revamping the website…a long overdue project. It’s coming along and we hope to announce its launch soon. Computer training for staff and some patients has also begun.

Julia has had a busy past four days, going on an outreach and sensitization trip to Kabala in one of the northern districts. She continues with her role of acting administrator and is always doing her best to streamline logistics and budget issues.

It’s great for me to watch the new programs integrate and unfold as envisioned. I have had the opportunity to show a few visitors around and they all comment on how much the fistula ward vibrates with good energy and a strong sense of community. There’s much to be done, but we are off to a great start.

Helen