Catching up and keeping up

My apologies for the long gap in posts.  It has been busy here with Stuart away and the increased call.  Also the internet access is very sporadic.  Since I last posted I have seen another set of twins, multiple cases of malaria a day, several choriocarcinomas (cancers) with severe findings and some severe tuberculosis.  It can all be a bit overwhelming, but God has been guiding me through it all.  The other aspect of the challenge is of course the limited supplies.  We have to check what medications and supplies are available and tailor our treatment to the resources.  For those issues I lean heavily on the long term staff here and the midwives.  Saadi who was in a picture earlier in the blog has been here a long time and is great at guiding me through some of these issues.  And of course Esther is a great resource when I am not sure how to proceed with a case.  

I asked Saadi today how many deliveries she thinks they do in a month here.  She said about 150.  The most Chilliwack has ever had is 100 and that was a very busy month.  I will check with Esther, but that works out to 1800 a year - around double the number back at home.  That plus the nursery, the gynecologic cancers, and the antepartum patients with hypertension, anemia, malaria, or a combination of the 3 keeps the ward very full.

https://galmi.org/departments/maternity/

They have a pool here and they have Pool Volleyball on Saturdays at 3.  I forgot my board shorts, but it sounds like a lot of fun.  There is also a basket ball / tennis court, and of course running around the air strip.  I just find it hard to exercise at 38 degrees C.  

Pool is in the centre of the compound, courts are directly south

 

Almost forgot to mention Sahabi the tailor has made some scrubs and new shoulder bag for me.  The one I had made 5 years ago is still hanging in there, but I wanted to get a replacement before it wears out.  Who knows, you might even see me wearing a very brightly coloured shirt one day. 


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