Goodbye - Hello
Today was a very interesting day at Ilula! We had morning report this morning and sadly we learned of a young HIV patient that had passed in the night- we had been following her and had hoped for the best. We also discussed ectopic pregnancy - interestingly, Frank the pharmacist at Ilula must procure Methotrexate at a cost of 10,000 schillings (~$5) for one dose. Not only is it expensive for the hospital but difficult to come by- he must procure it from Dar Es Salaam- over 300 miles away. To compare, a full course of antibiotics for out-patients is approximately 3,000 schillings (~$2). Again, we are constantly in awe of the amount of good work that gets done with challenging resources.
Elizabeth and I spent the morning in the Hypertension/Diabetes Clinic too. This is a combination out-patient clinic that also serves the government benefit patients. The patients are all walk-in. The range of disease is from Hypertensive Crisis to chicken pox to pneumonia and everything in-between. There are core medications in categories we are accustomed to but they may not be optimal dosing - for example taking medications multiple times a day as opposed to once a day. In short, patients are treated and the regimens are similar- perhaps just a little less convenient. Paul Burnett rounded on the medical rounds today and yesterday and Marissa was in the theatre (OR) and on the mom-baby unit. We have brushed up on our malaria in pregnancy knowledge- not common to dose this in the US! Marissa did witness a mama that barely made it to the hospital and delivered her little one on the floor- all safe!
We had fun getting caught in the rain yesterday following a visit to the local orphanage. Amazing work being done there too- somewhat self-sustaining by growing crops, taking care of livestock and generally working together. Three of us caught a Bujaji (like a Tuk-Tuk) back to the hospital just in the nick of time for huge downpour! Some of our team was soaked however!
We said goodbye to John Zurek and Ann Wildwerding today- they will be missed. We welcomed Ellen and John K though. The Ilula social worker- Happy- was “happy” to see Ellen as she is a professor of Social Work.
The work continues to inspire joy and it so wonderful to see friends on the campus. Jill
Elizabeth and I spent the morning in the Hypertension/Diabetes Clinic too. This is a combination out-patient clinic that also serves the government benefit patients. The patients are all walk-in. The range of disease is from Hypertensive Crisis to chicken pox to pneumonia and everything in-between. There are core medications in categories we are accustomed to but they may not be optimal dosing - for example taking medications multiple times a day as opposed to once a day. In short, patients are treated and the regimens are similar- perhaps just a little less convenient. Paul Burnett rounded on the medical rounds today and yesterday and Marissa was in the theatre (OR) and on the mom-baby unit. We have brushed up on our malaria in pregnancy knowledge- not common to dose this in the US! Marissa did witness a mama that barely made it to the hospital and delivered her little one on the floor- all safe!
We had fun getting caught in the rain yesterday following a visit to the local orphanage. Amazing work being done there too- somewhat self-sustaining by growing crops, taking care of livestock and generally working together. Three of us caught a Bujaji (like a Tuk-Tuk) back to the hospital just in the nick of time for huge downpour! Some of our team was soaked however!
We said goodbye to John Zurek and Ann Wildwerding today- they will be missed. We welcomed Ellen and John K though. The Ilula social worker- Happy- was “happy” to see Ellen as she is a professor of Social Work.
The work continues to inspire joy and it so wonderful to see friends on the campus. Jill
Comments
Post a Comment