Tuesday 18th October 2016

Jamie did his mastery with fixing technical computing issues at the hospital, and only stopping for one of Harry’s rolexes for lunch… (omelette rolled up in a crepe, available form harry’s shack next to the hospital)… and as we speak is collating all our lectures to download on sticks for the students and tutors at the Uni. Not proving entirely straightforward.

I veered off to the district health offices to collect data on population demographics this morning then spent the morning teaching students on the surgical ward… to give you an idea patients we met were a lady with a burst abdomen awaiting surgery, an epileptic lady with burns to her hand, a young lass with osteomyelitis of the femur who really needs an amputation, an elderly lady with a fractured hip and bed sores… so no shortage of teaching material. After the essential rolex I went off to the university to teach the 3rd years wound infections and pelvic floor musculature. Lesley had kindly provided paper cutouts of pelvic muscle to assemble – so there was a little light relief at the end of the long day for the students (they have been taught non-stop from 8 am).

Meanwhile, Lesley had the third years engrossed on shoulder dystocia and breech births. This involved facilitation of role play, demonstrations and in the afternoon she introduced the second years to the causes of maternal mortality globally and locally. …. this involved small (10!) groups playing a board game where fate thrust you towards a maternal death or a good birth at the throw of a dice . The game called “why did Mrs X die?” and this was highly evaluated.

Frankie is delighted with her maternity gown (photo). She has invented “hats for gowns”. As regular readers know there is a wonderful market humming with treadle sewing machines and excellent seamstresses. Frankie plans to sell the beautiful tailor made surgical hats (photo) in the UK and with the funds from 1 hat buy 2 maternity gowns for Lira.

As we sit waiting for supper a violent African thunderstorm is brewing…..