Babies and more babies

Friday I had the opportunity to go to Mulago Hospital with a young German woman, named Tami. We met at Wentz Clinic a week ago when we were both volunteering there. She is a recently graduated midwife and came to Africa a few weeks ago to see if it might be a place for her to come back to in future years after she gains some experience.
Yesterday was an eye opening adventure for both of us as we toured the Obstetrics and Gynecology departments in the largest public hospital in Uganda.

The hospital was founded in 1913, so next year will be their 100th anniversary.

In an average year they see 140,000 inpatients and 600, 000 outpatients. I think these figures may need updating

They do have a private section which is very well equipped and vastly different than the public section.

We had a wonderful tour guide through the maze of wards and buildings of this very large campus. This doctor is in his final year of residency.

We started out in the area where they see gynecological emergencies. The doctor there was so overwhelmed she barely had time to say hello. We peeked behind a screen to a big open ward with no privacy curtains separating the beds and saw lots of women in various stages of undress and heard occasional moaning sounds.

We then made our way though labor and delivery. As we went the doctor told us that there are 30,000 deliveries per year, or between 80-100 per day!!!!!
Any nurse reading this, especially if you have worked in this area, can now pick up your jaws form the floor. They average 20 Cesarians daily. In the main operating room they have 2 tables as very often there are 2 C- sections going on simultaneously. Sometimes there will be 30-50 women and 2 midwives on a ward.
Since there are far more patients than beds, the women can be seen on mattresses on the floor in the hall on just about anywhere there is room. I counted 15 beds in one section that was originally meant for probably 8 maximum. Women are told to bring at least 5 prs. of gloves as staff can't provide them. They must also furnish their own large waterproof pad on which to deliver. Many times due to lack of staff a woman will be unattended for her delivery.  I could go on but I think you are getting the picture.

     
We felt somewhat dazed as we left and hurriedly made a dash for the car as the rain started pouring down. We had lots of time to talk on the way home. In fact this was the worst traffic I have ever been in. We left the hospital at 3:45 and 2 hours later we had only gone 1.5 kms. It was unbelievable.
We saw some interesting sights as we sat in "the jam" as it's called.  This creative guy has figured out a way to carry the frame for 2 small sofas on his bicycle in the rain!

A good part of the 2 hours was spent alongside the golf course. I guess there are some hearty golfers here who won't be deterred by an occasional downpour.

These long horns can't have been to happy in the jam either. They were not able to move at all, horns were locked as they were tightly packed. It's hard to tell but there is a goat up on top with a few riders.
They looked entirely miserable.

After being stuck in the car for 2 hours and the possibility of another 2 looming large ahead we made a decision to pull off and get a snack before the final push for home.

Not to mention the need for "short call" sorry to be graphic, but this is the term used for a visit to the loo or a restroom break.

I certainly did enjoy my cappuccino and chatting with Tami about her  family, her faith and life in Germany. Exhausting, but interesting afternoon.

My busy week

Sometimes it rains and sometimes it pours. This week it has poured visitors. It has been a busy but interesting week.
Firstly, just a brief update on my neighbor Lady R. There has been a momentous change in circumstances. Lady R and her daughter have been granted a reprieve, at least that's what I am calling it for want of a better word. I think Mr. X has definite feelings for Lady R, albeit with wrong motivation, but never the less he wants to continue to support her and her immediate family. Apparently First Lady has been apprised of the situation and has agreed to let Mr. X spend his days and nights in both places as he chooses.
I appreciate your ongoing prayers for this delicate situation. It is my desire to pour into Lady R helping her to know God's truth and to be well equipped for the future path God has intended for her, whatever that may be. Our English lessons will now continue :-)

Last weekend I was able to meet up with and then host for dinner, the Poole family who in August, moved from my home town in Tasmania, to become part of a medical ministry in the country to the north of me. It was a great time of friendship and discussion about all things African!

Wednesday, immediately after Bible study, I drove 1 hour to Entebbe airport to pick up 2 more Tasmanians who flew in to join the Poole family for the purpose of installing a solar system for a hospital and orphanage.

While hanging out at the guesthouse with my fellow Taswegian friends for the afternoon, I couldn't help but notice these impressive Helmeted Guineafowls. Their feathers have tiny black dots.

How about this for an interesting plant? I can't remember the name, sorry. It's such a dramatic looking plant with its vivid red and green colors.















Anyway, after visiting for a few hours I headed back to Kampala in time to pick up another visitor. This time it was a woman named Adrian, originally from Dallas, who is working as a nurse at an orphanage in Jinja, about 2 hours east of Kampala. We had lots of medical things to talk about as she has been challenged in caring for 46 children who are HIV + and it's malaria season.

I drove her to meet the Every Village team that just arrived back from their mission trip to S. Sudan. We spent a few hours hearing all their wonderful stories of ministry. After dropping the ladies off at the guesthouse where the team stayed, my new nurse friend and I headed back to my apartment that I had left 12 hours earlier. Long day!

Thursday morning I helped some of the team do some souvenir shopping before their afternoon departure for the airport. Adrian had to leave suddenly for Jinja due to sickness of one of the staff there.
Thursday evening I was looking forward to a good night's sleep after the activity of the past few days, but it was not to be. At 2 :30 am I woke suddenly to the sound of music blaring. A party boat had pulled up near the shore of the lake and decided they needed to entertain the entire neighborhood. You can't imagine the volume. It went on for an hour so I gave up trying to sleep and read some more of my intriguing book about the famous explorer of the 1860's, Henry Stanley. He's the one who found Dr. Livingstone with his well known words "Dr Livingstone, I presume."

Today has been very interesting also but I am now tired after all that has happened so check back in a few days for my post about visiting the labor and delivery ward at Mulago Hospital.