The devil and the local “traditional healers” (witch doctors) still
have lots of influence and power. Also apparently they charge almost
as much for their services as we do. We see the results frequently.
But remember the devil has lots of power and can heal also sometimes.
We have had two tiba and fibula open compound fractures that had the
money to pay for the repairs but refused surgery and went to the
“traditional healers.” Both needed the SIGN intramedullary rods to
stabilize their legs. Sometimes people go to the “traditional
healers” then come to us later with severe infections needing
amputations etc. and want free care because they spent all their money
already.
have lots of influence and power. Also apparently they charge almost
as much for their services as we do. We see the results frequently.
But remember the devil has lots of power and can heal also sometimes.
We have had two tiba and fibula open compound fractures that had the
money to pay for the repairs but refused surgery and went to the
“traditional healers.” Both needed the SIGN intramedullary rods to
stabilize their legs. Sometimes people go to the “traditional
healers” then come to us later with severe infections needing
amputations etc. and want free care because they spent all their money
already.
Kim, our anesthetist wife, is really getting into the program for
malnourished kids program BUT there is a problem of lack of funds for
this. We need at least $600-$1000 per month to continue this. It
is helping kids to survive but have to keep buying supplies for the
program. She tries to teach them things that they can do without
very much money. A big item is to teach parents about birth control
so they can better take care of their children. The public health
people are working on that also.
malnourished kids program BUT there is a problem of lack of funds for
this. We need at least $600-$1000 per month to continue this. It
is helping kids to survive but have to keep buying supplies for the
program. She tries to teach them things that they can do without
very much money. A big item is to teach parents about birth control
so they can better take care of their children. The public health
people are working on that also.
Another problem we have is that we have these nice “one day” buildings
built 1 ½ yrs ago that are still unusable because the interior walls
and the plumbing and electric are not done in them. It would be nice
to use our new maternity and new OR someday. We are living in the
only “house’ that is finished although shelves are not up yet and no
screen on the porches to help keep the bugs out. The houses are not
bug tight. Now the flying ants are out by the hundreds or thousands
and are attracted to lights. They are considered a delicacy by the
locals to eat. They sweep them up from around the lights in the
hospital but to me the ants are a nuisance as they come into the
house. Not enough materials were sent to frame and screen the
porches for the new buildings. We are very thankful for what we
have. It is at least headed in the right direction although it may
take another year or two before the buildings are finished.
built 1 ½ yrs ago that are still unusable because the interior walls
and the plumbing and electric are not done in them. It would be nice
to use our new maternity and new OR someday. We are living in the
only “house’ that is finished although shelves are not up yet and no
screen on the porches to help keep the bugs out. The houses are not
bug tight. Now the flying ants are out by the hundreds or thousands
and are attracted to lights. They are considered a delicacy by the
locals to eat. They sweep them up from around the lights in the
hospital but to me the ants are a nuisance as they come into the
house. Not enough materials were sent to frame and screen the
porches for the new buildings. We are very thankful for what we
have. It is at least headed in the right direction although it may
take another year or two before the buildings are finished.
Jamie Parker, our maintainance and construction volunteer, has been
having back problems and is scheduled for back surgery the end of this
month so he will have been gone from here April through October to
allow time for his recovery and for his check ups. He has had
problems getting someone to take his insurance.
having back problems and is scheduled for back surgery the end of this
month so he will have been gone from here April through October to
allow time for his recovery and for his check ups. He has had
problems getting someone to take his insurance.
So far this week we have had a perforated gastric ulcer and another
perforation of small intestine secondary to typhoid. Today we had a
hemicolectomy for a cancer of the cecum. There were some mesenteric
nodes but no mets in the liver. He was almost completely obstructed.
Hopefully we help him for awhile at least. Also had a lipoma of a
thigh that weighed about one kilogram. Yesterday we had a ruptured
ectopic with about a 12 week pregnancy. Over the week end we had an
emergency hysterectomy for a post partum that would not stop bleeding. She is recovering ok now.
perforation of small intestine secondary to typhoid. Today we had a
hemicolectomy for a cancer of the cecum. There were some mesenteric
nodes but no mets in the liver. He was almost completely obstructed.
Hopefully we help him for awhile at least. Also had a lipoma of a
thigh that weighed about one kilogram. Yesterday we had a ruptured
ectopic with about a 12 week pregnancy. Over the week end we had an
emergency hysterectomy for a post partum that would not stop bleeding. She is recovering ok now.
Our Loma Linda University medical students got some good experience
the past month and have seen quite a bit of interesting pathology but
they left this morning to go back to the USA. They were good
students and I enjoyed having them. In two weeks we get two more
medical students coming from Denmark and a nursing student from
Poland.
the past month and have seen quite a bit of interesting pathology but
they left this morning to go back to the USA. They were good
students and I enjoyed having them. In two weeks we get two more
medical students coming from Denmark and a nursing student from
Poland.
Everybody (all of the expats) is relatively healthy today recovering
from various things.
from various things.
Friday I was helping Scott Gardner at Moundou to do open reduction and
internal fixation of two fracture hips
internal fixation of two fracture hips
Our emails are dfbland@sbcglobal.net and dfbland01@gmail.com
Love Rollin and DoloresBlog July 15
Love Rollin and DoloresBlog July 15
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