We have been back in Chad over 2 weeks and have been busy although not sure what has been accomplished some times. Our hospital census has been 80-90 esp this past week. The government employees have not been paid all their salaries so post office, hospital and health care, courts and various government offices are on strike. Of course the military is getting paid so they are not on strike and there are still many military check points. Some of our increased census from that and some from this time of year when they are harvesting their crops and have a little more money to spend. Some of you saw some of our pictures from Europe on Facebook that Dolores posted. It has not rained more than a few drops this month and we don't expect any until next May. It has been in the 90's most days and 80's at night. The rice crop does not look very good as rainy season was not as much as usual. Everything is drying up rapidly. A few days ago we had a lady with acute abdomen 3 days post partum and resembled a ruptured uterus but when we opened, the entire intestine appeared dead at first but more exam revealed that it was a volvulus (twisted bowel so no circulation) involving the entire superior mesenteric pedicle. We took out the dead intestine and reconnected the jejunum to the terminal ilium (upper intestine to the lower part). So far she is doing well but not sure what will happen with the "short bowel syndrome". We had a 10 yr girl with 3 typhoid perforations and abdomen full of bowel contents. We repaired and irrigated a lot and so far it appears that she will live. We have had some bladder stones one that was 6-7 cm (about 2.5 inches) diameter. We took out a prostate that was same size as my fist and so far doing ok. We did a BKA (below knee amputation) on an old man that previously had a partial foot amputation but now foot all dead. He has given up and refuses to eat or drink. We have had a ruptured uterus recently. Danae and I did a vesico vaginal fistula (hole from bladder to vagina) repair that was quite challenging. We always do those together. The brakes went out on our Toyota pickup Sab while I was driving back from branch Sab School. Today I took it apart and found that the wheel cylinder and caliper are bad. The sandy much and water really does a number on vehicles. IT only has 45000 km (about 28000 miles) I need to check all the other wheels also. We have two family practice doctors here from Juneau, Alaska for this week. They were in Moundou last week. One of them had been here before. Our emails are drbland42@gmail.com and dfbland01@gmail.com My yahoo account got messed up and can no longer access it. Rollin and Dolores Bland Hopital Adventiste de Bere Boite Postal 52 Kelo, Tandjile, Chad, Afrique Blog www.weareamissionarybland.blogspot.com
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Blog 23 Oct 2016
Sunday, October 9, 2016
Arrive
We have arrived in Bere. The rainy season is about over and the roads are drying up although we did have one water hole in the road that the water went over the hood of the pickup.
It is 95 today. It probably got down to 90 last night in NDJamena. We left Jay Monday afternoon and drove to OKC and stayed at Janelle's place; then Bob Schaefer took us to the airport in OKC Tues. We arrived in WDC 9:00 pm stayed in Holiday Inn and left Wed on Ethiopian Airlines arriving in NDJamena via Addis Ababa Thur noon. We stayed overnight in NDJ after changing some money to cfa (francs) and doing some shopping. We took the bus today Friday Oct 7 to Kelo where Olen met us, and brought us to Bere.
The trip was unremarkable other than TSA (probably the one in WDC) went through at least two of our suitcases spilling nuts out of a double bagged sack etc all through the clothes and did'nt close the duffle bag properly. Not sure if much is missing but seems like most things are present. Of course we had to pay for extra baggage (two each allowed for international) $200 each for two plus $200 for the extra 16 lbs that one was overweight.
We are in good health and Olen and Danae and kids are ok now also. All government employees except the military are on strike so schools and hospitals etc are closed except non-government ones. The strike is because the government has not paid them and says there is not enough money. Don't know how long that will last. Could get interesting.
They say the rains were late coming so the rice crop is spotty. Some fields look ok and some not.
They say the problems with the "prefet" are being resolved. He has irritated enough people including his superiors so maybe they will get rid of him or transfer him somewhere else.
Please note that my email has changed to: drbland42@gmail.com
Thanks for your prayers
Rollin and Dolores Bland
Hôpital Adventiste de Bere
52 Boîte Postale
Kelo, Chad, Africa
Thanks for your prayers
Rollin and Dolores Bland
Hôpital Adventiste de Bere
52 Boîte Postale
Kelo, Chad, Africa
Monday, July 25, 2016
The life of a foreign missionary is often glorified in various stories and problems are not mentioned. Yes there are rewards sometimes but sometimes one does not see results that are good. Sometimes it just seems like "work". We see lots of interesting pathology in the medical work but after 100's of hernias and hydroceles, etc it becomes a blur. A "missionary" in a foreign country has to be adaptable, flexible, patient, and know why you are there.
One has to deal with thieves that were people you had trusted. It seems that some think that foreigners are made out of money. Loans often become gifts because they usually are not repaid. Some steal from school accounts as parents pay for their kids school. Some try to take bribes from patients at the hospital. Often in the government hospitals patients have to pay extra to the nurses and lab people to get the care that is already paid for and we try to prevent that here. Since we computerized the med ordering here we think it has decreased some of the bribery and stealing. It seems crazy that they can sue you for lots of money after they were fired for stealing lots of money or not doing their work.
One has to make do with equipment that does not operate properly. Many of the surgical instruments don't clamp or hold as they should. Many drapes have holes that we try to match with other drapes with holes in different places. The good drapes tend to develope legs. The autoclave sometimes will burn the cloth wrappings. The electric autoclave takes so much power to use so is not hooked up yet. One has to be inventive at times to get things done with equipment that was supposed to be for something else. We do have an operating room light now whereas initially we had to use a head light which gets very hot and uncomfortable. There is no public power so one has to hope that the generator keeps working but sometimes it does not. If no electricity then no water as the water pump is electric. It is difficult to get parts for generators and other things. Sometimes people send stuff that didn't work properly for them so "donate it to Jesus". "Junk for Jesus" which unfortunately costs good money to get shipped here. Our gloves often have seen too much heat or something on the way to Chad and tear easily or stick together or were defective manufacturing. Almost everything comes from China or France.
Communication is a problem although now we do have some semblance of phone and internet service part of the time, but very slow. Some places in the cities have good phone and internet but not good here in the rural area. Not able to get on most web sites and not able todownload pictures unless they have been downsized a lot. Not being able to communicate with the many different languages here is a problem but I have not even learned well the official language French either, so I am handicapped.
Then there are the various diseases that you don't have to think about back home. Of course malaria is the big one in the tropics and can be fatal if not taken care of properly. Typhoid is common but there is vaccine for it but it is not 100% effective. Most of the locals have not had the vaccine. There are many different parasites and bacteria that can give diarrhea or many other problems. One has to take these awful tasting meds every so often for the various problems. HIV is very common so if one gets a needle stick may need to take the HIV meds for awhile which make you feel bad.
Transportation can be a problem as there are almost no roads that have ever ever been graded here in Chad and central Africa. There are just ox cart trails and if there is much traffic the water holes in the trails get pretty deep especially in rainy season. Often in rainy season one cannot go on the "roads". The "moto" (motorcycle) is probably the most dependable to in some places other than ox cart especially in rainy season. Large trucks can go only in dry season.
Getting meds is a problem much of the time. In Chad the government mandates that all meds come through the central government pharmacy which often does not have sufficient in stock and lots of meds not available at all. We are not permitted to import our own. Also the government mandates that all medicines that are past date or even short dated be thrown away which is crazy. Even though lots of studies including the US military show that most medicines are good for years past their dates. Lots of perfectly good meds have been dumped but they come around inspecting to see if you have any expired meds. There are very few blood pressure or diabetes meds even available. I've even heard that in some other countries perfectly good donated food was dumped because it "might be contaminated with GMO food" instead of giving it to people to keep them from starving to death. Ignorance kills so many people.
Nursing is not what you would expect. They often or usually sleep on the job esp at nights. There is almost no communication between shifts. Hopefully, meds will be given the same day as ordered but often is not. Knowledge is very basic or minimal. When a patient leaves the OR they are almost on their own but usually have relatives to help care for them. Basic math is lacking in many staff.
But in spite of the problems it still is a great and challenging life and helps to develope your character . The Lord does truly take care of us through various problems. The Lord is good.
Love,
Rollin and Dolores Bland
Hopital Adventiste de Bere
Boite Postal 52
Kelo, Tandjile, Chad, Afrique
Blog www.weareamissionarybland.blogspot.com
One has to deal with thieves that were people you had trusted. It seems that some think that foreigners are made out of money. Loans often become gifts because they usually are not repaid. Some steal from school accounts as parents pay for their kids school. Some try to take bribes from patients at the hospital. Often in the government hospitals patients have to pay extra to the nurses and lab people to get the care that is already paid for and we try to prevent that here. Since we computerized the med ordering here we think it has decreased some of the bribery and stealing. It seems crazy that they can sue you for lots of money after they were fired for stealing lots of money or not doing their work.
One has to make do with equipment that does not operate properly. Many of the surgical instruments don't clamp or hold as they should. Many drapes have holes that we try to match with other drapes with holes in different places. The good drapes tend to develope legs. The autoclave sometimes will burn the cloth wrappings. The electric autoclave takes so much power to use so is not hooked up yet. One has to be inventive at times to get things done with equipment that was supposed to be for something else. We do have an operating room light now whereas initially we had to use a head light which gets very hot and uncomfortable. There is no public power so one has to hope that the generator keeps working but sometimes it does not. If no electricity then no water as the water pump is electric. It is difficult to get parts for generators and other things. Sometimes people send stuff that didn't work properly for them so "donate it to Jesus". "Junk for Jesus" which unfortunately costs good money to get shipped here. Our gloves often have seen too much heat or something on the way to Chad and tear easily or stick together or were defective manufacturing. Almost everything comes from China or France.
Communication is a problem although now we do have some semblance of phone and internet service part of the time, but very slow. Some places in the cities have good phone and internet but not good here in the rural area. Not able to get on most web sites and not able todownload pictures unless they have been downsized a lot. Not being able to communicate with the many different languages here is a problem but I have not even learned well the official language French either, so I am handicapped.
Then there are the various diseases that you don't have to think about back home. Of course malaria is the big one in the tropics and can be fatal if not taken care of properly. Typhoid is common but there is vaccine for it but it is not 100% effective. Most of the locals have not had the vaccine. There are many different parasites and bacteria that can give diarrhea or many other problems. One has to take these awful tasting meds every so often for the various problems. HIV is very common so if one gets a needle stick may need to take the HIV meds for awhile which make you feel bad.
Transportation can be a problem as there are almost no roads that have ever ever been graded here in Chad and central Africa. There are just ox cart trails and if there is much traffic the water holes in the trails get pretty deep especially in rainy season. Often in rainy season one cannot go on the "roads". The "moto" (motorcycle) is probably the most dependable to in some places other than ox cart especially in rainy season. Large trucks can go only in dry season.
Getting meds is a problem much of the time. In Chad the government mandates that all meds come through the central government pharmacy which often does not have sufficient in stock and lots of meds not available at all. We are not permitted to import our own. Also the government mandates that all medicines that are past date or even short dated be thrown away which is crazy. Even though lots of studies including the US military show that most medicines are good for years past their dates. Lots of perfectly good meds have been dumped but they come around inspecting to see if you have any expired meds. There are very few blood pressure or diabetes meds even available. I've even heard that in some other countries perfectly good donated food was dumped because it "might be contaminated with GMO food" instead of giving it to people to keep them from starving to death. Ignorance kills so many people.
Nursing is not what you would expect. They often or usually sleep on the job esp at nights. There is almost no communication between shifts. Hopefully, meds will be given the same day as ordered but often is not. Knowledge is very basic or minimal. When a patient leaves the OR they are almost on their own but usually have relatives to help care for them. Basic math is lacking in many staff.
But in spite of the problems it still is a great and challenging life and helps to develope your character . The Lord does truly take care of us through various problems. The Lord is good.
Love,
Rollin and Dolores Bland
Hopital Adventiste de Bere
Boite Postal 52
Kelo, Tandjile, Chad, Afrique
Blog www.weareamissionarybland.blogspot.com
July 17, 2016
It has been relatively quiet this past week. Although two of the volunteers were detained and had to pay 3000 cfa "fine" for riding as 2nd passenger on a moto. They had walked almost to the market then was offered a ride then was stopped at the market. Later Olen was talking to the commissair (head of he area police) and found out that the ones who collected the "fine" did not have authority to do so. The commissair was going to "talk to the prefet about it" Haven't heard any more. Incidentally the "prefet" is still around so the rumor that he was sacked was not true.
We had a man come in with a partial obstruction intestine with history of previous surgery elsewhere for a "cancer of the cecum". Not sure what surgery was done. Did not find any evidence of cancer anywhere even though he had been told it was in his liver and kidney also. But now he was obstructed at the cecum and had lots of adhesions. Probably was appendecitis and now was scarred down. We took out his cecum and terminal ilium short amount and reconnected his ilium to his ascending colon. He is doing well post operative. The other man with strangulated hernia and dead intestine that we had to remove is doing well. A man with a neck abcess that was actually improving just gave up and refused to eat and drink even with IV fluids and finally died. We had a thyroidectomy and some hernias and prostatectomies that are all doing ok. We had another 1.7 inches (about 42 mm) 2 days ago so over 3.3 inches this past week.
Dolores has an eye infection that has been painful but hopefully is improving. Addison and Juniper had some sort of eye irritation also.
We had a man come in with a partial obstruction intestine with history of previous surgery elsewhere for a "cancer of the cecum". Not sure what surgery was done. Did not find any evidence of cancer anywhere even though he had been told it was in his liver and kidney also. But now he was obstructed at the cecum and had lots of adhesions. Probably was appendecitis and now was scarred down. We took out his cecum and terminal ilium short amount and reconnected his ilium to his ascending colon. He is doing well post operative. The other man with strangulated hernia and dead intestine that we had to remove is doing well. A man with a neck abcess that was actually improving just gave up and refused to eat and drink even with IV fluids and finally died. We had a thyroidectomy and some hernias and prostatectomies that are all doing ok. We had another 1.7 inches (about 42 mm) 2 days ago so over 3.3 inches this past week.
Dolores has an eye infection that has been painful but hopefully is improving. Addison and Juniper had some sort of eye irritation also.
Our emails are drbland@sbcglobal.net and dfbland01@gmail.com.
Love,
Rollin and Dolores Bland
Hopital Adventiste de Bere
Boite Postal 52
Kelo, Tandjile, Chad, Afrique
Blog www.weareamissionarybland.blogspot.com
Love,
Rollin and Dolores Bland
Hopital Adventiste de Bere
Boite Postal 52
Kelo, Tandjile, Chad, Afrique
Blog www.weareamissionarybland.blogspot.com
July 25, 2016
Monday the 18th we had a strangulated inguinal hernia (did not require intestine resection) and also had strangulated internal hernia that had dead intestine that had to be removed. Also had a sigmoid colon volvulus (colon twists on itself and shuts itself off) All that was besides a scheduled hernia repair. This past week we also had a parotid mass that was mushy and very vascular and we did not get it all out as too involved with other structures and probably was a cancer. We had done her thyroidectomy previous that was possibly malignant and she had done well with that. In general the hospital has been slow except Pediatrics but even that is not as much as some previous years. We have a Pediatrician from Brazil that is taking care of Pediatrics for the next 2 months. We have a couple (Eddie and Carolina Perry) here this past week that want to start a clinic in the Congo. She is finishing a FP residence with some tropical medicine and he is doing ER work. They hope to go in the next year or so.
Our computor system has quit working so have had to go back to the writing out things on paper. Olen has spent lots of time with it and texting Zachri Jensen in Washington to try to get it going again. The computer that was using for server does not seem to cooperate. I am computer challenged so am no help.
Our generators all seem to be in good working order now. Had problems with a frequency sensor that was not adjusted right also a fuel filter problem but all seems ok now.
Everything is pretty and green now. Dolores' eye infection is much improved.
Putin recently signed into law that no Christian Bible studies were to be allowed even in homes. The window of opportunity for Russia is almost closed. The USA recently passed laws that will make it difficult for Christian schools and institutions to operate. Many of the Moslem countries have laws against Christianity and so difficult to tell the story of Jesus. We hear various ones talking about possible world financial collapse. The end surely must be near. What are you doing to let people know about the soon coming of Jesus? "Even so come Lord Jesus"
We will be gone on vacation annual leave the next 2 months leaving July 29.
Our emails are drbland@sbcglobal.net and dfbland01@gmail.com.
Love
Rollin and Dolores Bland
Hopital Adventiste de Bere
Boite Postal 52
Kelo, Tandjile, Chad, Afrique
Blog www.weareamissionarybland.blogspot.com
Monday the 18th we had a strangulated inguinal hernia (did not require intestine resection) and also had strangulated internal hernia that had dead intestine that had to be removed. Also had a sigmoid colon volvulus (colon twists on itself and shuts itself off) All that was besides a scheduled hernia repair. This past week we also had a parotid mass that was mushy and very vascular and we did not get it all out as too involved with other structures and probably was a cancer. We had done her thyroidectomy previous that was possibly malignant and she had done well with that. In general the hospital has been slow except Pediatrics but even that is not as much as some previous years. We have a Pediatrician from Brazil that is taking care of Pediatrics for the next 2 months. We have a couple (Eddie and Carolina Perry) here this past week that want to start a clinic in the Congo. She is finishing a FP residence with some tropical medicine and he is doing ER work. They hope to go in the next year or so.
Our computor system has quit working so have had to go back to the writing out things on paper. Olen has spent lots of time with it and texting Zachri Jensen in Washington to try to get it going again. The computer that was using for server does not seem to cooperate. I am computer challenged so am no help.
Our generators all seem to be in good working order now. Had problems with a frequency sensor that was not adjusted right also a fuel filter problem but all seems ok now.
Everything is pretty and green now. Dolores' eye infection is much improved.
Putin recently signed into law that no Christian Bible studies were to be allowed even in homes. The window of opportunity for Russia is almost closed. The USA recently passed laws that will make it difficult for Christian schools and institutions to operate. Many of the Moslem countries have laws against Christianity and so difficult to tell the story of Jesus. We hear various ones talking about possible world financial collapse. The end surely must be near. What are you doing to let people know about the soon coming of Jesus? "Even so come Lord Jesus"
We will be gone on vacation annual leave the next 2 months leaving July 29.
Our emails are drbland@sbcglobal.net and dfbland01@gmail.com.
Love
Rollin and Dolores Bland
Hopital Adventiste de Bere
Boite Postal 52
Kelo, Tandjile, Chad, Afrique
Blog www.weareamissionarybland.blogspot.com
Monday, July 11, 2016
July 10, 2016
Olen, Danae, Lyol, Zane, Addison, and Juniper all arrived back here Friday evening July 1. So glad to have them back. Addison and Juniper have had a fever. Not sure if malaria or just some virus. They are being treated and are doing ok. Our hospital census is up especially in Pediatrics which is usual for July. Lots of malaria and typhoid. We have a pediatrician from Brazil for 3 months so she is taking care of Peds. We also have a medical student from Loma Linda and an OBGYN from Texas (friend of Danae's) and a Family Medicine from California for a short term visit.
Last time I mentioned the "prefet" was here with his military and guns snooping around the hospital looking for expired meds that he said we were killing people with. In fact there is no evidence that any expired med has killed anyone and previously we had gotten rid of expired meds but he also calls short dated meds the same way. But the next day he went on the local radio and then national radio in NDJ saying we were killing people by selling expired meds. For whatever reason he does not like "Adventist". Then the same week the regional Delegae (government doctor over this region) came with his entourage looking everywhere in the hospital even in some back dark corners and said he found some expired meds and "verified" what the "prefet" had said. The Delegaie's visit, including 2 hours of meeting after the exploration, lasted most of the day. The local MCD (government medical director for the area) accompanied both visits and only referred to me as "the old man" or "that old man". The Delegae never acknowledged that I was even present even though I accompanied them most of the time. They were very negative about Olen and Danae about them "not being cooperative" and telling the MCD when they were coming or going etc which actually was not true at all. They knew Olen and Danae were not here then so they came then. The Delegae kept saying that Olen and Danae or the administrator were not in charge of the hospital but the MCD is to be. Today I hear that the "prefet" was sacked and he is not in his house. I don't know if this is true or not.
Today we had a strangulated hernia with dead intestine (terminal ilium, cecum, and part of the ascending colon) that we had to take out and reconnect the intestines. The maternity has been fairly quiet since Danae returned. We had plenty before. We had 4 different patients with bladder stones this past week.
We have had no rain the past 2 weeks and some of the grass is starting to wither or turn brown. It is supposed to be heart of rainy season now to bring up the crops especially the rice. It could be bad if it does not start raining although it is nicer for the "roads". Tonight we got 1.6 inches (40 mm) of rain so better now.
Is it true that Donald Trump states he would make all who claim to be Muslim register in some sort of national data bank? Could it be extended to another minority group also? It sounds dangerous in America.
Jesus will soon come to take His people home. The signs are all around us. Pray that it will be very soon. Pray for our situation here in Chad.
Our emails are drbland@sbcglobal.net and dfbland01@gmail.com.
Love
Rollin and Dolores Bland
Hopital Adventiste de Bere
Boite Postal 52
Kelo, Tandjile, Chad, Afrique
Blog www.weareamissionarybland.blogspot.com
Last time I mentioned the "prefet" was here with his military and guns snooping around the hospital looking for expired meds that he said we were killing people with. In fact there is no evidence that any expired med has killed anyone and previously we had gotten rid of expired meds but he also calls short dated meds the same way. But the next day he went on the local radio and then national radio in NDJ saying we were killing people by selling expired meds. For whatever reason he does not like "Adventist". Then the same week the regional Delegae (government doctor over this region) came with his entourage looking everywhere in the hospital even in some back dark corners and said he found some expired meds and "verified" what the "prefet" had said. The Delegaie's visit, including 2 hours of meeting after the exploration, lasted most of the day. The local MCD (government medical director for the area) accompanied both visits and only referred to me as "the old man" or "that old man". The Delegae never acknowledged that I was even present even though I accompanied them most of the time. They were very negative about Olen and Danae about them "not being cooperative" and telling the MCD when they were coming or going etc which actually was not true at all. They knew Olen and Danae were not here then so they came then. The Delegae kept saying that Olen and Danae or the administrator were not in charge of the hospital but the MCD is to be. Today I hear that the "prefet" was sacked and he is not in his house. I don't know if this is true or not.
Today we had a strangulated hernia with dead intestine (terminal ilium, cecum, and part of the ascending colon) that we had to take out and reconnect the intestines. The maternity has been fairly quiet since Danae returned. We had plenty before. We had 4 different patients with bladder stones this past week.
We have had no rain the past 2 weeks and some of the grass is starting to wither or turn brown. It is supposed to be heart of rainy season now to bring up the crops especially the rice. It could be bad if it does not start raining although it is nicer for the "roads". Tonight we got 1.6 inches (40 mm) of rain so better now.
Is it true that Donald Trump states he would make all who claim to be Muslim register in some sort of national data bank? Could it be extended to another minority group also? It sounds dangerous in America.
Jesus will soon come to take His people home. The signs are all around us. Pray that it will be very soon. Pray for our situation here in Chad.
Our emails are drbland@sbcglobal.net and dfbland01@gmail.com.
Love
Rollin and Dolores Bland
Hopital Adventiste de Bere
Boite Postal 52
Kelo, Tandjile, Chad, Afrique
Blog www.weareamissionarybland.blogspot.com
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
June 20, 2016
It is pretty and green with grass greening and needing lawn mowed, and most people are out plowing and planting rice, millet, cotton, beans and peanuts etc. We had about 4 inches (about 254 mm) last week. The "roads" are with deep water holes and mud. So far most of the water holes are only 12 inches deep but that will increase with more rain.
Some days we are busy and some not so busy with surgeries, consults, and maternity etc. We were having generator problems everyday for awhile but that seems to have straightened out somewhat now. There are quite a few on medicine service now. Friday eve I picked up Zach at Kelo after he had returned from NDJ on some hospital business. The drive to Kelo is about 1 1/2 hrs even though it is only 45 km (25 miles) The bus from NDJ was late so we got back from Kelo about 2200. Then at 0200 had to see an OB with previous c-section x2 and a small pelvis in active labor so did a c-section and got back to bed about 0500. Then got up at 0630 to go to branch SS at 0700 then to church at 1030. I slept some before and during potluck lunch and in the afternoon. I was feeling weak. In the evening we had a retained 2nd twin with arm presentation in a 18 yr old that delivered 1st twin at home. I finally managed to change it to a footling breech but she was having no contractions and the cervix had clamped down some. Finally delivered with lots of pulling but the retained head took a lot of time. Of course the baby was dead. Sunday morning at 0500 we went to Moundou as I had agreed to do some surgeries there (probably a mistake). I did 4 ortho cases that were very difficult. Fortunately Zach drove the vehicle for which I was very thankful as I was not feeling well and came back in the evening 3 hours each way. By then I was aching all over and had headache and no appetite. It seemed like malaria so began the Malarone and some ibuprofen and wet the bed with sweat. I feel a little better today. I rested this afternoon. No surgeries today or complicated maternity although an incarcerated hernia came but I was able to reduce it so it can be done later.
Today we had the prefet (chief) come by the hospital with a bunch of military and the MCD etc. They went through the whole hospital I think then had an assembly to talk which was another 2 hours. He talked about how bad expired meds were and lack of compassion and not sure what all. Some say he is quite deranged. The MCD gave a power point on free meds and some history of such in Chad. As best as I could tell as I could not understand the prefet's speech very well. Previously they made us throw away a lot of perfectly good meds because they were short dated or past date. Olen has previously presented many studies including some by the US military that show most meds are good for many years beyond their expire date. A lot of this is gimmicks by the drug companies so they can sell more meds but unfortunately ignorance costs lots of money and lives.
We are looking forward to the return of Olen, Danae, and the kids July 1. They have had a nice deserved vacation which one needs after working here awhile.
We recently had an email from someone in Australia that reads our blog. We appreciate emails. It makes life a little easier.
Love, Rollin and Dolores Bland
Hopital Adventiste de Bere
Boite Postal 52
Kelo, Tandjile, Chad, Afrique
Some days we are busy and some not so busy with surgeries, consults, and maternity etc. We were having generator problems everyday for awhile but that seems to have straightened out somewhat now. There are quite a few on medicine service now. Friday eve I picked up Zach at Kelo after he had returned from NDJ on some hospital business. The drive to Kelo is about 1 1/2 hrs even though it is only 45 km (25 miles) The bus from NDJ was late so we got back from Kelo about 2200. Then at 0200 had to see an OB with previous c-section x2 and a small pelvis in active labor so did a c-section and got back to bed about 0500. Then got up at 0630 to go to branch SS at 0700 then to church at 1030. I slept some before and during potluck lunch and in the afternoon. I was feeling weak. In the evening we had a retained 2nd twin with arm presentation in a 18 yr old that delivered 1st twin at home. I finally managed to change it to a footling breech but she was having no contractions and the cervix had clamped down some. Finally delivered with lots of pulling but the retained head took a lot of time. Of course the baby was dead. Sunday morning at 0500 we went to Moundou as I had agreed to do some surgeries there (probably a mistake). I did 4 ortho cases that were very difficult. Fortunately Zach drove the vehicle for which I was very thankful as I was not feeling well and came back in the evening 3 hours each way. By then I was aching all over and had headache and no appetite. It seemed like malaria so began the Malarone and some ibuprofen and wet the bed with sweat. I feel a little better today. I rested this afternoon. No surgeries today or complicated maternity although an incarcerated hernia came but I was able to reduce it so it can be done later.
Today we had the prefet (chief) come by the hospital with a bunch of military and the MCD etc. They went through the whole hospital I think then had an assembly to talk which was another 2 hours. He talked about how bad expired meds were and lack of compassion and not sure what all. Some say he is quite deranged. The MCD gave a power point on free meds and some history of such in Chad. As best as I could tell as I could not understand the prefet's speech very well. Previously they made us throw away a lot of perfectly good meds because they were short dated or past date. Olen has previously presented many studies including some by the US military that show most meds are good for many years beyond their expire date. A lot of this is gimmicks by the drug companies so they can sell more meds but unfortunately ignorance costs lots of money and lives.
We are looking forward to the return of Olen, Danae, and the kids July 1. They have had a nice deserved vacation which one needs after working here awhile.
We recently had an email from someone in Australia that reads our blog. We appreciate emails. It makes life a little easier.
Love, Rollin and Dolores Bland
Hopital Adventiste de Bere
Boite Postal 52
Kelo, Tandjile, Chad, Afrique
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