Bamako, Mali 09/27/2010

Today was a long day for everyone. First, we started with an early breakfast, and rounds to see a few more patients who might need procedures. Visiting the wards is always very colorful. The families practically move in - mats on the floor with cooking pots, covers, and various items to care for the sick family member. Sometimes we see them praying and paying respects. No need for nurse call buttons; plenty of advocates all around the bed.

Next we all made our way to the OR and met with the Medical Director of the hospital. He helps host us each year and is a very grateful man. As our leader Steve Parker said, Dr. Kaita always welcomes us with his big arms.


As the days go on, more of the local medical workers start to show and want to share in the day's procedures. Today we anesthesiologists got to meet 2 of our local colleagues and share some ideas about how we do things and drugs we use. Always very interesting for all parties.


We got to our first patient today - a man in his 20's with a scarred finger. He was old enough to understand and able to cooperate, so we did not have to give him anesthesia. He received some sedation, but was awake and cheerful throughout.








What probably made today a relatively stressful day was the fact that clinics, where we see patients to screen and schedule for surgery, were advertised as happening today as well as yesterday. So not only did we have to go through our list of mock emergencies and situations, gear up for our first cases, and work through the gliches, but we also had to run back and forth to another building to get these other expectant patients seen. One little boy could not be calmed but he let me put my hat on him. He still wasn't happy, but refocused his energy from crying to problem-solving: "Who ARE these people?"



Another adorable face - both mom and baby!



The recovery room nurses have adopted several nursing students to come and work and learn with them. Lucky students have two very capable and dedicated nurses to teach them. Here is Vickie at work, doing well with lecturing in French.



In the afternoons, all the families are kicked out and floor-washing begins. Lots of water that waterfalls down the stairs, flooding the paper bags, corn cobs, peanut shells, and bits of paper with it. The men work hard with squeegies, brushes, buckets, and big boots.



The last patient of the day was met by his mother, who appeared to have a sibling on her back. But the baby on her back actually belonged to the mother of another patient, and this woman was comforting the baby simply to help the other mom. It was such a loving thing to do, and the two women had never met. Both had children who were post-operative, but this sweet lady took on the baby to give the other mom a break. It's nice to end a long and hard day with a scene like this.