Happy Easter! It’s been a chilled weekend. It was Cleaning Day yesterday morning - they are trying to get the streets as clean as possible before the Independence Celebrations on the 27th April (while Britain is filled with Union flags to celebrate Kate and Wills’ wedding, there are green, white and blue flags EVERYWHERE here for the 50th anniversary of independence). Because of Cleaning Day we couldn’t go out in the morning so I just chilled out, read and watched the newest Harry Potter film (I don’t often have the time or the electricity to watch a whole film so this was a treat) before heading to the swimming pool.
Cat and I headed to Aberdeen for dinner with some other friends. We had the most funny taxi journey to get there – Cat and I shared the front seat, while there were 10 (I counted!) children in the back seat! It was absolutely hilarious (and clearly not to be attempted at home!) and the children were all laughing and giggling so much that I started giggling too.
Happily we all got there safely to enjoy dinner, followed by a great dance performance by some kids and adults, who were doing amazing acrobatics (although I did keep worrying that they were going to fall on the concrete).
Today I celebrated Easter Sunday morning at the International Church, followed by a chilled out lunch with friends and more chilling at home, blogging and reading. It’s been a nice change not rushing around trying to do things. Back to work tomorrow, but I’ve got Independence on Wednesday to look forward to.
Sunday 24 April 2011
Triage Training at the Under-5s Clinic
Before I went home for my holiday I helped out with the implementation of Emergency Triage and Treatment Training at the Jenner Wright clinic, the under-5s clinic about a mile away from the hospital. Until now the children were seen in order of attendance, meaning they might be getting sicker and sicker whilst waiting in the queue to be seen.
Along with Cat (the VSO nurse), the Welbodi’s and Rosie the medical student we did lectures and scenarios for the staff on the purpose and process of triaging patients according to the WHO guidelines. We had a lot of fun during the role playing sessions (some of the nurses being particularly good at acting as distressed mothers!) Most of the staff actually knew already how to spot a sick child; it was just a question of giving them a framework to base their decision making on.
After the teaching sessions we spent time with the nurses whilst doing their job; mentoring them and continuing to emphasise the ABCCCD approach (yes I’ve put in the right number of C’s! – Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Coma, Convulsions, Dehydration).
Teaching and training is one of the things I most enjoy about being here. Sure its fun working with patients and parents and getting an instant buzz of helping them. But by teaching the staff they’ll be able to go on and treat more patients once I leave (and it’s a lot less stressful than watching patients die!)
(I've been trying to upload a photo - but don't think it has worked - I'll keep trying again).
Along with Cat (the VSO nurse), the Welbodi’s and Rosie the medical student we did lectures and scenarios for the staff on the purpose and process of triaging patients according to the WHO guidelines. We had a lot of fun during the role playing sessions (some of the nurses being particularly good at acting as distressed mothers!) Most of the staff actually knew already how to spot a sick child; it was just a question of giving them a framework to base their decision making on.
After the teaching sessions we spent time with the nurses whilst doing their job; mentoring them and continuing to emphasise the ABCCCD approach (yes I’ve put in the right number of C’s! – Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Coma, Convulsions, Dehydration).
Teaching and training is one of the things I most enjoy about being here. Sure its fun working with patients and parents and getting an instant buzz of helping them. But by teaching the staff they’ll be able to go on and treat more patients once I leave (and it’s a lot less stressful than watching patients die!)
(I've been trying to upload a photo - but don't think it has worked - I'll keep trying again).
Saturday 23 April 2011
Back in Sierra Leone!
I’ve had a holiday since my last blog – I went home for two weeks and had a brilliant time seeing Andy, visiting friends and family, new babies and bumps.
Here is a list of the bizarre things I found myself doing at home (bizarre either because it would be strange if I had been in Sierra Leone, or bizarre because people at home would have thought it bizarre!)
1) Whenever a landrover or 4 wheel drive went past I looked in the window to see if I knew anyone in the car.
2) Every time I brushed my teeth I looked for a bag of water to use instead of turning on the tap.
3) When I went into Tescos I was bamboozled by the choice of food and spent AGES looking at everything!
4) I ate (a lot). In fact, I have been told by several nurses that “you body fine” or “you get body Shona”. Translate to “you look fat”. Of course this is a compliment in Sierra Leone.
5) I was very excited at being in cars under 20 years old with good suspension.
6) I had my hair cut, and I blow-dried and straightened it several times!
7) I used a credit card (but only once because I was a bit freaked out by the machines!)
8) I went to the Children’s Hospital in Oxford (to see friends and to pick up a drug prescription chart to take back here) and was amazed at the calmness, cleanliness, the non-chaotic-ness, the monitors (and the fact that, having not worked there for a year, I knew three of the children on the ward!)
9) I had several baths, and nice long hot showers.
10) I got annoyed when I saw fat children.
11) I found the internet fast enough to look at things on You Tube.
12) I reflected on how lucky we are at home to have both basic and material things.
Things I found I had missed about Sierra Leone – but only really realised I had missed them when I got back!
1) The staff at the hospital, particularly the nurses and the lab staff, many of whom said “you don loss” (we lost you, as in, we missed you) as well as “you get body”.
2) Speaking Krio – with patients, parents, nurses and people down the alley.
3) Blue, white and green flags everywhere to celebrate Sierra Leone’s 50th Anniversary of Independence.
4) The sea.
5) The crazy public transport system – strange as it is, it now makes sense to me and I find taxis a weirdly efficient way of getting around.
6) How friendly everyone is.
7) The people in the alley by our house (especially the lovely old lady).
8) The people I speak to on the way to the UN pool.
9) VSOs and Welbodi’s
10) Barracuda.
11) Mamba Point (I’ve been twice since I’ve been back – hehe!)
Here is a list of the bizarre things I found myself doing at home (bizarre either because it would be strange if I had been in Sierra Leone, or bizarre because people at home would have thought it bizarre!)
1) Whenever a landrover or 4 wheel drive went past I looked in the window to see if I knew anyone in the car.
2) Every time I brushed my teeth I looked for a bag of water to use instead of turning on the tap.
3) When I went into Tescos I was bamboozled by the choice of food and spent AGES looking at everything!
4) I ate (a lot). In fact, I have been told by several nurses that “you body fine” or “you get body Shona”. Translate to “you look fat”. Of course this is a compliment in Sierra Leone.
5) I was very excited at being in cars under 20 years old with good suspension.
6) I had my hair cut, and I blow-dried and straightened it several times!
7) I used a credit card (but only once because I was a bit freaked out by the machines!)
8) I went to the Children’s Hospital in Oxford (to see friends and to pick up a drug prescription chart to take back here) and was amazed at the calmness, cleanliness, the non-chaotic-ness, the monitors (and the fact that, having not worked there for a year, I knew three of the children on the ward!)
9) I had several baths, and nice long hot showers.
10) I got annoyed when I saw fat children.
11) I found the internet fast enough to look at things on You Tube.
12) I reflected on how lucky we are at home to have both basic and material things.
Things I found I had missed about Sierra Leone – but only really realised I had missed them when I got back!
1) The staff at the hospital, particularly the nurses and the lab staff, many of whom said “you don loss” (we lost you, as in, we missed you) as well as “you get body”.
2) Speaking Krio – with patients, parents, nurses and people down the alley.
3) Blue, white and green flags everywhere to celebrate Sierra Leone’s 50th Anniversary of Independence.
4) The sea.
5) The crazy public transport system – strange as it is, it now makes sense to me and I find taxis a weirdly efficient way of getting around.
6) How friendly everyone is.
7) The people in the alley by our house (especially the lovely old lady).
8) The people I speak to on the way to the UN pool.
9) VSOs and Welbodi’s
10) Barracuda.
11) Mamba Point (I’ve been twice since I’ve been back – hehe!)
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