Local hospitals

I have not posted in a few days, but if you follow me on Facebook, you will see we have been busy! Two mornings spent at Kamuzu Central Hospital with morning hand off rounds and then rounds with the surgeons on the floor. It is amazing what they do with so little. I have had the pleasure of meeting physicians not only from Malawi, but also the UK, Cuba, China and Pakistan. I have heard their reports of limited time in the surgical suites, power outages, no CT scan, no equipment. We are not allowed to take photos in the hospital, for obvious reasons, but the overcrowding is severe. You can search the hospital on line and usually turn up some images. For those of us who have been there, it is not so much about the overcrowding, the torn sheets, the lack of space, the lack of privacy, or even the smells, but is about the vast amount of suffering humanity, with a small but dedicated group of providers trying their best to alleviate some of the suffering.

We spent Saturday in Dedza, with the young man I have sponsored for years through Children of the Nations. His name is Henry (Lidson) Masamba and he has become a fine young man. He is in secondary school at Umbwi school in Dedza. We picked him up, got permission from the head master, and took him the Dedza pottery for lunch.

Sunday of course was church at Flood, followed by a very lazy afternoon. Monday was KCH, and today we went to Daeyang Luke Hospital to introduce Nancy McGlawn (missionary at AOG who is an RN and has spent almost 30 years in Africa) to Dr. Sue Makin, a missionary doctor, also with years in Africa. They were both in the Congo at the same time and I thought it would be good to introduce them! Well, seems like Sue and Nancy hit it right off, and are already planning some future activities dealing with Sue's passion of screening for cervical abnormalities. Cervical cancer is the number one cancer in this country. They don't do PAP smears (not enough pathologists, etc) but can do the VIA (visual inspection with acetic acid). If they find abnormal uptake ('white patches') with the acetic acid, they can treat and hopefully prevent these abnormal areas from becoming cancerous. Anyone interested in doing something to support this work, let me know!

While at the hospital, I ran into two old friends - Grace (RN) and Dennis (RN). It was good to see them and makes me want to go back and do some time at DLH in Casualty!

Enjoy the photos. Tomorrow, another village clinic.

Me and Nancy McGlawn on the balcony, top floor of Daeyang Luke hospital.

Joey Swartz on the balcony of DLH. Note the reflection of mountains and clouds in the glass door.

Grace and I. She is a fabulous nurse!!

Dennis, another great nurse at DLH

Sue Makin, myself, and Nancy McGlawn.