Jackie Droogers, Adi, DRCongo

Jackie Droogers was a Midwife at Adi, DRCongo

“When you don’t have what you’d like, you have to like what you have” Akuma states matter-of-factly as his experienced hands lift out a baby during another emergency Cesaerian section. It is the middle of the night, and the only light source is the small flashlight that one of the nurses is shining into the open abdomen of the young woman. A small generator is rumbling outside the operating room but after a few flickers the lights inside refuse to go on. Thankfully the team is used to the poor power supply and flashlights and kerosene lamps are on hand. I breathe a sigh of relief as I receive the crying baby into my hands. Many newborns require intensive resuscitation if the mother has been transferred for a Cesaerian section, but this baby is off to a good start.

Joanne Lynas, Kagando, Uganda

Joanne Lynas was a Physiotherapist at Kagando hospital, Uganda

As far as work is concerned, the two Ugandans who have been in the department have been off on annual leave so Rebecca and I have been working hard to run physio, only taking a day off each at the weekends. The surgical ward has calmed down after the bus crash with all but a few having been discharged, although the roads are so dangerous that there are always a few patients at any one time who have been admitted as a result of road accidents.

I’m getting used to the alien conditions of meningitis, malaria, tetanus and HIV and their presentations. I’m also slowly picking up more of the language. There have been a couple of patients from the Congo with whom I have been able to converse in French; it’s at times like those that I realise just how much of my job revolves around explanation and putting people at ease and I’ve really enjoyed being able to talk to them almost normally.

Louise Kernohan, Kisiizi, Uganda

Louise is a Physiotherapist at Kisiizi hospital, Uganda

Wednesday school has been going well with both the patients and attendants enjoying the singing and colouring in or craft afterwards. I even managed to teach them a new song in Rukiga which was a real novelty for them to see the mzungu (white person) teach them a song in their own language. The chaplains wife had translated “Jesus is a friend of mine” into Rukiga and so I practiced for ages to try and get all the words to fit in with the tune. Try fitting “Yesu omunywane wangye kamuhimbiise” into the English tune and you’ll see why it took me so long practicing before I was able to teach it!

In morning prayers in chapel each morning, 2 people go to each ward to share a word with the patients and attendants. I have started taking part in ward prayers since the last time I emailed which was very nervewracking at the start but I have begun to enjoy doing it. I always have somebody with me to translate which has been good because the pause while somebody is translating also gives you a bit of time to think.