Agnes, Jen, Pavan, and I have arrived in the Dar airport so early that they won’t let us in. This is a new predicament for me, kinda funny. I woke up at 5:30 to get ready and checked out of the hotel in Zanzibar, then we took the ferry back to Dar. I am so glad the my friends talked me into going to Zbar, it is such a calm and beautiful place. The sand felt like tons of flour had been dumped out on the ground. The water was turquoise. The people were more reserved, but also much more enthralled with our minimal ability to converse in Kiswahili.
I am quite sad to leave. I can’t believe how much I feel a part of this culture, these people, this land.
We are all planning ways to keep up our momentum when we return. The coming year will be intense academically, studying for board exams all year. So we will need all the energy and effort our friends can offer, to make these opportunities become reality.
One last note: Why Tanzania?
Because the doctor to patient ratio is 1:25,000
Because we have had our hearts softened to the condition of our most poor patients as we have lived some aspects of their lives along with them (sitting on top of laps and crammed into small spaces to fit on public transport, going without water, bartering for food, etc.). We were honored by them as they gave us their support when we were unable to maneuver through this new place on our own. We are a part of Tanzania and as a result, it will make us better physicians to our patients in Philadelphia.
Thank you for being a part of this with us!
-rachel, for the group
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
in Dar
Jen, Agnes, Pavan and I are now back in Dar. We rode the bus all day yesterday and arrived last night. It was really sad leaving Karatu. Everytime i heard bongo flavor music, i missed Mercy and the closer we got to the city, the more i missed everything we have grown to know and love.
we meet with the dean of Univ of Dar tommorrow
see you soon
rach
we meet with the dean of Univ of Dar tommorrow
see you soon
rach
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Joining Forces-Building Bridges
Today we went to Arusha to see Roopa off. Arusha is about 2.5 hours from Karatu. It has things like ice cream, cheese, and Chinese food: it is the virtual paradise of Northern Tanzania…but after a few hours, I was ready to come home – back to Karatu. Amazing how Karatu feels like home now.
So we are winding down now, heading back to Dar on Wednesday. But we are also gearing up, making plans for the coming year. There have been many exciting things happening in the past week. We have joined forces with an NGO here and are beginning to pursue a collaboration with them for first year students next summer. This NGO has been absolutely amazing to us, taking us in and introducing us to the medical system in Karatu. They have helped us get on good footing with the appropriate government offices here and we have an official invitation to come back and develop a long-standing collaboration with the hospitals in the Karatu region. He is excited with us, which is a welcomed gift, and is thinking big, daring to dream with us…that someday Karatu and Philly will be sisters. I like this very much!
So, to all our classmates who helped us get here in all your various ways of support, thank you so much for your work: making posters, storing supplies, organizing fundraisers, giving us contacts in Tanzania, helping us edit our proposals, etc. I hope you will all join us in the fall and make this program a lasting one. Start making plans for fourth year, we’re going back to Tanzania guys! – (yes, you too Timothy)
rach
So we are winding down now, heading back to Dar on Wednesday. But we are also gearing up, making plans for the coming year. There have been many exciting things happening in the past week. We have joined forces with an NGO here and are beginning to pursue a collaboration with them for first year students next summer. This NGO has been absolutely amazing to us, taking us in and introducing us to the medical system in Karatu. They have helped us get on good footing with the appropriate government offices here and we have an official invitation to come back and develop a long-standing collaboration with the hospitals in the Karatu region. He is excited with us, which is a welcomed gift, and is thinking big, daring to dream with us…that someday Karatu and Philly will be sisters. I like this very much!
So, to all our classmates who helped us get here in all your various ways of support, thank you so much for your work: making posters, storing supplies, organizing fundraisers, giving us contacts in Tanzania, helping us edit our proposals, etc. I hope you will all join us in the fall and make this program a lasting one. Start making plans for fourth year, we’re going back to Tanzania guys! – (yes, you too Timothy)
rach
Friday, July 20, 2007
19 Earthquakes
We have survived 19 earthquakes without a scratch. I just wanted to share that fact. As for our trip, we have made significant progress in building relationships here in Karatu. -Roopa
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Puppy Poop
I finally had my chance to be in the or last week after everyone else in the group had been in to view the numerous c-sections that are done on a daily basis. Knowing that there was a woman in labor with twins that was going to need a c-section as well, I felt extra special to be able to be a part of it. Low and behold, as I get ready to head to the theater I'm told that another procedure will take place first before the c-section. Turns out my first operation in Tanzania was a hemorrhoidectomy. Yeah, I tried to be excited, BUTT (yes, BUTT), hemmorhoids are hemmorhoids. Don't think I've ever stared so long at someone's backside and don't think I ever will again. The whole thing lasted about an hour. I'm told that in more developed countries the procedure is shorter since certain tools allow for shortcuts in the or. The tanzanian doctors did everything "old school" and in the end I did learn a lot. You definitely need some skills to navigate around those things. It honestly all just looked like a big mess to me. I at least came out with a new found respect for proctology.
So far my favorite ward in the hospital is the pediatric ward. The really small kids are adorable and the older ones, 5-10 years old, are all really brave. They never seem to complain and only ever let on that there in pain when the pain is extremely severe. The most memorable patient thus far has been an 8 year old maasai boy who came in with what was initially thought to be a liver abscess. Once that was ruled out by ultrasound, meningitis was suspected and multiple attempts for a successful lumbar puncture were performed. This wasn't easy, seeing as the boy's body was extremely rigid. He was unable to bend his back at all, making the procedure extremely painful. The first few attempts were even done without any sort of local anesthetic. In the end, the boy was treated for tetanus. I've been out of the hospital because of illness and haven't seen him for the past two days so hopefully he'll be better when I see him tomorrow.
On the upside from the lack of electricity and cold weather here in Karatu, our hosts, MIHV, have a new puppy! It's name is Mtope, which means mud. She's already gone missing once, cried and yelped for the past two nights, and pooped twice in my room... but man the thing is so cute! It's a little bow-legged, smells, and isn't too bright, but it's hard to not like a puppy.
-Jen Jou
So far my favorite ward in the hospital is the pediatric ward. The really small kids are adorable and the older ones, 5-10 years old, are all really brave. They never seem to complain and only ever let on that there in pain when the pain is extremely severe. The most memorable patient thus far has been an 8 year old maasai boy who came in with what was initially thought to be a liver abscess. Once that was ruled out by ultrasound, meningitis was suspected and multiple attempts for a successful lumbar puncture were performed. This wasn't easy, seeing as the boy's body was extremely rigid. He was unable to bend his back at all, making the procedure extremely painful. The first few attempts were even done without any sort of local anesthetic. In the end, the boy was treated for tetanus. I've been out of the hospital because of illness and haven't seen him for the past two days so hopefully he'll be better when I see him tomorrow.
On the upside from the lack of electricity and cold weather here in Karatu, our hosts, MIHV, have a new puppy! It's name is Mtope, which means mud. She's already gone missing once, cried and yelped for the past two nights, and pooped twice in my room... but man the thing is so cute! It's a little bow-legged, smells, and isn't too bright, but it's hard to not like a puppy.
-Jen Jou
Flies, earthquakes, no power
This week has been a fun one – we have been without power since Monday. This means we have been wearing headlamps while we cook over the propane stove, kerosene lanterns while we eat, and flashlights while we brush our teeth – the stuff that bonds people... I love it! The least fun aspect of this week has been the flu that half of us came down with. We have had a sparse representation at the hospital as a result, but have been able to have several planning conversations which has helped us re-group for our final days here.
The earthquakes? Well I have counted 9 of them, one of them registering at a 6.0, but no structural damage.
The flies? A huge swarm came by the window one day, thousands of them, they waved hello and moved on and we still don’t know what it was all about.
We have all been shadowing the physicians at the hospital alongside an American physician who has been here volunteering as well. We are learning about the importance of seeing the same disease over and over again – the Tanzanian Doctors are pretty good at diagnosing malaria and TB even without the diagnostic technology we rely on back home. They are also under a tremendous patient load that prevents them from performing surgeries as quickly as they would like. There is a huge potential for collaboration in the near future which we hope to detail before we leave next week.
I had the pleasure of sitting with a 16 year old girl, pregnant, in labor, unable to deliver, and a baby that was in distress. I only knew a few appropriate Swahili words but sometimes words just aren’t necessary and I felt honored to be with her in that moment. She ended up having a c-section and a healthy baby, so that was very cool.
Well, my internet time is winding down.
We are all well and gathering many stories to tell.
Be prepared :)
rach
The earthquakes? Well I have counted 9 of them, one of them registering at a 6.0, but no structural damage.
The flies? A huge swarm came by the window one day, thousands of them, they waved hello and moved on and we still don’t know what it was all about.
We have all been shadowing the physicians at the hospital alongside an American physician who has been here volunteering as well. We are learning about the importance of seeing the same disease over and over again – the Tanzanian Doctors are pretty good at diagnosing malaria and TB even without the diagnostic technology we rely on back home. They are also under a tremendous patient load that prevents them from performing surgeries as quickly as they would like. There is a huge potential for collaboration in the near future which we hope to detail before we leave next week.
I had the pleasure of sitting with a 16 year old girl, pregnant, in labor, unable to deliver, and a baby that was in distress. I only knew a few appropriate Swahili words but sometimes words just aren’t necessary and I felt honored to be with her in that moment. She ended up having a c-section and a healthy baby, so that was very cool.
Well, my internet time is winding down.
We are all well and gathering many stories to tell.
Be prepared :)
rach
Friday, July 13, 2007
FINALLY in the hospitali!
Jen, Pavan, and I just walked back to town from the hospital, it took us an hour, but it is a sunny day and we had beautiful trees, sunflowers, and corn crops all around us. We have been working in the hospital since Wednesday and each day has opened our eyes to new things. I think today I really started feeling comfortable at the hospital. After going on rounds with the Doctors, I asked the nurse if I could help with anything and she let me help!!! So I was a courier taking charts to the pharmacy, bringing doctors orders to the Xray/EKG/ultrasound tech, finding the Dr. to get an explanation for one of his orders…I am learning a ton but it is a challenge to find ways to be helpful. Most of our influence is in greeting patients, smiling at them, holding their hands through difficult procedures. I guess it sounds simplistic, but the impact is huge. There is so much sickness here and so little hope to offer. I think the staff are burned out and desensitized, so our distance from this discouragement allows us to offer kindness to the patients that the staff are probably to tired to offer.
Yesterday was strange because someone we knew was admitted into the hospital – the lady who washes and cleans at the house where we stay. She fell and appeared to have a serious head/neck injury. It was frightening to realize that we NEEDED the health care to work, and that might possibly not be an option. The cool thing is that there are other volunteers here with us. We are learning the ropes alongside an American nurse and Doctor, and two German medical students. So we all joined forces and forged some new paths at the hospital. We got her 4 x-rays (a luxury) and had her on meds and diagnosed within an hour (a miracle).
I am loving being here. I have no doubt we are making a difference, and am even more certain that all of us are already permanently changed from what we have experienced.
I have 3 minutes of internet time, so I can’t write more now.
By the way, it is really nice to be distant from the distractions of internet, tv, phones, etc. I feel so much more alive. Wish there would be some way to keep that up when I return. Someone let me know if they have any ideas.
-rach
Yesterday was strange because someone we knew was admitted into the hospital – the lady who washes and cleans at the house where we stay. She fell and appeared to have a serious head/neck injury. It was frightening to realize that we NEEDED the health care to work, and that might possibly not be an option. The cool thing is that there are other volunteers here with us. We are learning the ropes alongside an American nurse and Doctor, and two German medical students. So we all joined forces and forged some new paths at the hospital. We got her 4 x-rays (a luxury) and had her on meds and diagnosed within an hour (a miracle).
I am loving being here. I have no doubt we are making a difference, and am even more certain that all of us are already permanently changed from what we have experienced.
I have 3 minutes of internet time, so I can’t write more now.
By the way, it is really nice to be distant from the distractions of internet, tv, phones, etc. I feel so much more alive. Wish there would be some way to keep that up when I return. Someone let me know if they have any ideas.
-rach
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