photos

For those of you not using facebook you should be able to view my photos on there by clicking the link below...hopefully!

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=10200&l=03b79&id=289400653

Enjoy!

hospital week 1

The week has gone so fast! We started placement on monday - but spent most of the day introducing ourselves to various doctors, administrators and other members of the clinical team. We are based on the medical wards just now, one male and one female. If i had not experienced wards in Ghana, it would have been a huge shock walking in there - seeing the difference between ninewells and here. the difference now is that i have a bit more knowledge to understand just now sick these patients are when they come in - most of them coming in with a decreased concious level.

The ward is very basic, and investigations a bit scarce, but there does seem to be a relatively high level of staff around - from nursing students, through to clinical officers(about level of our junior doctors but they stay at this level.) to a variety of doctors from malawi and around the world. we are still finding our feet, so will go into more detail about the state of the ward etc later.

We are undertaking quite a large audit of patients taking antiretroviral drugs and their complications, which is really interesting and is giving us an actual job to do. we also do wards and are beginning to help with procedures. Communication with patients is a bit tricky as the majority do not speak any english..we are hoping to involve some keen nursing students to be our translators.

We have been asked to organise a clinical meeting/presentation next friday to introduce ourselves and explain our reasons for being here and what our role will be, as well as have discussions about what we are going to spend our money on. Its quite a daunting task - need to provide lunch for eeryone too.

This morning we attended an albino awareness day - which turned out to be really interesting, there is huge stigma and weird beliefs regarding albinism here, and recently in tanzania there was a spout of killings in this group. They have severe problems here in the sun and today they were teaching parents to cover up kids, use sunscreen and hats etc as well as attending clinic. there are only 7 clinical officers who specialise in dermatology for the qhole country and currently there is one dermatologist here from america but she is not here forever.

on top of all that we have been out nearly every night this week - so tired so heading to the beach for weekend. Last night the caretaker, took us all out as a thankyou for me bringing him a kilt from scotland - photos to follow!

hope everyone is well, my number is 002659060654, feel free to text/call. becky xxxx

our first weekend

we arrived on friday after a mammoth journey, 24 hours long and we were both exhausted! we had a stop over in ethiopia and this country looked amazing from the air - really hilly and so lusciously green. luckily we had no problems the whole way and charles, the UNC driver was there to pick us up. we arrived out the UNC guesthouse which is luxury! it was quite a shock! normal western toilet, lovely hot shower, kitchen, TV - with digital...!! we are sharing a flat with the 2 other dundee girls and 2 guys - arthur and irish infectious diseases registrar and Isaac, a zambian dude is here working on a programme which is aiming to increase awareness and prevention of HIV through soccer. Next door there are several americans who are all doing some kind of research projects here - still to get to know them better. The first night, we went out to the nursing school bar followed by a local club which was so much fun, and the guys are awesome, and soo funny! we alsohad shiraz, one of the malawian interns and mike an american pre-med who is hear working with isaac just now on the hiv programme.

yesterday we sampled the local delicacy - nsima, which i liked! it is like a ball of sticky white stuff made of maize and it doesnt have a lot of flavour but is lovely with a good stew! last night we were at an expat birthday party which was great fun.

we dont really feel like we have had a total african experience yet, but i am sure that is to come! in general, everything is very similar to ghana apart from the landscape which is a lot drier and dusty. it is very weird being in africa without my boronts! he is excited to join me soon. we might have a game of volleyball today, and start in the hospital tomorrow..

anyway thats an intro as to where i am, so far really good! xxxxxxx

departure

so we are in terminal 3 , heathrow. got a few more hours and are both disapointed by the severe lack of shops!! terminal 5 was very impressive though :) . somehow i have managed to take double Alev's luggage, whoops. anyway we both getting quite excited now, and cant wait to land in africa!! bye bye scotland xxxxxxx