First Day of Rotation

So today was the first day of rotation, we had a short orientation at Mulago Hospital and then drove a few miles down the road to St. Stephen's Hospital which is a private, not-for-profit community-based hospital. There we did rounds in the morning where I saw my first malaria patients.  In this hospital they have adults, pediatrics, and a maternity ward, and one operating room (called the theater).  However, I was very surprised to find that here, sterile technique includes removing shoes before entering the theater for cleanliness so that you will be operating in socks or barefoot.  They can't afford the blue booties we are so familiar with in the states.  Also, patients are in large rooms with 6 or 7 people in a room and are examined out in the open, no privacy or draping is used.  Also, an attendant, usually a family member of the sick, is solely responsible for carrying out the doctor's orders and getting any prescriptions and dispensing them to the patient.  Also, the doctor will suggest a plan such as an xray or a blood test and then the patient or attendant will decide what they can and cannot pay for.   The attendant is also responsible for preparing food for the patient, and washing and clothing them, even if they are miles from home.  You see whole families camping out at the hospital attending to their sick family member.

At St. Stephen's lunch was provided for us which was traditional Ugandan food including matoke which is made from plantains, pocho made from corn flour, greens, and beans. It was honestly delicious!

We then went on three home visits which was just so eye-opening to see how some people live!  First just to get there was a struggle, to say we took dirt roads would be such an understatement... the roads were dirt, but they also had 3 or 4 foot deep pot holes everywhere with huge ravines from the rain running down the roads making them almost impassable. We were in an ambulance from St. Stephens and I really didn't think we would make it down some roads. The houses ranged from small wood shacks, to small cement one-room houses, to one very nice middle class home on a farm. Below are some pictures of the homes we went to.  All in all, it was a great first day.