day three

May 29, 2009

If you count the day I arrived in Entebbe as day one, I'm currently on day three here in Uganda. I'm still hanging out in Mbale and staying at the CURE hospital guesthouse, which is really nice and comfortable. I'm definitely not roughing it... yet. When I'm living in Iganga and need a hot shower, I now know where to run to.

I've gotten a good idea of what they do here at the hospital, which specifically targets children with neurological issues (hydocephalus and spina bifida etc.). They've pioneered a fairly new surgical technique for hydrocephalus which is minimally invasive; this is an incredible technology as post-operative infections are especially an issue here. The procedure is called endoscopic third ventriculostomy. Basically, guided by a tiny camera, they punch a hole in the third ventricle to alleviate the pressure. I've gotten into the OR a bit to watch some surguries, including a myelomeningocele repair and an intended ETV that turned into a shunt placement because of scar tissue. Everyone has been very accomodating and I've learned so much about the health care system here.

Today I went to visit the regional hospital in Mbale, which was incredibly sad. The nurses were amazed when I told them that the typical patient load for a nurse in the United States is 6-7. At that regional hospital, which is in much better shape than the district hospitals, I have my doubts that the nurses even know how many patients they take care of every day, particularly considering there are often 3+ sick kids sharing one bed, not to mention all of the families that stay with them as they are responsible for providing bedding, food, saline, any medications, etc. I'll soon be putting up photos of the hospital but you get the picture. Its dirty and crowded and difficult to see; my heart was aching. Even on the private wing of the hospital, the care is not good, but at least they provide food, I mean, since the patients' families are paying and all.

I think the best part of my time here thus far was a conversation I had with the physcial therapist at the CURE hospital this morning. This man, only slightly older than myself, grew up in the northern part of Uganda and spent the majority of his childhood and teenage years fleeing from rebel activity. Nearly all of this friends and classmates were killed, along with his parents. His mother died when he was five. Despite the obstacles, he eventually made it out of the north and moved to Kampala at the age of 17. He finished primary and secondary school and is now a physical therapist, but not without years and years of setbacks due to mostly to finances, not grades. Now, at 31, he would love to go back to university (he only has a certificate now) and eventually get a masters degree in public health. However, at the moment, he does not see how this will happen as he must put his sister through university.

This is simply what you do for family here.

What must it be like to live in a culture where truly, family comes first? And its not just family.

One of the most striking differences between Uganda and Haiti, for me, has been the fact that Ugandans don't appear hungry. This certainly is a poor country but food does not seem to be an issue. This had been a silent observation of mine upon arrival but my new physical therapist friend (or "physio" as they term it here), unprompted, began to tell me that Ugandans do not die for lack of food. If you see that your neighbor needs something to eat, you give them something to eat.

This is simply what you do for fellow humans here.

He brought up the fact that as Christians, we are commanded in the Bible to bear one another's burdens and so if someone is hungry, it is your responsibility to feed them. Incredible. While he was speaking, it literally brought tears to my eyes because this truly, is how we should all live our lives, taking care of one another. The last sermon I heard before I left the States, one which I thorougly enjoyed at my parents' church, also included the scripture my friend was referring too. (I think I'm supposed to learn this.) I wrote it down because it was kind of a wake up call for me and served to somewhat renew my passion for the work that I want to be doing.

Galatians 6:2-3 "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself."

This is how we love.

I'm already falling in love with this country. The culture, the beautiful green land, the Ugandans, all of it, has proven to be lovely beyond my expectations, which were high as usual. It has been my tendency, upon arrival in new places, to try to keep some walls up because I tend to get attached too easily and then it breaks my heart to leave. Anyone that knows me, however, can tell you that my walls don't last long. This time.... two days.