Sunburn and Anaesthetics

Ok, so the sunburn has actually gone nice and brown but I was silly to think that I would bathe in equatorial sun with no suncream. Well I paid the price and looked like a lobster for a few days and was a little sore...but I secretly think it was worth it!


The long weekend was a great time with doing the Rhino Sanctuary last week and then having the whole of monday to go by the pool and eat out (even though we eat out every night). I think this week in the hospital has been hard on a number of us. The girls started on Tuesday and are doing such a great job of looking after patients but this comes at the frustration of lacking resources and poor communication. 


Working in the UK health system and knowing the great service we have makes it hard when we can't treat treatable diseases in Uganda. Of course the staff and everyone tries their hardest but when there is no money and a total lack of doctors then people are bound to suffer. Uganda has developed a role known as a clinical officer. These are persons trained to a diploma level in patient care and pretty much can't be told apart from a doctor (there are million of people with white coats about!). They try their best but ultimately they are trying to do the job of a doctor without the skills, training or expertise they need to treat people. Still, they are trying to plug the gap which is better than nothing by far.


Most of my work is anaesthetising patients for theatre lists and providing pain relief. The drugs we have are very limited with the majority of anaesthetics being spinal and not general. We tend to use Ketamine on most children and this is a very good and usually safe anaesthetic to give. Mothers are usually not allowed to be in the anaesthetic room when their child is being anaesthetised which seems distressing to both. But infection control is tight and we are not in the most cleanliness of countries!


We had all booked to go to Murchison falls this weekend and go to the waterfall and safari but a few of us have fallen ill...so we may cancel or we can play it by ear and see how we all are tomorrow. I hope all you folk in the UK and Ireland are enjoying the sunny weather ;) I will send you over some sun when I get back.