One week was already passed😯 Until monday, I have begun my voluunteering in a small hospital (level 2) not far from my house.
Monday 31st
This day was just INCREDIBLE, UNFORGETTABLE and so ENRICHICHING!!!
I have met a warm and welcoming medical staff, Wyclife, the clinical oficer in intership shew me the room of the hospital (very limited) and ewplained me the process when a patient arrives in the hospital which is almost the same process when you visit your doctor in France. When a patient need treatments more qualified, he's immeditely send to another hospital with a level highlier. Only 3 rooms are available for admissions, like for example, for pregnant women.
So, I began with the first step which consisted in notice the height, the weight, the age, the residence and the OPD number of the patient (in Kenya, the ministery of health requires that all datas about the patient must be written on a internationalig register, so ths is why, each Kenyans have a personal number). This, allows to keep a record of frequent deseases as Malaria, HIV aids, Tuberculoose...
Then, patients see the intern and after that, all the results of the exam are reported on the register.This is the 3rd step and where I worked during 2 hours. It was very difficult, there were lots of things to learn, lots of codes (one symptoms, one treatment have a code).
At around 11.PM, Wyclife called me to assist him for a little surgery! I was very surprised but so excited! He introduced me the patient, a woman who presented a deep gap on her head. There was lots of blood and it was impressive. The intern began by show me the steril process, we had to make chirurgical golves so we could start the surgery. At first, he had to shave the place of the heal to after anesthetezie and stitch it. Me, I should bring him instruments, press the heal, prepare the injections...it was very long because we discovered new heals after finsihed one. When I came back for lunch, I was totally dreaming😇 I could never imagine one time that I will have so many responsabilities in my hands! In France, it is simply impossible... This, shows also the less of ways and staff inside the facility...
1st of June: Madaraka day (independence day) was celebrated in Kenya. So schools, hospital (l.1 and 2) were closed. So, I visited with one of the teachers of St James Com.School 2 orphan's homes to have a picture of their conditions... Indeed, it was emotional . Those children were taken care by guardians when they lost their parents or sometimes, they just leave together in the same home with a family member next to them so you can have an idea of the conditions.. Some of them must sleep on the floor, they must cook for themself , find their food, bring water from the lake (most of them must walk 30 minutes to join the bottom of the island because their homes are very hight).
I went to the hospital and met Calisto, the leader of the facility. We began by a meeting (it was very long) so when we finished, the admission place was full! I was alone and I had to make the admission for the patient one by one, it was very very stressful). Then, I helped Peter at the pharmacy to give drugs patients needed, that was also difficut because I don't know all the drugs and their functionnalities... 🤯
The morning at the hospital was so fascinating! I took care of the new borns for their monitoring. I measured their height, their weight, sterilized their arms for vaccins and reported it on their health book. This has confirmed me another time that I'd want to work with children, I'm feeling so good in this area☺️.
After that, I visited with M.Calmax 2 others homes. One of them was the home of Jim, a joker in school but a puny child in real life... he lives with 4 others children but they are older than him.
Yesterday, I worked a lot for the hospital. It was administrative tasks but I liked it too, this allows me to learn about drugs, diagnosis, ...
The afternoon, I decided to stay at home because I was very tired! I washed my clothes (not easy with a bassin), and the evening, I ha lots of fun with James! We went to funerals which taken place near to the house. On the island, when a person dies, people celebrate his death during 3 days and everybody can come! On thursday, 3 bodies arrived on the island from Mbita and all people was gathered to see those bodies! (Me, I can't😅).
