Impressions and First day on the Job

Greeting's, After three days of travel I have finally arrived at Bwindi Community Hospital in Western Uganda. The Last leg of the journey was a 10 hour car ride across central Uganda to the western edge of the country. On the way we went through Queen Elizabeth National Park and I got to see my first wild elephant, Hippo, and baboons all at 50 mph as we were bouncing down a very rough dirt road. I was excited but also exhausted by the time I arrived at Bwindi.

 

I'm staying at a guest house a very short walk from the hospital. The house is very comfortable and reminds me of living at Camp Perkins with it's concrete floors, foam mattresses and bunk beds. There is also a kitchen, library of medical and non medical reading, and indoor plumbing with shower. A word on coffee: it's amazing! I thought I would be able to kick or curb my coffee habit but being in a country who's major export is coffee may only make things worse. The food is good; locally grown potatoes, squash, and pineapples.

 I had my first day at the hospital today which was very interesting and somewhat intemedating. After an orientation I started seeing patients in the inpatient ward. It is split into a mens and women's side. Each side is a dormitory style room with beds wherever there is space with isolation rooms off the larger room. A small/cramped room divides the mens and women's sides and is used by nurses, physicians, and students. It also serves as storage for clinical supplies and some drugs. The hospital staff I met today were very welcoming and willing to show me where things were and how the system worked.

It will take some time but I'm sure in a week or two I'll be a little less intimidated by the newness of everything. Much more to follow. Hope you enjoyed the pictures. This evening local teenagers started up an intense game of volleyball.