A morning at Rwankole

Rwankole is the hospital where Dana practices her pediatric skills two days a week, and sometimes more. I was invited to tag along with her morning rounds in the pediatric ward, and then observe her clinic appointments. My translator came along to translate for me. I guess no HIPA law concerns in the Congo…

Main entrance to Rwankole

Rwankole was across town, about 3-4 miles, and getting there was the most jarring 20 minute drive I have ever experienced. I was thinking as Dana drove, that there are worse roads than the ones around the school, and I sent pictures of the road conditions before I had done a proper survey. The hospital just built a new pediatric ward, so I was expecting, well I don’t know what I was expecting, but somehow a bit more than what I found…  The ward is a small building with one big room, and no medical equipment other than a scale for weighing, and some homemade IV poles.  In this room were a dozen or so metal


Pediatric ward

 

Mother watching her child being bathed by nurse

beds, each with a thin and well-worn plastic mat, a foam mattress and a bed sheet. Mothers were holding and rocking their sick children - the mothers take care of them, and cook their (and their child’s) meals outside and wash their clothes in plastic bins, as needed. No complaints on hospital food, I suspect. The walls were freshly painted, and the ward had the same poured concrete floor you find in nearly every building, including homes. With the dust, concrete floor are really the most practical, and sanitary too.

Nearly every child had malaria, most also had typhoid and worms. Dana asked about mosquito nets, and whether the child plays in the river, among other questions, a sure invitation for typhoid and worms. Most had enlarged liver and spleens from the worms, but fortunately there is medicine for all of these diseases. She spent time teaching the nursing students gathered round, for nurses provide most of the primary care in Congo. Dana says Rawnkole has a good reputation for providing good care; the difficulty is money to pay for the medicines, for so many are very poor. (For example, a brick maker / layer – a dual job because construction sites tend to make the bricks on site, and then use them for the building - earns about $5 a day, a lot of hard work for money that does not go very far.)

Next was Dana’s clinic appointments - only one that day. But I was invited into the exam room to observe, and when the visit was over, the mother took out a dollar or two, and gave it to Dana to pay for the visit. I certainly did not expect that! While Dana was checking on something, Ruth my translator took me over to view the maternity ward, and a few other areas of the hospital.  The maternity ward was donated by Finland.  It is a common sight to see the flags of other nations on schools and public service facilities, evidence of their donation, and sometimes I wonder if UNICEF, the UN, Samaritans’ Purse, Americare, and other charitable groups are the only employers here. So much damage done by the war… So much need… And there doesn't seem to be good solutions to all the problems.

 

Workmen were busy refurbishing the old pediatric ward.  And the hospital beds donated by Samaritan’s Purse finally cleared customs and were stacked outside, waiting for the ward to be ready.  I took a picture of them, as they are so Spartan looking, not like anything in America. But the internet is so spotty and weak right now, I cannot upload any more pictures.  I tried a few times, and decided better just to go ahead and post this.

 

Still no electricity (day 13) , and I am weighing my options for living once Dana and Ted leave for the US next Friday. (I will be here 7 more weeks on my own.)  There are options, but I am feeling a bit vulnerable.  For those who have asked, the computers are now safely on campus, but under lock and key of customs.  The rector (essentially the President of the school) is working his government contacts to get the issues resolved. I have no idea of the customs amount in play. But this is Congo, and it is what it is…