Friday, November 14, 2014

Africa Mercy - Where Are They? One Nurse's Journey



I continue to be impressed with the Africa Mercy team. That screenings of patients can even progress seems a complete, utter miracle to me. About 2000 possible patients came to sign up for surgeries on the first day. Can you imagine? And apparently, there were fewer cataract patients than anticipated. Where are they, she wonders. .........Sharon 


(This is a running email post written by a volunteer nurse serving on the Africa Mercy, a hospital ship that travels the African coast).



"Where Are They?"
12 November 2014,
Madagascar

We've been in country for a little over 2 weeks now, and the activity has been fast and furious, getting ready for surgery. Our first surgeries--orthopedics and general (goiters and tumors)--started today. You could almost hear the collective sigh of "at last, we're doing what we came to do." It's really a red-letter day for us all.

On the eye team, our fortunes have been mixed. We have a wonderful group of day crew, twelve Malagasy men and women. Their collective level of English comprehension is much better than what we usually get at the beginning of field service, and their work ethic is excellent. We have been struggling to find time to teach them all that they need to know, but when we do teach, they seem to learn quickly. They are an educated group, used to learning new things, and they ask good questions.

What pulls the team in multiple directions are the competing demands of various tasks that need to be done ASAP. We needed to
unload the container of supplies, of course, and bring some semblance of order to the peri-op room. We needed to power wash a very dirty room in the warehouse on the dock for future eye team
use. Next week we'll need to haul all our supplies and equipment
to the clinic building that is currently still under renovation, and get that facility set up.

Another thing we needed to accomplish was to get various teaching
materials translated into Malagasy. The day crew translated the
different documents, and I typed them. It took about four revisions to get rid of all the mistakes--it's very interesting to type in a language you don't understand. It made me realize how much I sight read in English, and proofread as I go along.

Apart from training the day crew, the biggest task for the week was
screening for potential patients. Unlike previous years, this year
they decided not to do a "main screening" day in which thousands of people assemble to be screened for surgeries for the entire field
service. Instead, we have established a permanent screening site and we're screening daily for the whole month of November. On the
first day, about 2000 people came. Since then, the crowds have
diminished in size but increased in "quality," meaning that more of
those who come are actually good surgical candidates. They must be reading the posters, or the word is getting out from those who came earlier in the week. For most surgeries, it seems, there are
plenty of people needing the type of help that we can give, and the
daily screening is going well.

That hasn't been the experience of the eye team, however. We've
been screening every day--indeed, one day we were screening at two places simultaneously--but we haven't been finding very many people with cataracts. In fact, the demographics say that there aren't all that many old people around, and for the most part, cataracts are a function of age. Add to that, this town is a third the size of Pointe Noire, which itself was small compared to most of the
ports where we work, and there is a local doctor who has been doing cataract surgeries for the past number of years. Hum...are there patients out there that we just haven't found, or are they really not there? Will we find enough patients to fill the surgery
schedule for the first surgeon, scheduled to come on December 1?
How should we tweak our program to increase our ability to find the patients?

And so, we are underway...and we are not. Have you ever tried to
row a rowboat away from the dock while it is still tied up? That's
a little of what these two weeks have felt like. We're paddling like mad...but are we making progress? When you look at tasks
accomplished, we've done a lot. But when you look at actually lining up surgeries, not so much. And so, for most of the ship, the waiting game is over, but for the eye team, we're still very much in limbo, waiting to see how it all shakes out. If you are the praying type, please pray that we'll find the patients who need cataract surgery, and pray for wisdom for those in authority who are having to make decisions about what to do next.

Don't you love the drama? It's beginning to feel like chasing a mirage. "Normal" surgery schedule is so close...just out of reach...just over the horizon...coming soon, to a port near me--I
hope.
--
Marilyn Neville
 

[Click here to learn more about the nurses and doctors on board the Africa Mercy.]


 

6 comments:

  1. Hi Sharon - thank you for posting Marilyn's latest update .. fascinating to read - and I wonder how it all turns out ... interesting there's a doctor already helping those with cataracts ... but all the work and the scheduling .. typing in another language must be challenging .. I definitely don't sight read that much now-a-days ... Very informative - cheers Hilary

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    Replies
    1. I think there are other groups around like Doctors without Borders but not sure who. It stands to reason there are lots interested in volunteering their service. The need is so great in that country! Thanks for commenting, Hilary.

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  2. It is cold outside, yet I am in a warm home with hot coffee and a cookie by my side. I read Marilyn's report and feel guilty about having comfort surround me. In my book I am rather poor but someone else might think I am filthy rich. It's humbling to realize, again how fortunate my life has been. I have no complaints that are worthy to be spoken.

    Halfway around the world this woman has given her life to help others in a most compassionate way. And I love the way she writes about her journey. There's every level of drama there or appears to be waiting around the bend.

    Sharon this is amazing to me. Thank you very much for assisting her with the telling of a great service to those who otherwise do without. Kind regards.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Dixie. I agree. I too find it humbling when my life in comparison is so secure, with healthcare available when I need it and resources only a car drive away. These people walk to obtain such services and often stand in line for hours. It's amazing to me. I'm just thankful there are people like Marilyn who can devote their time and energy (she is one of many!). Thanks for your support and kind remarks!

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  3. What a journey and a selfless task. I hope the people who need their help, especially for eye surgery, find them. It seems like, amidst the chaos, they are very well organized

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  4. Yes, I totally agree. Watching their journey over time, I think they have finely tuned the process a bit more with each stop. They are so dedicated in providing the best of care. I have nothing but respect for all they do. Thanks, Birgit!

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You could call me an eternal optimist, but I'm really just a dreamer. l believe in dream fulfillment, because 'sometimes' dreams come true. This is a blog about my journey as a writer and things that inspire and motivate me.