Photos Dec 7-9: Ethiopia, coffee and Germany!

December 7-9

December 7-9, 2017

As usual, the middle of our week quickly moved to the end of the week!

We had ORs and clinics and evaluations at the School for the Deaf.  We left very late on Friday night; those of us flying into Philly were greeted by a surprise snow storm with close to 5 inches of snow!  Many of us enjoyed a layover in Frankfurt with a side trip to the little town of Russelsheim for coffee, pastry and a walk through the local market.  And of course, we brought lots of delicious Ethiopian coffee home with us!

Our week’s activities included 109 ENT patient evaluations, 28 ENT surgical cases, 15 Orthopedic surgical cases, 110 Audiology evaluations, 24 ear molds and 52 hearing aid evaluations.  We had 20 attendees in our Safe Peds Pediatric Anesthesia Refresher course. Not bad for a week’s work!  We already have dates set for our next trip in April!

Home Sweet Home!

But what is this white powdery stuff falling from the sky?!

Photos Dec 5-6

December 5-6, 2017

December 5-6, 2017

We have had a full and busy week so far.

Tuesday we had 7 ENT cases and 3 orthopedic surgical cases at Cure, our audiology team saw 33 new students at the School for the Deaf and did evaluations on their hearing.  On Wednesday, the Cure ENT team did 5 complex surgical cases, several orthopedic cases, and 2 of our surgeons went to a local Government hospital to assist the Ethiopian ENT surgeons with 4 surgical cases.  The audiology team continued evaluations at the School for the Deaf.

We completed our 3 day intensive review course in Pediatric Anesthesia for 21 anesthesia providers on Wednesday.  This course was designed specifically for low-income countries and is a superb refresher course.  We had 6 instructors and students of various levels of training.  It was enthusiastically received.

Thursday we will have surgical cases at Cure, follow up clinic at Cure, and educational session for the Ethiopian ENT residents, and a training for new instructors for our Pediatric Anesthesia course. 

We have had a chance to re-connect with old friends, make new friends and plan for future educational and clinical activities.

Dec 3-4 photos

December 3-4, 2017 Ethiopia

December 2017

The Healing the Children ENT team has arrived in Ethiopia! 

Our team consists of 4 ENT surgeons, 3 Audiologists, and OR nurse, our Executive Director, and me.  We have an Ethiopian Anesthesia resident joining us for our anesthesia teaching program, and a US anesthesia resident is here for the month also working at Cure and will be working along with us.  We hail from Philly and Pittsburgh, New Jersey, Delaware, Texas, Kansas City and Miami!  All of our travels were uneventful and everyone and everything arrived safely.

Sunday we relaxed, unpacked, picked up and moved equipment, did some touring, some of us went to church and generally enjoyed the 75 degree sunny weather. 

Monday was our first clinical and educational day.  The ENT and audiology teams saw patients at Cure.  Approximately 75 patient were evaluated in clinic, over 20 surgical procedures were scheduled for the week, 30 patients received audiology evaluations and 15 hearing aids were evaluated/distributed.  Cure is always a welcoming place to be and it was wonderful to see old friends. 

Two of our ENT surgeons also went to see patients at a local government hospital with the local ENT surgeons.

The anesthesia team conducted day 1 of a Pediatric Anesthesia refresher course developed jointly by the AAGBI (Association of Anesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland) and the WFSA (World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists).  This is designed as an intensive hands-on refresher course for low- income settings.  It is a well-organized course and is well received.  This course has only be given a few times in Ethiopia but is much needed.  There is a similar course for Obstetric Anesthesia which is being given in another part of Ethiopia this week.

We’ll enjoy some dinner and rest tonight.  Tomorrow – surgical cases at Cure, the audiologists will go to the School for the Deaf, and we’ll continue our pediatric anesthesia course.

Good morning from Ethiopia!

Our whole team arrived safely, with no issues!
Sleep was wonderful after 24+ hours of traveling, and Ethiopian coffee is delightful as well!
Today - some of us are going to church and then collecting equipment and setting up for the week for clinical activities and teaching.

On the road again!