Ethiopia April 10

Photos Tuesday and Wendnesday

Wednesday

It has been a crazy few days here.  You would think that by our 10^th trip to Ethiopia everything would be old hat.  Not so. 

We have had a busy few days.  Tuesday we did OR and clinic at Cure.  Wednesday we had OR at Cure and our audiology team went to the Makanessa School for the Deaf where we see all of the students and evaluate their hearing.  We had 4 ENT surgical cases today and 4 orthopaedic cases, and that took all day. 

On Tuesday afternoon our two anesthesia residents and CRNA had a tour of Black Lion Hospital with one of the Ethiopian anesthesia residents.  Today the two anesthesia residents went to see a local government hospital.  It was an eye opening experience to say the last.  We readily take so much for granted in the US.

Most of our team had dinner at our favorite local Korean restaurant tonight.

But most importantly, after the President of Healing the Children spent the last three days at the Addis Ababa airport, we finally got our four bags out of customs today!!!!!!!

Dr. Glenn and I have been meeting with lots of people who want us to provide services to them.  We are constantly trying to figure out the best way to do so.  It is a difficult thing to figure out.  It seems to work best when we can find a way to help Ethiopians get what they need, but it isn’t always an easy thing to accomplish.

Time for bed.  

Yay!!!

We finally got our bags tonight!!!!!!!!

Tuesday

It is midnight here in Ethiopia, just now finding time to write this. A busy day in the OR and clinic. Our bags are still hostage in customs. Most of the team went to a traditional Ethiopian restaurant with dinner and dancing. Some visited the university hospital. Tomorrow - OR and school for the deaf and maybe the Korean restaurant.

Photos April 7

Monday April 7

Monday April 7, 2014

We had a full first day today.  After breakfast, we all headed to Cure Hospital.  Three members of the ENT team saw about 40 patients in the clinic.  The audiologist saw about 15 patients, did audiograms and fit hearing aids.  Dr. Winnie did two ear surgeries today for children who to the School for the Deaf that we support.  We were going to do a third, but it took a while to get the equipment and supplies organized.

Our anesthesia team took care of all of the OR cases:  the two ears and 8 orthopaedic cases.  We had an Ethiopian Black Lion anesthesia resident and three Master’s anesthetist students in addition to Cure’s anesthetist and Dr. Mary.  We had a lot of good educational opportunities and had some complex cases. 

Tonight our Healing the Children anesthesia team is having dinner with Dr. Mary and the Black Lion anesthesia residents.  Tomorrow – cases and clinic.

It is beautiful here this afternoon – blue sky, cool breeze.  There were thunderstorms yesterday afternoon and evening, but I think they are done for the week.  This is the small rainy period before the full rainy season this summer.