My photo “A Quest For Healthcare in Ethiopia” was selected by juror Peter Turnley to be included in the “Culture” show at the Darkroom Gallery in Essex Junction, Vermont. The show opens March 3, with reception held on March 19.
Tag Archives: Gimbie Hospital
Ethiopia: End Of The Day
Our last day stretches long, and we can’t sleep. We have a 10 hour drive ahead of us in the morning, but all we can do is walk around the surgeon’s house and find mindless things to do. Where is that coffee mug? Did you get a photo of the view outside from the porch? Should we freeze our water we will take in the vehicle? What should we pack for lunch? Where is the headlight I just set down?
It is all nervous energy to diffuse our real feelings: we are not ready to leave. We all agree that we have only scratched the surface regarding how we can help this hospital do its vitally important work.
Ethiopia: A Midwife’s Role
I ask Paul Howe, the administrator of Gimbie Hospital, what he thinks the hospital needs most. More midwives is their #1 priority. If a woman has pre-natal care, signs of difficult pregnancies can be detected early and prolapse or fistulas can be prevented.
Paul would like to see more skilled midwives coming to Gimbie to train local midwives how to make these detections. Marie, seen here with a patient in labor, is exhausted by the intensity of her work days, yet she consistently soothes each patient with an energetic and loving hand.
Anna, a fundraiser who traveled with us, fills in where needed, quickly learning techniques to comfort a woman in labor.
Ethiopia: Pre-Organization
A significant amount of prep work is occurring during these final days before we leave for Ethiopia, Everyone wants the operating schedule to flow smoothly, so there is much dialog circling about the organization of the flow of patients. Scott, the person who is in charge of the Gimbie Hospital operating room, sent this email today:
The OB/GYN surgeons at Gimbie will be Dr. Tekle (Ethiopian, Maternity World Wide) and Dr. Leonie ( UK , Maternity World Wide). I do want to assure you that our surgeons will make all efforts to appropriately follow up on each patient.
Our operating room is set up with two operating theatres. Most general surgeries and C/S are performed in OR 1. We will use OR 2 for the UVP surgeries, since it has the only OR table where a patient can be placed in a lithotomic position. I apologize that this table is very old and not the most convenient, but it is all we have. Portable lighting is the only available lighting in OR 2, and is not the most desirable.
I appreciate that your team is bringing instruments, drapes, and gowns, since all of these items are at a premium here. Our instruments are old, and our drapes and gowns are still laundered by hand. We are also having a difficult time obtaining the necessary sutures in Ethiopia at this time. I was glad to hear that you would be able to bring those supplies, as well. If any mesh material is needed in the surgeries, it also must be brought from the States, since this too is difficult to find.
At this time, we have three Ethiopian nurses that assist, and four other personnel that can circulate, and two nurse anesthetists. Since charting is minimal, the room turn over is quite fast. We have extra personnel to clean and ready the room in about 15 minutes post surgery. Our limiting factors are making sure the patient is admitted and is NPO the night before. It is also difficult to perform elective surgeries between the sacred Ethiopian lunchtime that ranges from 12 to 2pm every day. Currently, our whole OR team is new and still training, so that must also be added to the equation. But I must say they are all enjoyable to work with and willing to learn.
Ethiopia: Medical Mission Trip
In a few weeks, I will be joining a team of doctors in Ethiopia to document their surgical work on prolapse cases in this country. We also will be documenting fistula situations in hopes of bringing more doctors to Ethiopia to teach preventative surgeries and perform repair surgeries. OHSU is considering the feasibility of setting up a rotation of doctors to hospitals in Ethiopia.
In addition to the medical imagery, I will focus on the overall culture and will continue my efforts with relaying the importance of sports in developing countries. The Fitness Director from the Physical Education Department at the University of Oregon will be going on this trip and I will be able to document some foot races and soccer matches that are being coordinated by Ethiopians near Gimbie.
Our travels will take us to Bahirdar, Addis Ababa and Gimbie, as well as to some rural clinics in small villages.
Many thanks to Pro Photo Supply for their support with the photographic gear and printing aspect of this field study.
