Hospital

We cleaned out ganggreen(sp?) wounds today. We take a chunk out of someone's leg the size of a baseball and wrap it in a bandage. No alcohol or vasoline is applied. I do not understand why we even clean it out because there is zero chance of healing. It always leads to amputation. People have major surgery and only lidocaine is used. We cut done to the bone and the patient is strapped down screaming in pain. As far as the surgery is concerned, I guess spending more money on pain relief means someone has to go without things like alcohol and proper care. I do not feel there is much excuse for the ganggreen though, they usually prescribe vitamin C (no antibiotics). It can be excused away on many levels. The level of cleanliness cannot however. At anytime there are ten nurses standing around joking and sheets go unchanged for days. People bleed, urinate, vomit, etc. on the sheets and lay in it for days. Everyone has cell phones though and answers them during anytime except surgery (but I have seen that done a couple times in my few days here). Again, lack of medical supplies can be excused but lack of cleanliness cannot. The shame is if you try and add alcohol yourself they scold and ask what you are doing. You have to take directions without questioning, they don't want the young American telling them what to do. Besides that I am adapting well to the food and climate. I am still very happy to be here :)

Arrival (been here 6 days)

Well I am extremely happy to be here. It was my second day at the hospital and I helped with actual surgeries. A young man was in a automobile accident and I held him open while the doctor operated, I actually held his intestines and other organs too. We stopped internal bleeding and removed his ruptured spleen. I will be able to do more and more the longer I am here. I am only assigned to work from 8 to 1, but I work all day and am scheduled to work all day everyday. We do medical outreach at the local schools on Thursdays. The smallest cut can lead to a massive infection and amputation. A couple of bandages and some alcohol could save a person's limb. Deeply moving and extremely depressing. That in part is why I am so happy to be here because I actually accomplish good everyday that I could never accomplish in the states. I will have so much to tell in the following weeks about the hospital, but now a quick overview of Ghana. The health and food is HORRIBLE. I bought beans at the market and the people I am staying with had never seen them before. No one with any money eats any fresh produce, it is the cheapest food. Fruit is readily available (3 oranges .20$, 3 bananas .20$, huge coconuts .35$, etc.). The locals do not eat it though. Mangos and coco are grown all over but you cannot buy them. Major companies buy them and sell them abroad. Signs that read "feel good everyday, drink guiness!" and chocolate crap powder with "actigen-e" is the food of "future champions". I must go but I will post more when I can.

Anticipation

Just started this blog. Cannot wait for the trip....