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 :)