Miriwe (good afternoon)!
We are nearing the end of our journey here in Kibogora,
Rwanda. It is most assuredly bittersweet. We have been discussing the things
that will be among the first done once at home – most of which revolves around
food. We have also taken some downtime to reflect on our experiences here.
While in the hospital, each team member worked in the department that we hope
to match into. This has resulted in each of us having different encounters and
moments that will stay with us forever.
As a budding OB-Gyn, I have been working in the “maternitie” ward while
in Kibogora. Very much like in the United States, there is never a dull moment
in this department. It is mostly staffed by nurse-midwives with a doctor or two
on duty during the day. This hospital serves as the district hospital for 12
outlying health centers, the furthest of which is 2 hours by car. Thus, most of
the routine, non-operative deliveries occur in those facilities. Any delivery
that appears to be higher risk or requiring a c-section is sent, mostly by
ambulance, to Kibogora Hospital. As you can imagine, they do not have the
monitoring capabilities that we are afforded in the US. Remarkably, they
perform MANY more cesarian sections than we do. This greatly surprised me
considering the significant recovery time and the potential for complications.
They are very efficient with the supplies they have, and perform the deliveries
of many healthy babies each month. I
personally have assisted with or performed an average of 3-4 c-sections per day
while the midwives manned the labor unit.
The experiences I have had while in the hospital have
undoubtedly shaped me professionally. There have been moments of sheer pride,
moments of frustration, moments of uncertainty, and an occasional moment of
sadness. It is impossible to discount the presence of God in this place. Many
of these deliveries seem to surely result in poor outcomes while reading the
charts. However, by the grace of God, these women power through and, more often
than not, have happy, healthy babies. I am forever amazed at the pain and
sacrifice that mothers will go through for their children.
I am trying to wait until I return home to read the other
blog posts, but I am sure that my teammates have commented on the joy and
resiliency of the Rwandan people. They are truly nourished by their faith in the
Lord. He has blessed them with a beautiful landscape that abounds with
resources and fresh produce. They take tremendous pride in this gift, as the
streets are often lined with colorful plants and flowers. They spend many hours
a day tending to the landscape and to their agriculture. It is uncommon to
encounter litter around the areas we have seen. This weekend, we will be going
on a hike to see the chimpanzees. Supposedly, our guides will be clearing the
paths with machetes in order to lead us to the chimps. It will surely be
another exciting adventure.
As we wrap up this trip, please pray that we will finish
well. It is easy to shift our thoughts towards the obligations and events that
are waiting at home. However, we must be sure to use every moment we have to
share and work alongside fellow believers in this beautiful country.
“Then the righteous
will answer him, saying. ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or
thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you,
or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit
you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one
of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ “ Matthew 25:37-40
Amy Boone
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