Day 19: Duly noted.

Today was my last day shadowing the wonderful doctors and nurses of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

Gynaecology Outpatients Waiting Room

I started in the Maternity Outpatients department, helping the nurses carry out glucose and protein tests in urine, glucose and HIV tests on blood and weighing babies (never seen so many babies in one place at one time! And so SMALL!). I also noticed that all the ladies with newborns were dressed similarly as it is traditional for Ghanaian women to wear black and white or blue and white printed cloth for up to six months following delivery.

Dr Mensah hard at work

I spent the rest of the week on the Obstetrics wards (with a few hours working in the Gynaecology clinic) shadowing the wonderful Dr Isaac (who has just graduated from medical school and started his first day on Obs & Gynae) and the fabulous Danny (who insists on calling me Miss Head Girl if I dare address him as Dr Mensah). It's inspiring to see how efficiently the two doctors work with the resources they have. They don't have an ultrasound machine to wheel around to listen to the foetal heartbeat so instead they have a rather archaic device called a pinard horn (you have got to Google it). All notes are taken by hand and an individual's medical history is kept in a folder.

No computer databases here.

In Ghana, "dress down friday" is also called "African Way" Friday so the doctors whip out these rather tasteful, bright shirts... (T.I.A... << see day 16!)

I cannot help but admire the determination and drive of these doctors considering what they have to work with. There's no doubt that they are often frustrated by the obstacles they face (as they're fully aware that in other parts of the world there are huge blood banks and multiple CT scanners within just one hospital, healthcare is free and there are endless supplies of stationery) but in spite of this, they continue to improvise with what they have, saving lives every day.


But most of all, they're brilliant people. Incredibly talented and ridiculously funny.

But it's what Danny said to me on my first day that I won't ever forget.

In response to my reaction at a patient's condition, he said,

"Hey.

Learn not to show emotion."


Duly noted Dr Mensah.


I mean, Danny.