PNG diary (till got lazy)
PNG elective
December 15, 2008
After arriving in Port Moresby I felt immediately uncomfortable. It has been a while and I had totally forgotten what it felt like to be in the complete minority. I was a tall white man amongst a very large population of Papuans. I had forgotten how people do look at me just a little bit different when I am the outsider, and very obvious about it, really no good way to blend in. Deciding to save a couple hundred Kina I went with the less expensive accommodation, after all I was only going to be there for the night. Then as I catch the shuttle and everywhere people are walking around, I do mean everywhere, people were just out. It was around 2pm too, so midday. Decided it would be better not to ask the shuttle driver why everyone wasn’t at work. Then as we get to neighborhoods there is barbed wire on every fence around every house. Yeah that made me a whole lot more comfortable. We get to the Comfort Inn, the guards open the massive barb wired gate and we pull in. Checking in goes smoothly, the front dude is very nice and shows me to my room. The place is quite gorgeous, a pool, and local plants growing all around a courtyard. OK room, air con, which is wonderful. Then I ask if it is safe to go to the grocery store, which the front desk dude assures me it absolutely is, but do you want an escort, to which I say no, because he said it was perfectly safe. As I walked, I passed an open area with stands selling stuff, not exactly sure what, I didn’t take the time to check because I felt like I had the last Ice cream bar at fat camp. Much more attention than I am usedc to getting and or really want to get. Nothing happened, but it was a strange feeling.
December 16, 2008
The next day I flew to Madang, a quick one hour flight, through a bit of rough skies, but a good flight. My plan: get a cab to Hospital. Reality: No cabs to be seen. I hate to admit this, but I singled out the white guy and asked him for help. Fortunately he is a professor at the college which is across from the hospital and he would be happy to drop me off (Divine Word: gotta love the Christians and their need to help) Of course when I arrive at the hospital around 5pm the only place open is the emergency department who of course have no idea who I am or what I’m doing. But they are very nice and help me get the ambulance to take me to the hotel down the street, good I saved money before cause of course only room available is 360 Kina. Oh well, it was easy and absolutely gorgeous. On the water, pool, bar, restaurant and although not actually settled was able to relax and enjoy a beer.
December 17, 2008
Up early and head to hospital. Got accommodation, there is a family living under it I think, but bed, shower, and kitchen, what else do I need, the family is just a bonus I guess. Head to ED because that is why I am here. It is bare bones. Mostly older equipment, I was told today they ran out of sterile gloves recently, but they do what they can, which is a lot it sounds like. Suture up a knife lac on the top of a 15 year old kid, reused ECG buttons to trace a younger guys heart, and oh yes, helped hold a kids head down while the 2 cm forehead lac was sutured. Almost forgot to mention that to help stop the bleeding the mother had held a kerosene (yes kerosene) soaked rag against it. Not sure how much it helped with the bleeding but it certainly calmed the kid down. The mom brought the rag in to the suture room and by the end I was pretty calm too. Kid wasn’t, but who can blame him, one internal and 3 external stitches. Also helped plaster a Monteggia fracture-dislocation, which will go to theatre tomorrow morning. Not a bad day.
Still feeling a little awkward about going around, will need to suck it up and go to town tomorrow, on local bus…Am told it is safe, just don’t be out after dark, and if mugged, it’s not cause I’m white, it can happen to anyone. Should be good, will have time in hospital, and may not have much else to do but study at night. Will also have to check out diving situation for the weekends.
Thursday December 18, 2008
Pretty mellow. Sutured a nearly avulsed L pointer finger with distal phalangeal # after doing a digital block. Pretty much on my own. Suture needle was too small, but still managed. Also watched 2 plantar warts removed. Both under LA (local anaesthetic) totally would be theatre material in OZ or US. ED “reg” is happy to do them though, pretty major excisions. Also saw a lady come in with delayed 2nd stage of labor, most thought baby would be dead, but U/S showed heart beat, so they took her in for an emergency C section. The locals are very tolerant of pain so far, they will put up with a whole lot without any complaints. Very stark contrast to Nepean, where I have seen grown men damn near cry or withdraw in pain from a mere 30 gauge needle for LA. Did manage to go to town to get groceries, still not feeling super comfortable. Nancy the housing lady said she would take me to the proper markets later on this week if I want. Should be much better selection, I don’t think grocery stores are used like we use them.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Girls (Kate and Edwina) showed up today after running away from a dysfunctional Wewak. The staff here were very helpful in terms of letting them come and finding them a place to stay. Not a whole lot done in ED. Couple of #’s that needed plastering. Felt the doughy abdomen of TB infected mesentery, incision and drainage of infected insect bite to finger after digital block (on my own), attempted to drain 4 cm mass on 60+ year old woman’s lower thoracic back region. No LA, but lady very tolerant, especially since I didn’t actually drain anything. Asked Dr. VA opinion and he just got artery clip and went in deeper, old lady screaming, no pus, but he says she will be happy because she knows he did something since it hurt à Pain = Treatment. Wouldn’t go over too well in Sydney. Am working on pidgeon, couple of phrases here and there. Mostly if said slow words are derived from English and kind of make since. If fever and unwell = Malaria here. Given treatment, then follow up if not better. Took girls to Madang lodge for beer and dinner. We were walking back when white couple pulled over and offered a ride for the 3 blocks, they encouraged us not to ever walk around at night, especially Friday, even in a group. Interesting contrast from the locals opinion of don’t walk alone at night. Is always good to get outsiders opinion, locals don’t want to think it isn’t safe, plus, it is safe for them.
December 15, 2008
After arriving in Port Moresby I felt immediately uncomfortable. It has been a while and I had totally forgotten what it felt like to be in the complete minority. I was a tall white man amongst a very large population of Papuans. I had forgotten how people do look at me just a little bit different when I am the outsider, and very obvious about it, really no good way to blend in. Deciding to save a couple hundred Kina I went with the less expensive accommodation, after all I was only going to be there for the night. Then as I catch the shuttle and everywhere people are walking around, I do mean everywhere, people were just out. It was around 2pm too, so midday. Decided it would be better not to ask the shuttle driver why everyone wasn’t at work. Then as we get to neighborhoods there is barbed wire on every fence around every house. Yeah that made me a whole lot more comfortable. We get to the Comfort Inn, the guards open the massive barb wired gate and we pull in. Checking in goes smoothly, the front dude is very nice and shows me to my room. The place is quite gorgeous, a pool, and local plants growing all around a courtyard. OK room, air con, which is wonderful. Then I ask if it is safe to go to the grocery store, which the front desk dude assures me it absolutely is, but do you want an escort, to which I say no, because he said it was perfectly safe. As I walked, I passed an open area with stands selling stuff, not exactly sure what, I didn’t take the time to check because I felt like I had the last Ice cream bar at fat camp. Much more attention than I am usedc to getting and or really want to get. Nothing happened, but it was a strange feeling.
December 16, 2008
The next day I flew to Madang, a quick one hour flight, through a bit of rough skies, but a good flight. My plan: get a cab to Hospital. Reality: No cabs to be seen. I hate to admit this, but I singled out the white guy and asked him for help. Fortunately he is a professor at the college which is across from the hospital and he would be happy to drop me off (Divine Word: gotta love the Christians and their need to help) Of course when I arrive at the hospital around 5pm the only place open is the emergency department who of course have no idea who I am or what I’m doing. But they are very nice and help me get the ambulance to take me to the hotel down the street, good I saved money before cause of course only room available is 360 Kina. Oh well, it was easy and absolutely gorgeous. On the water, pool, bar, restaurant and although not actually settled was able to relax and enjoy a beer.
December 17, 2008
Up early and head to hospital. Got accommodation, there is a family living under it I think, but bed, shower, and kitchen, what else do I need, the family is just a bonus I guess. Head to ED because that is why I am here. It is bare bones. Mostly older equipment, I was told today they ran out of sterile gloves recently, but they do what they can, which is a lot it sounds like. Suture up a knife lac on the top of a 15 year old kid, reused ECG buttons to trace a younger guys heart, and oh yes, helped hold a kids head down while the 2 cm forehead lac was sutured. Almost forgot to mention that to help stop the bleeding the mother had held a kerosene (yes kerosene) soaked rag against it. Not sure how much it helped with the bleeding but it certainly calmed the kid down. The mom brought the rag in to the suture room and by the end I was pretty calm too. Kid wasn’t, but who can blame him, one internal and 3 external stitches. Also helped plaster a Monteggia fracture-dislocation, which will go to theatre tomorrow morning. Not a bad day.
Still feeling a little awkward about going around, will need to suck it up and go to town tomorrow, on local bus…Am told it is safe, just don’t be out after dark, and if mugged, it’s not cause I’m white, it can happen to anyone. Should be good, will have time in hospital, and may not have much else to do but study at night. Will also have to check out diving situation for the weekends.
Thursday December 18, 2008
Pretty mellow. Sutured a nearly avulsed L pointer finger with distal phalangeal # after doing a digital block. Pretty much on my own. Suture needle was too small, but still managed. Also watched 2 plantar warts removed. Both under LA (local anaesthetic) totally would be theatre material in OZ or US. ED “reg” is happy to do them though, pretty major excisions. Also saw a lady come in with delayed 2nd stage of labor, most thought baby would be dead, but U/S showed heart beat, so they took her in for an emergency C section. The locals are very tolerant of pain so far, they will put up with a whole lot without any complaints. Very stark contrast to Nepean, where I have seen grown men damn near cry or withdraw in pain from a mere 30 gauge needle for LA. Did manage to go to town to get groceries, still not feeling super comfortable. Nancy the housing lady said she would take me to the proper markets later on this week if I want. Should be much better selection, I don’t think grocery stores are used like we use them.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Girls (Kate and Edwina) showed up today after running away from a dysfunctional Wewak. The staff here were very helpful in terms of letting them come and finding them a place to stay. Not a whole lot done in ED. Couple of #’s that needed plastering. Felt the doughy abdomen of TB infected mesentery, incision and drainage of infected insect bite to finger after digital block (on my own), attempted to drain 4 cm mass on 60+ year old woman’s lower thoracic back region. No LA, but lady very tolerant, especially since I didn’t actually drain anything. Asked Dr. VA opinion and he just got artery clip and went in deeper, old lady screaming, no pus, but he says she will be happy because she knows he did something since it hurt à Pain = Treatment. Wouldn’t go over too well in Sydney. Am working on pidgeon, couple of phrases here and there. Mostly if said slow words are derived from English and kind of make since. If fever and unwell = Malaria here. Given treatment, then follow up if not better. Took girls to Madang lodge for beer and dinner. We were walking back when white couple pulled over and offered a ride for the 3 blocks, they encouraged us not to ever walk around at night, especially Friday, even in a group. Interesting contrast from the locals opinion of don’t walk alone at night. Is always good to get outsiders opinion, locals don’t want to think it isn’t safe, plus, it is safe for them.
posted by Trained Monkey at 3:13 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home