From what I understand (which is very little by the way, don't take the following words as gospel, this is what I picked up at a time when I was trying not to start sobbing my eyes out), the hospital is one of the leading ones of its kind and is pioneering a new method of treating hydrocephalus.
It has a really high mortality rate here because there just aren't the facilities in Africa. There's somewhere in South Africa but that was pretty much it as far as I'm aware. If it isn't treated, it can lead to brain damage and eventually death in 50% of cases.
I was privileged to be shown around the hospital a few days ago so I could see for myself the work they did there. It was without a doubt the most heart breaking, inspiring and humbling experience of my life.
The first thing that struck me when I was how many mothers and babies were in the recovery room, but how little noise there was. Eerily so. I was in that ward for about 5 minutes talking to the nurses and very, very few of the babies cried the whole time. It was quite unnerving and uncomfortable in a way. I still can't figure out why the not crying thing bothered me so much, but it really did. I was fighting a lump in my throat the whole way round.
I reckon there were about 20 pairs of mother and child altogether, with each pair sharing a bed. Some babies were tiny and looked no more than a few weeks old whilst others looked around seven / eight-ish.
They had not long had surgery so still had their dressings on and their heads were still really swollen. Apparently, it can take a few days for the water to drain.
We then went into the ICU. And if I thought the recovery room was tough going, man this was something else. I can't even begin to find the right words to describe how heart wrenching it was to see these three tiny little babies who had just been operated on, bandaged up and hooked onto heart monitors.
One of them was absolutely tiny and had his mother there. I've been thinking a lot about her since seeing her as she looked no older than about 18. I just wanted to grab her and give her a massive cwtch.
Mothers (very few dads come apparently) travel with their babies from all over Africa to be treated here and the fantastic news is that success rate is really high.
The surgeons, nurses, director and staff there are all phenomenal. I have so much gratitude and respect for them. They amaze me with their skill and incredible ability to completely change the course someone's life.
My current housemates are both neuro surgeons and have come here to train in this new method - one from Malawi and one from Mali - so before long, there should be more places in Arica offering this treatment. Apparently there are some American surgeons coming over next month to stay here too.
Wonder if they're fit young men...?
Lots of love,
Xxx
http://cure.org/hospitals/uganda
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