Today is Saturday the 11th April. After being "incapacitated" for the past couple days, I was able to round with the team at the hospital. We saw a host of new admissions including a new HIV patient as well as a  female patient with chickenpox and possible HIV.  We also evaluated a patient with possible tetanus, who more likely has meningitis. Things are never clear!! Patients with diarrhea, anemia, malaria, venous snake bites, typhoid, and chronic liver disease fill the male and female wards.

Jeff  performed an I & D on a man who had cut himself with a saber used in clearing  the fields. The patient  developed an abscess as a result of his laceration involving the left posterior thigh. Surgical  technique was excellent-the abscess was incised and drained and appropriately packed. We hope the patient will improve significantly after this procedure. we continue to be amazed at the resilience of the patients and their tolerance for pain. We performed this I&D with only local lidocaine infiltration!!Even the women in labor seem to have their children with only a minor squeal.

After lunch the gang went to a local seamstress, Joyce, in the village and is having several articles made of the local fabric. Can't wait to see the results. Jeff and Brett purchased a surgical hat made made of local Ghanaian cloth.

 We continue to press on despite the fact that we at times are treating patients without a specific diagnosis. The usual battery of tests are not available - the most we have are a few limited tests whose results are questionable at best! In this part of the world, medicine is an act of intuition, guesswork, and faith. We hope our efforts and endeavors are beneficial despite our lack of appropriate tests and knowledge. 

We are learning a lot about the local customs and traditions including how people in this village play soccer. Brett has become an official member of the local soccer team. Who says white men can run!!