Placement - So different & a little scary

So, I have now started my placement. It is a general hospital with a white building in the front, housing reception, assessment rooms and the diabetic and outpatient clinics. As I walk further back there is a courtyard housing the laboratory, pharmacy, payment window & offices. And at the back there is a newer building with 9 rooms, 6 doubles & 3 private rooms. However, the private rooms are always empty because no one can afford to stay there. Room 7 is where I keep my stuff locked in the closet, so obviously there is never anyone in there. The operating theatre is also in the back building though I have not seen a surgery yet. Doctors come from other hospitals to perform all scheduled surgeries on Saturdays. Our doctors only do emergency surgeries such as C-section’s, appendectomy’s, etc. I am planning on going in tomorrow to view a few of the scheduled surgeries, however most of my weekends are getting filled up with trips I am planning.
The beginning of my week was quite boring, I sat in on report, which luckily is mostly in English, except for when they go on random tangents. I then did ward rounds and took part in a few of the clinics (diabetic & CTC an HIV clinic), however I just stood there as they spoke in Swahili the whole time and didn’t explain to me what was going on.
Yesterday I was paired with an amazing nurse in the Reproductive & Child Health Clinic. She explained everything to me & we had a few good chats about Canada & our health care system. The children were adorable, ranging in age from 1 month to 4 years. They came to be weighed, & get their immunizations. This also gave us an opportunity to discuss family planning with the mothers. The clinic is also for expecting Mother’s, though this is a little sketchier as we determine the fetal heart rate by placing a metal cone type thing to the women’s belly & putting your ear to it. In fact, I couldn’t hear the heart rate at all & the calculate beats per minute without even looking at a watch…???
Today was a good day, I felt semi helpful. I worked on the inpatient ward, did rounds, inputed patient’s charges (they have to pay for service) into the computer & dispensed medications. Unfortunately, giving medications was the most frustrating experience as it took over 1.5 hours to give out approx. 12 medications. Everything here is very disorganized & takes years to get any work done.
We are currently looking at flights for Zanzibar Island for the weekend of August 1st. So excited!!! No big plans for this weekend so far. One of the volunteers just had a play structure built at the orphanage he is working at so we may go to help paint it this weekend. Other than that, surgery day tomorrow & relaxing Sunday.

Love & Miss you all. Hope you are all enjoy the summer weather at home.
Xo, Leah