From A to Z: August 2018 travels

Last day in Lusaka Our welcoming committee was also our farewell committee.  We will miss these Sisters! A very special thank you to Sister Margaret Mweshi who runs the hospital, arranged our stay and will be coordinating our student placements in Zambia.

Friday, August 17th This morning was spent in the theater, otherwise known as the operating room.  A few hours spent on a vehicular accident with multiple fractures.   This was day two of fracture repair.  Today was a splintered tibia and a compound ankle fracture involving a talar fractue.  Very effective team effort and skills of two excellent surgeons: Professor Mulla and Dr. Patrick Kinda. Dinner out with Dr. Patrick at Zoran Cafe the Levy Mall. 

A visit to African Christian University meeting with the Vice Chancellor Dr. Ken Turnbull. A wonderful visit to Dr. Dhally and Mrs. Christine Menda's home and out to dinner.  Amazing work done by Mrs.Menda in their foundation, Rural Children's Hope ( www.hoperch.org ).

August 15th Beit Cure Hospital is a moderately sized hospital (67 beds) that serves children for free and offers specialized adult services in orthopedics and ENT.  It is much like the SJP II model where adult paid services help fund the free pediatric services.  It is located in North Lusaka Busy physiotherapy department with 3 physiotherapists that our students may be able to go to in the future.  They have several clinics they run including clubfoot, wheelchair and CP clinics. Mr. Ian making hand splints for a young girl.  Also observed him casting a toddler for club feet. Orthotics construction and equipment manufacturing

August 11th We started a long weekend trip to Livingstone.  It was an adventure taking the bus.  We had multiple stops for cows and goats in the road, sometimes road conditions and one bus breakdown...but it was well worth the time.  An added bonus was food vendors at each stop. This officially tops the list of the most amazing things I've seen.  No words can describe the expansive majesty of it all. A day game drive before heading back to Lusaka on Tuesday.

August 10th Fairview Hospital is a privately owned smaller hospital which contrasts the public and non profit institutions. Our final stop was Coptic Hospital which is a member of CHAZ.  It was newly constructed over the demolished building through donations of its sponsoring churches.  It just opened in June of this year.  It is approximately 150 beds including ICUs.  Not all floors are completed but are in finishing touches.  We met with Dr. Joseph Edward.

August 10th University Teaching Hospital is associated with the University of Zambia and is a complex that contains 5 different government run hospitals:  The Eye Hospital, Children's Hospital,  Adult Hospital, Mother and Child Hospital and Cancer Diseases Hospital. The Children's Hospital has a wide range of services including outreach programs. The adult hospital houses the main physiotherapy department.  It has two connected areas:  individual treatment rooms and a gym area Mr. Francis Mwila is the head of the clinical department at UTH.  He oversees approximately 30 hysiotherapists. Mr. Peter Phiri a physiotherapy faculty member The Cancer Diseases Hospital ministers to surrounding countries

August 10th Friday was an education packed day with 4 separate hospital visits First visit was to Cardinal Adam Memorial Hospital serving a low income area in Lusaka.  It is a very small hospital.  Screening and primary care are the emphasis.  

August 9th You have 3 new roommates.  Check out the Trombone Shorty t-shirt!

August 9th It wasn't quite the planned agenda but very interesting.  I met the Minister of Community Development and Child/Mother Health, Emerine Kabanshi and another cabinet member ("the commandant") in a projects report meeting at St. John Paul II Hospital.  Watched politics in action and learned so much about the government. Visited the CHAZ distribution center and viewed the much anticipated site for the St. John Paul II Rehabilitation Hospital which would be the first in the nation.

August 8-9th Main Entrance                                   New addition Physiotherapy department  (2 floors)                       Private treatment area Gym area                                                     Wheelchairs! Patient Room Prosthetics and Orthotics Department Lunch with the Sisters  

August 8th    On the other side is the flat where students will stay.  Our flights were delayed out of Chicago so we were delayed arriving in Zambia.  We have a feeling our luggage didn't make the switch in Ethiopia.  Hope to get the bags later today.  weather is beautiful - in the 80's.

Leaving Chicago on August 6th

We have a day left before leaving and everyone is packed and ready to go. So excited to begin a new adventure from America to Zambia.