Prepping for Malawi
Preparations have been on-going for many months.
First of all, I had to locate a hospital that accepted volunteers for short term placements. At this point in my life, I am only able to be away from Canada for a month. St Gabriel's Hospital in Namitete does have month long rotations, and after a formal application process, I was accepted!
A physician friend spent a month at this same hospital in early 2011 and was very positive about the experience. She filled me in with details and answered many questions I had. Ultimately, I feel it's going to be a great experience.
Of course I have been reading for some time about the political and health care systems and aid situation in Malawi. I know that even a short amount of assistance will be of value in view of nursing and doctor shortages.
This will be the first Christmas ever to be away from family, but I cannot think of a better way to give back, to those who are ill and need so much. I am very fortunate to have a loving and supportive family who will celebrate "our family Christmas" in January.
A visit to a travel clinic (anti-malarial drug and HIV prophylaxis - main additions to previous inoculations), was followed by picking an airline route, and drawing up a medical supplies list. The hospital was contacted regarding any specific needs and responded with a request for gloves and I.V. starts. I have a number of colleagues in the Canadian health care business and have been able to access some very useful supplies, all donated. A special thank-you to Dr. Ken Taylor and his wife Denise from St. Catharines, Ontario, amazing humanitarians who stockpile donated medical supplies and along with their team of volunteers, were most helpful in fulfilling my requests for supplies.
I have also visited the U.of T. medical library to purchase new medical texts for nurses and tropical medicine texts for me!
Reading the Annual Report for St. Gabriel's has been very instructive. I am aware of the most common medical issues to present in the community and have been reading up on current treatments.
Since I currently practice as a mental health counsellor (but previously worked in I.C.U. and taught R.N. students in clinical medicine), I decided I needed a refresher in I.V./Venipuncture skills and Head to Toe Assessment. It was quite a surprise, after several years hiatus, to spend a couple of days in a local E.R. and observe the new technological changes and highly skilled work of the fast moving nursing staff. I am expecting that nursing care in Malawi will be quite different, more primary care focused, but I am now better prepared for I.V. therapies.
Then there are the Comfort Dolls! I have been so fortunate to be on the receiving end of a number of talented knitters from western Canada who have sent over 80 hand knitted dolls, to be given to children in the hospital. The dolls will be fitted into any spare room I have amongst all my supplies. What fun it will be to see tham pop out of my suitcases like jack-in-the-boxes when I open them in Malawi. I can't thank the knitters anough.
A number of friends have donated money to be used at my discretion for some form of self-sustainable aid to children and/or women. I will be on the look-out for the best way to use the money and plan to be in consultation with medical staff to find where needs are greatest.
The anticipation grows!
First of all, I had to locate a hospital that accepted volunteers for short term placements. At this point in my life, I am only able to be away from Canada for a month. St Gabriel's Hospital in Namitete does have month long rotations, and after a formal application process, I was accepted!
A physician friend spent a month at this same hospital in early 2011 and was very positive about the experience. She filled me in with details and answered many questions I had. Ultimately, I feel it's going to be a great experience.
Of course I have been reading for some time about the political and health care systems and aid situation in Malawi. I know that even a short amount of assistance will be of value in view of nursing and doctor shortages.
This will be the first Christmas ever to be away from family, but I cannot think of a better way to give back, to those who are ill and need so much. I am very fortunate to have a loving and supportive family who will celebrate "our family Christmas" in January.
A visit to a travel clinic (anti-malarial drug and HIV prophylaxis - main additions to previous inoculations), was followed by picking an airline route, and drawing up a medical supplies list. The hospital was contacted regarding any specific needs and responded with a request for gloves and I.V. starts. I have a number of colleagues in the Canadian health care business and have been able to access some very useful supplies, all donated. A special thank-you to Dr. Ken Taylor and his wife Denise from St. Catharines, Ontario, amazing humanitarians who stockpile donated medical supplies and along with their team of volunteers, were most helpful in fulfilling my requests for supplies.
I have also visited the U.of T. medical library to purchase new medical texts for nurses and tropical medicine texts for me!
Reading the Annual Report for St. Gabriel's has been very instructive. I am aware of the most common medical issues to present in the community and have been reading up on current treatments.
Since I currently practice as a mental health counsellor (but previously worked in I.C.U. and taught R.N. students in clinical medicine), I decided I needed a refresher in I.V./Venipuncture skills and Head to Toe Assessment. It was quite a surprise, after several years hiatus, to spend a couple of days in a local E.R. and observe the new technological changes and highly skilled work of the fast moving nursing staff. I am expecting that nursing care in Malawi will be quite different, more primary care focused, but I am now better prepared for I.V. therapies.
Then there are the Comfort Dolls! I have been so fortunate to be on the receiving end of a number of talented knitters from western Canada who have sent over 80 hand knitted dolls, to be given to children in the hospital. The dolls will be fitted into any spare room I have amongst all my supplies. What fun it will be to see tham pop out of my suitcases like jack-in-the-boxes when I open them in Malawi. I can't thank the knitters anough.
A number of friends have donated money to be used at my discretion for some form of self-sustainable aid to children and/or women. I will be on the look-out for the best way to use the money and plan to be in consultation with medical staff to find where needs are greatest.
The anticipation grows!