We finally made it back to Likuni Mission Hospital!
Two years ago we raised the money to purchase a point of care ultrasound (POCUS).
A point of care ultrasound allows the provider to make timely diagnoses that save lives. There is no waiting for a radiology technician, radiologist, transporting patients to other parts of the hospital (or to the hospital), firing up the generator, finding the person with the key who can turn on the generator, etc.
The point of care ultrasound allows the nurse, doctor, medical provider to make diagnoses that are life saving at the bedside of the patient or wherever the provider may encounter the patient. Rapid diagnosis and initiation of treatment for a variety of conditions including twins, breech presentations, ectopic pregnancies, placenta previas, various life threatening trauma conditions, gallstones, kidney stones, severe dehydration, blood loss, etc.
Elizabeth and I arrived on a Thursday and spent Friday touring the hospital and meeting the staff. There were many of the same faces but also some new ones. The Matron, Sister Agnes had returned to Zambia and Sister Chanshi was now the Matron. Dr. Chiundira, the chief medical officer, is still there and doing well. We were also able to distribute numerous stocking hats there were made by a friend of ours from our home in Pine Mountain. Saturday we went to Mass and spent the day walking around town and visiting a local Nature preserve. Sunday we attended mass, The Feast of Corpus Christi, and then spent the rest of Sunday preparing for our presentations. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we had 17 participants split up into 3 groups. We spent those days teaching how to operate and care for the ultrasound. We also provided copies of an ultrasound manual that has been in the making since our time in Njinikom. We presented numerous lectures on POCUS, but most of the time was spent through hands-on teaching on POCUS.
We were able to spend an afternoon at Lake Malawi, one of largest freshwater lakes in the world and has more species of fish than any other lake in the world. While we did not see any fish it was nice to walk along the beach and look out across the lake.
We plan on tracking the use of the ultrasound over the next year and we share in the hospitals excitement in the addition of POCUS to Likuni Mission Hospital’s care for the people it serves.
Thanks again for all your support and we look forward to further journeys together!
We planned to take this to Likuni Mission Hospital in Malawi, in 2020 but with the Pandemic the last two years we had to cancel our trips. This year a window of opportunity presented itself and my daughter Elizabeth and I took that opportunity to travel to Malawi.
