Today was our first full day in Ilula. Because it was a
Saturday, there were 2 options for people to work in – 4 people went out to a
remote village for an HIV clinic and the rest stayed at the Ilula Lutheran
Hospital for group rounds. We were all a bit overwhelmed by the experience –
these patients were so incredibly ill and there seemed to be very little that
we could do. We saw kids that were malnourished, one child who was edematous
all over and presumed to have nephrotic syndrome, women with eclampsia and men
with crytococcal meningitis/AIDS. We had time to debrief after the first day
and discussed medical culture shock as well as our emotional responses to what
we had seen. Whenever we had downtime, or were in the bus, Randy (Dr. Hurley)
would teach us about common topics based on the cases we had seen earlier that
day. I appreciate all the teaching that our attendings are doing here – and our
trip has just begun! I look forward to getting to know everyone better,
continue to learn about medical care in Tanzania/developing countries and to
hopefully learn some Swahili!
In the evening we went to Pub La Monte where we had a
Kilimanjaro beer and played with a few kids who were in the area. Emily was
taking pictures with them, and they squealed and giggled when she showed them
how to take a “selfie!” Such sweet people here.
Jenna Clappier
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