Shaun takes me around on surgical rounds after morning report this morning as Jeff and Lexy head out to do home visits with the social work staff in the more remote areas of Varette. The hospital is overwhelming, though clean and well organized by Haitian standards. There are people waiting everywhere – families sleep at night on the floors and under the beds of the patients. We stop in on the NICU, though there’s no respiratory support beyond oxygen and little intervention according to US standards. The malnutrition ward has about 35 patients who are admitted for intervention of severe malnutrition – it is clean and a daily schedule is suggested from the wall. People in all areas are friendly and welcoming. I’m grateful for the support of Shaun interpreting for me and am kicking myself for not working harder on my Kreyol. I tried on a couple of occasions to spend a little time observing the Haitian rehab technician, but, as I’m starting to learn in Haiti – sometimes the best-laid plans just don’t happen… In the afternoon I spend a little more time with the rehab technician’s school. Denise graciously invites me to share some of my pediatric experience especially in regards to yesterday’s work with Ti Luk Nyen whom most of them know. They are interested and ask good questions, but I get to experience firsthand some of the teaching barriers.
