A quick introduction to the team...

 

Introductions (by Dr Sara Hunt)

 

I think we had better introduce ourselves before we go any further.

My name is Dr Sara Hunt and I have the grand title of “trip lead” for the 10 day teaching trip to Phebe Hospital. It has to be said that at some points during the organisation of this trip I had wished I wasn’t trip leader, but I suppose everyone feels that way when you’re organising such a complicated trip!

I’m a consultant Anaesthetist in the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.

This will be my second visit to Liberia with Mothers of Africa so theoretically “I know the score”, but I’m not sure you can ever be fully prepared for something like this.

Accompanying me is Dr David Place who is also a consultant anaesthetist at UHW and who specialises in Cardiac Anaesthesia. He has undertaken several trips to Africa before and has also previously visited Phebe. Best of all he has a diploma in tropical medicine so we are relying on him for his expert opinions if anything crops up we haven’t seen before in the wilds of Cardiff.

Last but by no means least is Dr Sue Catling, a consultant anaesthetist who works in Singleton Hospital in Swansea and specialises in Obstetric anaesthesia. She has NEVER been to Africa before and, having attempted to “brief” her on what to expect, I’m surprised she still wanted to come at all!

 

So why did I come? (Dr Sue Catling)

 

 I suppose the answer is that despite my apprehension about personal safety and health risks I felt that I could really contribute to this idea. What have I acquired all my teaching skills for over these past years if I can’t put them to use in a totally different environment? Partly I wanted to help this poor, war-torn country restart their anaesthetic service, and partly I wanted to test myself, and see whether I can be sufficiently flexible to teach in such an extreme setting. Partly selfless and partly self-centred I suppose. 

And what did I find?

A hospital with critically limited resources – e.g. they’d recently had no oxygen because the oxygen concentrator had broken down,, but with students so keen to learn that they absorbed knowledge like sponges and were scoring up to 88% in formal exams (written and OSCEs)  by the end of the visit. A hospital with no equipment for barrier nursing, but where nurses willingly admit and care for Lassa fever victims to the best of their ability. A hospital where the students are dependent on outside aid for their books and teaching materials, but who use what they have with such enthusiasm and dedication that they would put many UK anaesthetic trainees to shame. One would almost think their lives depended on it.

Would I go back? Absolutely!  Pass me my chalk, who needs powerpoint!!