Wed 9th June

Attended the first ward round today to see what other cases there are in the wards and where I can start doing some ‘hands on’ with the very new nurses (called 'greens' as they wear a green uniform). Found lots to do, so tomorrow we will start.

But we do have a problem just now. A women of about 30 died today She came alone from a village the other side of Rumbek and was being supported with food from the hospital shipping container supply, and a co-patient of another patient was trying to look after and cook for her (the hospital doesn't provide cooked food for patients, rather 'co-patients', usually relatives, cook). She appeared to have no family who were willing to look after her when she was alive, now the poor lady has passed away and she is laid out in our little mortuary. The temp today must be about 35C - I hope we will be able to find someone soon to take her home to be buried....

Will keep you posted on that...

Today day was food distribution day (three times a week). For those of you who did not read last year’s blog it is a large shipping container with large sacks of milk powder, sorghum, Egyptian beans, rice, drums of cooking oil and boxes of biscuits. Small quantities are distributed to the co-patients of the very poor, or of patients with HIV and leprosy patients in the hospital. They then cook it for them.

Inside the shipping container it is just so hot, and the people are stretching out their hands with old tin cans or bags for us to put their rations in. It is heart-breaking. Ian helped in this role last year so ask him what it was like. This time I noticed the container is nearly empty, I just hope that the supply lorry arrives soon.