Logistics of medical care

One over whelming problem that we have faced is lack of funds for medical care. The patient’s families have to pay for a varying proportion of their care. Sometimes if they can’t afford to pay for the blood tests then we have to operate without the results which causes tremendous problems as you are in the dark about many things.

Blood is never usually available at the beginning of the case, however it seems to magically appear half way through – from where I have no idea. I might have thought some unsuspecting passerby might have been the donor however, looking at the bleed dates I can assure you all this doesn’t happen. Well, as far as we can tell. 

Lower theatre

There has been no X-ray film in hospital since February so excellent clinical skills examination skills have been brushed up in the last few weeks. For now the patients have to go to Good Will Radiology centre in Mbarara town. The names do make you laugh sometimes. There is the Homely Medical centre down the road and the Honest laboratories, who are anything but honest. Stories have been told of imposters on the ward posing as medical students who later approach the patients, some of whom may not need blood tests, and direct them to their own labs rather than the hospital ones which are free.