"Oxygen for Christmas" = a success...

Over the Christmas holiday $11,760 was raised for oxygen concentrators for the Children’s Hospital in Sierra Leone. This is enough for at least 8 new concentrators! I was amazed to raise $5,000 last year for charity: water, this year I’m blown away! Friends, family, churches and strangers have all given generously to this cause. THANK YOU!

With only 6 oxygen concentrators at the Children’s Hospital, children had very limited access to oxygen. Often one machine was shared between 4 children! (see above picture) Obviously this is not sufficient and I can guarantee you that lack of oxygen attributed to child mortality in some cases. With the money donated to the Welbodi Partnership, through my church, my justgiving campaign and other donations in the UK, we were able to buy 11 oxygen concentrators. Seven of them arrived at the hospital a week and a half ago, the other four are due to arrive in the next two weeks.

The concentrators were sent by DHL to the Lungi airport, which meant that after attempting to get duty free concession from the Ministry (but failing) I headed to the airport with one of the Ministry’s procurement officers. I left home at 6am to be at the hospital by 645am, ready to leave by 7 am to catch the 8 am ferry across. All went well and even the paperwork seemed to be moving along until I was told there was a small problem. Because the shipment had been sitting at the airport for more than a week (because we were waiting for the paperwork at the Ministry!) we were told we had to pay Le 9,000,000!!! That’s almost $2,000. There was no way I was going to pay that. After explaining that the concentrators were for the government-run Children’s Hospital, saying someone should have mentioned that there was a storage fee if a shipment was stored for more than a week, some pleading and a text message to some good friends to ask them to pray, we finally got an okay and the paperwork was (slowly) signed off and the concentrators were released. Time was ticking away and we literally pulled up to the 11 am ferry just before it was set to leave the terminal. It’s always an adventure. We made it back to the hospital around 1 pm and offloaded the concentrators. The next morning Fred (my colleague) and I assembled the concentrators, tested them, marked them and delivered them to the wards. It seriously felt like Christmas. I was so happy. And so was the staff. And before we knew it, the machines were switched on, blowing out oxygen and children were benefiting!

Thank you so much to all who donated. A special thanks to: Kristin Harvey, Rene and Marianne Lako, Verity & Rob Boord, Jennifer Vardy, Alyson Denson and family, Niroshan Nadarajah, Jonathan and Joanna Payne, Emily Spry, Alex Paul, Anne Nesbitt, Maggie Ruth and Baby Jo, Jacco and Marit Groot, Susan Wagler, John Dawson (&Lambton Centre summer camping congregation), Lisa Gibson, Morgen Wilbourne, Sjoerd & Carmen Smits, Middle/High School students at Heritage Baptist Church in Texarkana, Doug Hunter, Gemeente de Wijngaard in Middelburg.

Donations can still be made to my justgiving page and will go directly to Welbodi Partnership to be used in some way to continue improving paediatric care at the hospital in Freetown. (It will not go towards more concentrators, as we now have a sufficient amount!)

http://www.justgiving.com/sandralako

Banana island...

I spent 3 days on Banana Island between Christmas and New Years with some friends. What a great place. Butterflies, Birds, Bats, Flowers, Monkeys, Trees, Fish, Fruit, Bungalows, Hammocks, Beaches, Rocks. There's so much to explore. The words that come to mind are: beauty, adventure, rest, relaxation, fun.The island is a great place for a break - a getaway from the city. It's a great place to explore. We managed to find some monkeys in the forest and track them a bit to find some more monkeys. I think we were lucky because the next day we couldn't find them again. We also did some makeshift snorkeling - also lots of fun.

The bungalows are quaint. Comfortable enough but a bit noisy at night with rats running around in the roof. I think next time I'll take a tent. Of course, the hammock made for a lovely spot to rest a bit. You can't compete with a hammock.

On our way to the island we stopped and bought some fish from a local fisherman. Yes, this is him, on his little boat. The food on the island was great and I would highly recommend the baked fish wrapped in banana leaves. Delicious. But, like in most places, order well ahead of time...or you might find yourself getting very hungry.

All in all, Banana island is an amazing and unique place to go. You can enjoy the beach (although a bit too many rocks for me), hike in the forest, rest in the hammock, sit around the table and chat, walk around the village. It's definitely worth a trip and I'm sure I'll be back.

Walking in silence...

I've spent quite some time walking this past week. I love it. I love being able to walk around, on my own, without people hissing at me or calling 'white man'. I love being able to walk alone when it's dark outside. I love not being asked for my phone number, at all. I love walking around without inhaling a cloud of harmattan dust. I love walking down the street without having to keep clear of stray dogs. I love walking along without cars/taxis honking their horns every thirty seconds. I love being able to cross the street without fearing for my life. I love walking on sidewalks and not worrying much about getting hit. I love walking on green grass. I love walking past ponds and streams. I love walking without sweating.

Honestly, for the last few days I have loved walking in silence. Walking without anyone talking to me. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't like people talking to me, it's just that in Sierra Leone it is pretty full on. In Holland you get the occasional 'How are you?' but in Sierra Leone almost everyone talks to you, or at you and will say any or all of the following phrases:

'How are you?'

'Give me money.'

'I want you to be my friend?'

'Do you have a man?'

'I love you.'

'Where do you live?'

'Can I walk with you?'

'Do you have a phone number?'

'Give me your number.'

'I want to get to know you.'

And the list goes on.

The week before my holiday I was getting very annoyed with every other person who was calling out to me, to the point that I decided to ignore everyone on my street one day, which of course, did not make me any happier. Don't get me wrong, it's great that people are friendly, but really, all of the comments get a little old. And surely, with so many expats in Freetown, you would think people would stop with the 'white man' jargon. Apparently not. Sometimes I wish I would blend in but somehow I don't think that will happen. And honestly, it's a scary thought knowing that I'll always be a foreigner in a place that feels like home.

I guess the tough part is finding a balance in my reactions. The hardest is to choose to engage in a conversation with a guy and attempt to be friendly yet at the same time hope he doesn't get any ideas. Really, I'm being polite, not trying to show interest! I suppose for now I will enjoy my walks in silence while I can and when I return to Freetown I will brace myself for 'street talk'. I will enjoy it when the children call out and chat and try not to get too frustrated when yet another guy asks for my phone number. And maybe I just need to tell everyone on my street my name. I feel it'd be nicer to hear them calling out 'Sandra' or 'Saffiatu' rather than 'white man' or 'white woman' or 'white girl'. We'll see.

Oops, I forgot a few things...

In my previous post, Things I like about NL..., I forgot a few important things. So here's an addition to the list:

1. Electricity. Continuous electricity without the noise of a generator. And the possibility of charging my phone or laptop at any time of the day.

2. Brown bread.

3. Stroopwafels. Again, something I don't miss much when away, but now that I've had a stroopwafel this evening, I am reminded of its deliciousness. Must bring some back to Salone.

4. Different vegetables. I enjoyed broccoli & cauliflower last night. Nice change to onions, eggplant, more onions and more eggplant.

Things I like about NL...

Yes, I am in Middelburg again for about a week. Although I have to honestly say that I do miss Sierra Leone. I suppose after 5+ years it really has become home. I miss my flat, the work, my friends, my colleagues, the sun, the liveliness, etc. However, having said that, it’s good to have a break, I’m just happy it’s not a very long one.

So, what do I like about being back? The obvious answer is seeing my sister, brother-in-law and my adorable nieces. One of my nieces has been sick, which is not fun for her, but it’s meant I’ve seen a lot more of her over the past few days! The three of them are a fun bunch and it’s always great to spend time with them. I’ll miss them when I go back for sure.

There are of course more things I like about being back:
1. Seeing friends. (although there are many people I won’t see since I’m only here for a week – sorry!)
2. Riding a bike. I rode a bike yesterday with one of my nieces on the back. Dropped her off at school, and then went to town to do some shopping before picking my niece up again. The freedom of bike riding.
3. Normal traffic. Traffic lights. Stop signs (that people abide by). Bike paths. Crosswalks.
4. Walking. I love the fact that I can go for a walk on my own and not be ‘bothered’ by anyone. No one hissing at me. No one yelling ‘white man, white man’. No one saying ‘will you be my friend’. No one asking for my phone number. Nothing. Just me. Walking.
5. Sidewalks. Which also make the walks much nicer.
6. Food. I actually don’t feel like I miss much, food-wise, when in Sierra Leone, except for more of a variety of food. It’s not until I get back to Holland that I realize there are foods I really like and don’t have in SL – tortillas, cheese, yoghurt, chocolate chip cookies, kiwis, grapes.
7. Milk. Fresh. Cold. Milk.
8. Shopping. Buying basic things like shampoo, contact lenses, etc and of course looking for the odd summery item of clothing in a shop (in winter time!).
9. Internet. Fast internet. People here might complain that it’s slow, but they don’t know slow. This is great.
10. Skype. Thanks to fast internet, I can actually skype with friends/family. YAY.
11. Water. Running freely. Cold. Hot. Lots of it.
12. Shower with great pressure. Enough said.
13. Quiet nights. I’m so thankful not to have to listen to loud music at 3 am in the morning. Although I have to say I do miss hearing Emerson and some of the Nigerian tunes during the day.
14. Well-kept dogs. Again, so nice not to have to hear dogs at midnight. And not to have to worry about getting rabies when walking past them.
15. There’s more I’m sure but this list will have to do for now.

Join our team...

The Welbodi Partnership is currently looking for 2 people to join their team at the Ola During Children's Hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone as early as July 2011. If you are a doctor, nurse or healthcare manager and interested in volunteering with Welbodi for a year to help improve paediatric care in Sierra Leone, please apply! Not only will you be able to experience healthcare in a developing world, you will also be amazed by the beauty of Sierra Leone - both its people and its beaches are amazing.

Come for a year and make a difference at the Children's Hospital.

For more information go to the following pages:

Information for Healthcare managers

Information for Healthcare professionals (doctors and nurses)

London...

Wow. The last week has been crazy. On Wednesday I had a really long day with a trip to Lungi airport which I'll write more about soon. Then on Friday I ended up having to go in to work from 8-12 to get last minute things done (like sort out documentation for a shipment of lab equipment coming to the hospital!). I left at noon and ended up in a traffic jam on Fourah Bay road, which is not so nice when you still have to go home and pack. However, I knew I didn't have to leave the house until 4pm and that if traffic was really not moving, I could even walk home in 1 1/2 hours! I made it home by 1:30pm and started packing and cleaning. I decided to take a small roll-on suitcase since I couldn't even think of what to take with me other than 2 pairs of jeans, two sweaters, some shirts, toiletries and a few other bits and pieces. I'm planning to take more on the way back!

At 350pm Farah, my reliable taxi driver, showed up. We then picked up Shona's parents who had been visiting for 2 weeks and were on the same flight out as me, and headed to the water taxi. We were there by half 4 and it wasn't due to leave until 6pm. Finally we were on the water taxi and crossed over to Lungi. Before getting in the minivan we were all shocked when 6 men were carrying a women over to the boat. Apparently she had been sick for 4 days and her husband was trying to get her on a flight out but the airline wouldn't except her in such a bad condition. She was unconscious and I certainly hope she made it to a decent hospital in Freetown (of which there aren't many!).

I met up with my colleague/boss Tom at the Lungi side which was great, especially since he got me through the check-in line more quickly (with a silver card) and we later went into the business lounge, which isn't super but it has AC which was well worth it. The flight was supposed to leave at 945 but was postponed to 1145, meaning we had a really long wait in the airport. However, the plane was not going to stop for fuel in Malaga, so I guess that was a bonus.

I was so tired after a week with little sleep that I slept most of the flight. I didn't even notice the stewardesses come by with dinner or breakfast and I even missed some hype around a medical emergency which ended up not being a real emergency after all. Like I said, I was tired. Plus they did not call for a doctor, the stewardesses apparently followed a check-list. Anyway, I stayed put the entire flight!

We arrived in London at around 630 am and went to Costa for proper tea and a blueberry muffin. Delicious. We then took a cab to a friend's house - way too expensive - and thinking about the cost in Leones was shocking! After a shower and lovely chat we headed off to central london on the underground and then walked through town (past H&M!!!) to the Royal Society of Medicine on Oxford Street, where I am sitting now. It's a lovely place and quite a change to Freetown. Constant electricity, endless flow of water from the taps, the most amazing lunch with chocolates, raspberries, grapes, bread with cheese, quiche, etc. What a treat! Fortunately it's not so cold today!

We started our Directors meetings at 11 am and continued to 6 pm. It's been good and very productive but I am quite tired now. I'm done for the day, while the 5 directors meet for an hour or so without me. Tomorrow we'll have another day of meetings and then I'll head off to Holland on Monday. I can't wait to see family and friends.

PS: I am amazed at how fast internet is here!!!

Life-saving blood...

While driving past an NGO hospital last week a friend read out a sign painted on the hospital wall stating that patients need to come with their own blood donors. He thought that was very odd but having been here for years it didn’t seem strange to me. I suppose in the developed world, one would not see such a sign.

Every day children come to the hospital with severe anemia, mostly due to malaria. So, not only do they need to receive anti-malarial medication, they often need blood transfusions as well. Unfortunately it can take up to hours if not days for some of the children to receive blood.
The reason for this is that the blood bank runs on a donor replacement system.

Basically, a family member needs to donate a unit of blood to the blood bank in exchange for a unit of screened blood that is stored in the fridge, which will go directly to the patient. Meanwhile the blood donated by the family member will be screened and if uninfected, it is stored in the fridge and used for a patient needing blood at a later time. It sounds simple but unfortunately in practice, the system does not always work. The main problem is that there is often no family member willing to donate; either no one but the mother is around or relatives do not want to donate. And for some reason the blood bank often refuses to take blood from the mothers.

I do not know why, but in general Sierra Leoneans do not like to donate blood. They either assume that by donating they will get infected with something, or are worried about the HIV screen or various other things. This is a problem because it means a child will not receive blood from the bank because the unit taken out is not going to be replaced. And, in all fairness to the blood bank, if this happens too often the blood bank will be depleted.

I have seen in the Emergency Room and ICU countless children in urgent need of blood. Children literally come in with a hemoglobin as low as 1 or 2 g/dL. Some of these children will die if they don’t receive blood within the first hour. It is for these cases that I will take the child’s blood sample and blood request form to the blood bank and ask for a unit from the screened stock, explaining how critically ill the child is. I do end up getting the blood but not without hesitation. And in all fairness, I totally understand the concern because the more we make exceptions, the more relatives will refrain from donating, assuming we will arrange for them to get blood without having to replace it. This is obviously not sustainable.

In December I was asking for blood so often that I decided it was time to replace some of the blood myself. It was time to donate. So, together with Shona (VSO doctor) we headed to the blood bank on a Friday afternoon after lunch thinking we would be in and out in no time. I should have known better. Although it took a while, I have to say we had an interesting experience.

We wanted the technician to go through the usual procedure to make sure we were fit to donate so he proceeded to check our hemoglobin with the Hemocue. Unfortunately it was not working. He pulled out a color card, which literally was a piece of paper with various shades of red painted on it. I questioned this method and suggested he use the centrifuge for a spun hematocrit. We were rather unfortunate once again as the blood spilled out of the capillary tubes while spinning in the centrifuge. What are the odds? Since I had recently had my blood checked at home, I knew my hemoglobin was okay and we decided to go ahead with the donation.

After the blood grouping, we reclined on the two makeshift beds and got as comfortable as we could knowing a large bore needle was about to be put into our veins. We were more at ease when the technician started playing Christmas tunes from his cell phone. He inserted the needle with ease and it was amazing to see my blood flowing into a blood bag, knowing that it could potentially save a child’s life. It felt incredible to be able to help in such a tangible way and be a part of a child’s healing process. It also made me feel good to know I was giving a unit to the blood bank rather than just taking.

I later learned that my blood had been given to two different children and although I don’t know who they are or what the outcomes were, I know that I helped those children. I will definitely donate as often as I can at Children’s and I definitely recommend that people come to the hospital to donate blood. It is a very worthy cause. Seriously, if you come and donate let me know and I’ll buy you a coke while you recover. And, if you’re not in Sierra Leone, donate at your local blood bank. A unit of blood can impact someone’s life. It can mean the difference between life and death.

First posted @ http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2011/02/11/sandra-lako-life-saving-blood/