Revamped, replenished, renewed

Potters has been getting a facelift thanks to a visiting team from Didsbury and Linda from Great Baddow with her friend Joyce.

 

Jim and John, an NHS Manager and a Judge have decided that if things get tough in the UK, they could make a good painting and decorating team!

The main gates were getting quite rusty in places so they did a thorough preparation job and braved the sun to achieve a 'good as new' finish.

Having completed their part, they asked Caroline to carefully pick out the words in white. Jim is certain we now have the best gates in Kisoro - we can't disagree with that.

Caroline painted a wonderful mural on the walls outside the babies rooms so that they can play on the veranda as if in a colourful forest. We are so grateful to have the benefit of her amazing talent.

 

 

One evening we were called to collect a baby from Kisoro Hospital. The mother of Precious was psychotic and the medication they wanted to give her would mean she couldn't breastfeed. Mike and I went to collect her. I felt we looked like we were stealing a baby. We were trying to pick our way across the Hospital compound in the dark with a crying baby that clearly couldn't be ours.

The next morning Catherine took on looking after 2 week old Precious. We expected to have Precious until weaned but the Psychiatrist decided that it was better for the mother to breastfeed than be without the baby. We returned Precious but at that stage the mother did not seem to be aware that Precious was hers. We can only hope the baby will not suffer any effects from the drugs given to the mother.

 

Sonia was grateful to have the store made tidier by having the recently arrived clothes sorted into the correct tubs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As ever there are the clothes that the babies have rendered unusable that are cut up and recycled into bottom wiping rags.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joyce and Linda set about painting Potter's Village in large letters on our sheets in the hopes of preventing so many walking off the site. Linda, being an up-to-date woman, is having a break to text on her phone.

 

 

In order to save money, Alan wanted to use some of the metal from the non-functioning and rusty windmill. I secretly cheered as it came down. I've always considered it an eyesore but met with opposition when suggesting it be removed.

Malcolm, a Consultant Paediatrician and Trish, Paediatric Nurse, have been of tremendous help. Here they are removing fluid from a very sick boy's lung cavity. Dr Rosy in the background acted as a moveable and useful tray stand.

Malcolm also showed Mike many useful ways of using the Ultrasound machine. It transpires the machine does not function as it should so Malcolm is kindly taking it back to the UK to see if he can get it fixed.

 

 

Elsewhere Bill was beavering away doing many things electrical around the site. Martin painted the Immunisation room as well as helping with computer issues.

 

The elections passed without too much trouble though this man came to have his head stitched after getting caught up in a nearby fracas where stones were being thrown at an MP but hit him instead.

 

 

 

We have had many very sick children including Elia with a skin condition covering his whole body. He is being treated for Pemphigus as it had not responded to antibiotics given elsewhere but got significantly worse.

 

 

 

 

 

This very malnourished child came in, not because he was so thin but because he had breathing problems. He had pneumonia and sadly died. 24 hours earlier and he probably could have made it. It is so sad that people cannot see that a child who is very thin needs help. It will take a lot of educating in the community. One thing we want to do is make posters with photos so that people can compare their child to the photo and maybe recognise the danger the child is in.

 

 

We were delighted to welcome young Simon, son of Leonard and Annet. He was born at 8pm the night before the elections. The next morning they told Annet to take the baby to Potter's Village for immunisations as they were closing the ward for Election Day. What was going to happen to those who go into labour that day? Anyway, it was lovely for the staff to see Simon.