Amounjou na ngombe - zowa la? (Who are those white guys with guns?)

 I saw my first Russians in town last weekend.  Just three of them, walking down the street in plain clothes, knit masks pulled up to just below their eyes (too hot for balaklava?) , automatic weapons.  We passed wordlessly.  I did not take a picture.

     Here is today's pediatric intensive care team, group photo.  And, bonus - we have four empty beds!  I may take some boarders from the malnutrition ward tomorrow, which has kids doubled up on the beds.  And, those kids are crazy fragile so I wouldn't mind them.

     One of my persistent fever/coma kids woke up enough today, hospital day 9, to swallow a quarter teaspoon of mushy cereal!  Everyone in the ward applauded.  Later, she wouldn't stop crying.  But still, not a coma!  Earlier in her stay I discussed withdrawing care when she required repeated bagging for recurrent apneas (bag and mask breaths because she kept stopping breathing) - Mom said keep going - then apneas stopped when I just tried a Keppra load for non-convulsive status.  or just coincidence?

Comments

  1. AnonymousJuly 19, 2022 at 3:08 PM

    Glad you did not try take a pix. Whatever the reason , apnea resolved

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownJuly 20, 2022 at 10:36 PM

    I was wondering about the Russians. Just stay safe. (Simon)

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJuly 24, 2022 at 11:52 AM

    Hi Jeff Is the expat residence the sight of our Stage in 1985? Doug Holt forwarded your blog to me. I forwarded it to Takako, Steve Welch, Rob Edwards, Kim Oppenheim and Lisa Ware (Duke). I'm enjoying your posts. Do remember the Marcel Mboula the maitre form Stage? He lives in Bangui-I think the suburb of Fatima. Maybe you could look him up when you are there. Brian Collins (Damara 1985-87).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JeffJuly 24, 2022 at 4:47 PM

      I ride past ENI every work day en route to hospital! I imagine I can see my old room. Sadly you can't wander, Bangui or otherwise. There is a small map of "green zone" in each town, within which you may go ONLY to approved-on-the-list destinations, never alone, not at night. Every move must be walkie-talkied to base. And yes Marcel remember well.

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