Teaching and Learning in Cameroon

Tara Smith is a Registered Nurse from Norwalk, Connecticut.  She volunteered at Maria Rosa Nsisim Hospital in Yaoundé, Cameroon from July 8-27, 2012 as part of Project HOPE’s Volunteer Medical Rotation Program. Enjoy her blog.

Bonjour from Yaoundé!  I came to Cameroon with the intent of helping train the hospital staff in preventive care. I know it is a long-term project and that it will take a lot more time than the three weeks I will be here. I plan to help in any manner needed.

Yesterday morning, I was escorted down the deep orange road and made my way to the Maria Rosa Nsisim Foundation from the HOPE House. Many smiles met me along the way. I was able to round on each patient with the general medical doctor and the nurses. There were a variety of patients – infants and children, maternity and adults with febrile illnesses. The first patient we saw, a baby, was feeling much better today. She came in with diarrhea. She received IV therapy and has remained fever free. She was all smiles this morning. Her mother will bring her home today. One child’s lab work came back and confirmed malaria. He received IV antibiotics and has been fever-free for two days. His prognosis is good and will return home later in the day. A pregnant woman is being watched after receiving units of blood for severe anemia. Fortunately this morning each patient was assured they had a “good evolution” as the doctor says.

There was a child with a lacerated eye brow yesterday and I helped the nurse and doctor during the suturing procedure. One of the nurses here asked me for some American nursing advice. I advised on hand hygiene by providing some hand sanitizer and gave her some alcohol preps and surgical masks I purchased at home. So far today, I have been observing a lot and helping whenever needed.

Here is a photo of me and Dr. Mukalay, the Chief Medical Officer at the Maria Rosa Nsisim Hospital. I am very happy here and learning a lot from the entire staff.

This has been such a rich experience for me filled with experiences I will always remember. The capacity to treat well and heal patients exists here at Maria Rosa Nsisim Medical Surgical Foundation and I am grateful for the opportunity. There is a Chinese fortune that states, “a part of us remains wherever we have been.”  I feel that is true for me here and will greatly miss the people here.

For now, best wishes from Cameroon!