Today (May 8, 2013) we went to Komfo Anoyke. This hospital is the main hospital for the northern region of Ghana. Here they have a trauma center (like an Emergency Room) and an actual ICU (Intensive Care Unit). The new part of this hospital was pretty amazing; it opened about five years ago. The trauma center is set up basically like an ER at home. They triage patients and then see them based off of how they are triaged. In the trauma center they have the red are which is the resuscitation area. Here they have the capabilities of being able to monitor up to six patients, but if they have to take more they do and just aren't able to monitor all of them. Even though this hospital is more advanced they still have to reuse a lot of equipment. Bags and masks are reused, intubation tubes are reused, basically everything besides needles are reused.
Komfo Anoyke's Trauma Center entrance.
The monitoring used in the resuscitation area.
The bags and masks they have to use whenever they needs them.
The interesting part about this day was that the doctors were on strike so the hospital was very empty. The nurses told us that if the doctors had admitted a patient before they went on strike they continued caring for that patient but they would refuse to take any more in. The doctors were supposed to be resuming practice that night, so the staff said that the night was going to be crazy. The said that when this (the doctors going on strike) happens many patients have to be taken care of at the smaller hospitals where they just do not get the same kind of care, meaning that by the time they come to Komfo Anoyke they have many complications. Even with the impending chaos everyone was still in pretty good spirits. They would say that yes it was going to get busy, but they would manage. The people here always have the best attitudes.
I was able to talk one on one with a nurse in the ICU. Here in the ICU they had maybe 8 beds with monitoring capabilities. They also had about that many vents. In the ICU they don't have intensivists (ICU specific doctors). They only have nurses and then anesthesiologists. I asked the nurse what training she had to complete to work in the ICU. She stated that they complete their nursing degree which I believe takes four years. After completing that degree they then work in the ICU for two years after which they go back to school for one year and three months. They have them work in the ICU for that amount of time so that when they go back to school they are able to better understand what they are being taught. It was at this hospital that I first saw nurses wearing scrubs, like you would see in America. Everywhere else they are in a dress and have to wear a little hat.
A bed in the ICU.
The crash cart in the ICU.
I was able to talk one on one with a nurse in the ICU. Here in the ICU they had maybe 8 beds with monitoring capabilities. They also had about that many vents. In the ICU they don't have intensivists (ICU specific doctors). They only have nurses and then anesthesiologists. I asked the nurse what training she had to complete to work in the ICU. She stated that they complete their nursing degree which I believe takes four years. After completing that degree they then work in the ICU for two years after which they go back to school for one year and three months. They have them work in the ICU for that amount of time so that when they go back to school they are able to better understand what they are being taught. It was at this hospital that I first saw nurses wearing scrubs, like you would see in America. Everywhere else they are in a dress and have to wear a little hat.
To finish our visit at this hospital we visited the Pediatric Ward. We brought toys and candy with us to pass out and it was a very special experience being able to hand a little toy car or bead necklace to these kids and see their face light up. Their whole demeanor changed. It was a very memorable experience.
After the hospital we had the opportunity to go to a football (soccer) game. It was very fun, I'm glad we were able to experience this aspect of Ghanaian culture. They really love their football and they get very heated over it. Towards the end of the game many of the spectators were getting very upset with the refs and started throwing water bottles and water bags (in Ghana most of the water the people buy are in bags where they just bite off a corner and drink, it is very interesting). At the end of the game the score was 0-0, no one won. Even though the game was very anti-climatic it was a very enjoyable event.
The football stadium in Kumasi, I still can't believe how big it is.
After the hospital we had the opportunity to go to a football (soccer) game. It was very fun, I'm glad we were able to experience this aspect of Ghanaian culture. They really love their football and they get very heated over it. Towards the end of the game many of the spectators were getting very upset with the refs and started throwing water bottles and water bags (in Ghana most of the water the people buy are in bags where they just bite off a corner and drink, it is very interesting). At the end of the game the score was 0-0, no one won. Even though the game was very anti-climatic it was a very enjoyable event.
what a great day! a little of everything.
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