So this morning one of the doctors wondered if today might be a good day to do some snakebite management teaching for me. Little did she know that within the following half hour we would get called to a patient just brought in with a snake bite!! The 6 year old girl was bitten out in the bush yesterday morning, and was pretty sick. The venom was causing neuromuscular paralysis (the risk being that eventually her breathing muscles would be affected) and blood coagulation difficulties. The local health worker had done well by bandaging the affected limb (to lessen the spread of venom in the lymphatic system) and the girl came to us by the hospital ambulance. The doctors set to work stabilising her and giving antivenom. I watched and tried to comfort the girl's mother a bit. I then helped give some more drugs when she was more stable. She is now doing well, although her kidneys are still struggling a bit.
The day continued with patients presenting to outpatients, and me also going to the lab to see positive TB tests.
Some engineers came to fix the MAF planes today and I'm pleased to say that both planes are now working! The plane that came with the engineers also came from a different part of PNG, and brought us some vegetables (the local greens here are currently not allowed to be sold because of all the fuss about the river; it's ridiculous). I tell you, you have never seen someone so happy to see broccoli - it was like vegetable Christmas!
A lady has now been brought in with premature but non-progressing labour, and the baby in breech position, so I'll soon be off for her emergency C-section!
Rumginae hospital
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