Tuesday January27

So I didn't get to the shops on Monday.I was too busy helping to tie down equipment for the sail at the end of the week and having discussions with the OR supervisor about the forthcoming outreach. As always , in operating department there is a balance between surgeons patients and staff which we try we to achieve.

It's no different for us on the ship. We are also hoping to create new teaching materials for staff so that when they come onboard there is an easy "how to" guide for various different aspects. One eventuality that we have to cover is how to change over from the compressed air to the big cylinders that are located in each operating room. In an land based western hospital we would not even need to think about what we would do but hre on the ship any issues like that have to be dealt with differently. We have enough to do to keep us busy on the voyage and beyond.

When we reach Benin we have 10 days to set up the ship ready for surgery and also to help out with the screening days. These 2 days are when we begin to see the patients who will have travelled many miles because they have heard about the mercyship and that they may be helped by the teams of doctors and nurses there. Long queues form and people generally wait patiently to be seen. Once the patient is seen and a decision made that surgery is appropriate, the surgery is scheduled and the patient given an appointment card to return to the ship.
These days are long and tiring but essential for the work to carried out as efficiently as possible.

A small group of us went into town to buy up supplies both for ourselves but also more importantly for the department. Sometimes it's easier to hand in a receipt although ever mindful that the money we spend is given by others to enable the work to continue.

I shall be moving cabins at the end of the week as I normally sleep on deck 2 but maritime safety laws dictate that no-one can sleep down there on a voyage. Now I'm grateful that I didn't bring too much out with me. A 20kg allowance focuses the mind somewhat!

As people begin to return to the ship so life returns to normal community life. It has been very quiet, almost eerily so but the morning meetings are beginning to fill up. This mornings devotions affectionately known as "devos" was about 2/3rds of normal attendance. School has started on the ship although not all the children have returned. There are a couple of new teachers too. Tonight I am going to the airport to meet up with one of the returning OR staff and hope that she's not too tired to realsie that it's me!!