Palliative Care Clinic

Yesterday, we went with the nursing students to a local church to help with a palliative care clinic. The clinic was free, and ended up being less about palliative care and more for locals who could not afford health care costs at any of the nearby hospitals. When we arrived, some of us were sent to the pharmacy (a table of donated drug samples) where we packed unlabeled pills into plastic bags. Patients came to us with the doctor's prescription, and we did our best to find the pills they needed (though I recognized maybe an eighth of the drug names). The clinic went fairly smoothly. Patient's blood pressure and vitals were taken by a nurse outside, and then patients, one at a time, entered the church to see the twenty five year old doctor. The doctor was helpful, translating patient complaints and asking the nurses what they would prescribe. This was until he received "bad news" from his girlfriend via text, which we all think was a virtual breakup. From then on he granted each patient about thirty seconds of his time, prescribing most brofen (ibuprofen) or multi-vitamins. At one point, a women came in holding her throat and in about eight seconds he sent her away with the diagnosis: tonsillitis. When one of the nurses asked if he maybe should look at the women's throat, he laughed off the comment and went on to the next patient.

It was an interesting experience because, on one hand, these patients were recieving free care. But, in treating their symptoms, they were likely being diagnosed incorrectly. But then again, just to flip the coin once more, an accurate diagnosis may n0t make much of a difference when these patients dont have the resources to seek care for, say, cancer. We are hoping to help with a similar clinic next Thursday.

Today, we are at KCMC for an information session on obstetrics and maternal care in Tanzania. After, we are staying in Moshi for the night, going to a culture club called the Watering Hole to listen to music. Tomorrow, we are planning one day in Arusha. Hopefully, funny stories to come.