June 23

Spent a few hours in the emergency room today. This 7-year old boy was brought in by his mother because she thought he had swallowed a coin. Sure enough, a coin showed up on the x-ray that was taken of his chest/abdomen. I guess the saying that "boys will be boys" is also true here in Rwanda! He was very sweet and seemed to want to stay by my side.

Several things in the ER were just like in the U.S. There was an electric blood pressure machine on a rolling stand (only one). A foley catheter was put in using the same procedure that we use in the U.S. But they use mostly mercury thermometers and take axillary temps. I bet they would love to have a few electronic thermometers, but I wonder if they could get continual supplies of disposable probe covers (or be able to afford them). Perhaps not. They use drip IV's, but of course they work just fine for fluids. I have not seen any electric IV pumps, and I have not seen any antibiotic fluids, just oral antibiotics so far.

A muzungu nun was in the ER this morning, and one of the nurses took me to her saying, "I think you may speak this patient's language," but the nun was French and did not speak any English. Again I was asked, "so you ONLY speak English?" A recurring question....