Updates from Ilula Hospital
Both Dr Randy Hurley and Amy Schulz have posted a few details from their first week at Ilula Hospital.
Here's Dr. Randy's reflective comments about childhood in Tanzania:
We have met a number of amazing young people here: ones that want to "grow up to be doctors and lawyers and such..." teachers, business people, those that can helpthis community progress and prosper. After working in the pediatric ward at Ilula, it strikes me that these children have such a gauntlet that they need to surpass in order to achieve these dreams.
First you have to hope that you've been given a mother that is sufficiently well nourished to carry you to term, allow for good cognitive development and without complications such as malaria...and that she has access to a hospitalthat can safely deal with any complications that could occur at delivery.
You need to hope you get a mother that does not have HIV and a family that can provide enough nutrition for appropriate brain development. You need a family that can afford to send you to school and hope that the school has competent motivated teachers that can help you excel.
You need to make sure someone puts you under a bed net when you are under five years old to prevent malaria and hope that you have access to clean water and sanitation.
If, and only if, all these things go right, you might have a chance to compete in this country, a chance to be part of the change that this country is hoping and waiting for.
Amy tells several stories, including one very moving account of providing physical therapy to a young boy and teaching his mother how to help him continue his stretches.
God's work, Amy and Randy's hands.
Here's Dr. Randy's reflective comments about childhood in Tanzania:
We have met a number of amazing young people here: ones that want to "grow up to be doctors and lawyers and such..." teachers, business people, those that can helpthis community progress and prosper. After working in the pediatric ward at Ilula, it strikes me that these children have such a gauntlet that they need to surpass in order to achieve these dreams.
First you have to hope that you've been given a mother that is sufficiently well nourished to carry you to term, allow for good cognitive development and without complications such as malaria...and that she has access to a hospitalthat can safely deal with any complications that could occur at delivery.
You need to hope you get a mother that does not have HIV and a family that can provide enough nutrition for appropriate brain development. You need a family that can afford to send you to school and hope that the school has competent motivated teachers that can help you excel.
You need to make sure someone puts you under a bed net when you are under five years old to prevent malaria and hope that you have access to clean water and sanitation.
If, and only if, all these things go right, you might have a chance to compete in this country, a chance to be part of the change that this country is hoping and waiting for.
Amy tells several stories, including one very moving account of providing physical therapy to a young boy and teaching his mother how to help him continue his stretches.
God's work, Amy and Randy's hands.
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