A Foodie's guide to Galmi

I was asked about what there is to eat here, and there is a lot! In the booklet in each home there is a “Foodie's guide to Galmi”. There are lots of vendors that come on the compound and sell everything from Papayas (they are bigger than a football (either kind)) tomatoes, pineapple, bananas and plantains, eggs, guavas – they are really good!, etc etc.

There is also someone who comes by once a week with spicy roast chicken and samosas. There is the co-op where they sell delicacies like ice cream and cookies, and that's were I got the rice as well. I do not think there is going to be a problem.

Someone else asked how hot it is, so I took this picture of the thermometer at 10 am.

It is a bit cooler in the evening, and it gets really hot around 2 or 3 pm. There are lots of fans however, and there is even an air conditioner in the bed room.

They actually have a couple of portable ultrasounds, so I have been doing them every day. It comes in pretty useful when it is hard to get a complete history. We can get X-rays, but there is no ultrasound department, so if you want one, you do it yourself. Today we diagnosed twins at 19 weeks. They both seem to be doing well and are about the same size. We also did a dating pregnancy at 9.5 weeks.

There were also some hard things that happened today. We had a lady come in last night who had been in labour at home. The baby had died before she arrived, and she died after childbirth. She was so anemic she couldn't handle the stress of a delivery, probably because of severe malaria. There is also a premature infant in the nursery right now that we are not sure will live out the day. The baby delivered at home, and could possibly have meningitis or tetanus. It also has severe Jaundice and is dehydrated. We are doing all we can and we are praying for this little one. On the happier side (sort of) there is a little baby who's mother died that is very small, and another lady (who may or may not be related) has decided to breast feed this little one. She had not breast fed for 8 years, but the milk came in quite quickly, and the baby is gaining weight nicely.

I am learning a lot more about treating Malaria, or I should say I am learning the Hospital Protocols for treating Malaria. Apparently it was much worse a few months ago in the rainy season, but there are still people walking around with blood levels that would probably kill the average North American.

Here is a goal for today (and the future):

Philippians 4:11-13
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.