First day in Mungeli

First day in Mungeli

We enjoyed settling in to the hospital today and picking up the rhythm of things. Our journey here from Roanoke through DC, Abu Dhabi, Delhi and Raipur felt epically long and exhausting. We're staying and working at the Christian Hospital Mungeli in the small, rural town of Mungeli within the Chhattisgarh state. Here's where we are for some reference:

We got in at about 1pm Wednesday, went to take a nap in the early afternoon and slept right through until this morning (about 15 hours for me! what?!).  We were bright and fresh for our first morning of rounds, decorated with flower necklaces from the welcoming nursing students. 

From the right, Lindsey, Megan and me.

On rounds we saw a bunch of interesting cases: tubercular meningitis with obstructive hydrocephalus in a 1.5 year old, as well as a congenital hydrocephalus that had not been treated until a late stage, placenta previa with intrauterine demise, a large breast abscess secondary to untreated mastitis, a few intentional organophosphate insecticide poisonings, and many injuries from car accidents. 

After rounds, we went on a walk into town. A few of us needed to buy toilet paper, I needed to buy coffee (obviously). 

We found an incredible market with piles and piles of fruits and vegetables and great heaps of wonderful smelling herbs.

Supermarket time. Stocking up on some TP.

We meandered back to the hospital to watch a few surgeries: an inguinal hernia repair, circumcision for phimosis and drainage of a massive hydrocele. 

After lunch we went to watch the nurse play games in the yard. It was very amusing. 

This was a game called Coco (sp?), which is kind of like a complicated version of tag. It's a very fast-paced and funny game to watch.

The nursing students live on campus for four years while they get their training. They all speak some English and are enormously friendly. 

Three-legged race! 

Marble on a spoon race (maybe harder than egg on a spoon...)

We spent the evening having a delicious dinner at the home of the hospital director, Dr Anil Henry. Dr Henry is an enormous karaoke fan and insisted the evening could not end before we had all had a turn at the mic. It was a hoot. 

I think we're all very happy to be here, making new friends, doing some work we love and relaxing. Tomorrow we go to a wedding? Will keep y'all updated.

Here's the website for Christian Hospital Mungeli if you're curious: http://chmungeli.org/

xoxo,

Lily