June 5th, 2018 by pamelaparker

Liquor – it isn’t what you are thinking and it isn’t even pronounced like you think if you are from the USA. Here in Kiwoko it is call Lie’ Core and refers to the amniotic fluid.  Caesars isn’t just a palace but it is what we call a cesarean section. And gossipyboma which I previously called a textilloma and is a cotton item (generally a sponge) that is inadvertently left inside of someone at the time of surgery or a vaginal delivery. A woman came in with a malodorous thick vaginal discharge after delivering elsewhere about a month ago. Surprise when an overripe “sponge” was removed from her vagina. We had a good slide presentation about retained sponges and instruments and how this MIGHT be avoided. They do not have enough individuals in the OR so the assistant is the scrub tech also, and it is not unusual for the circulator and even the anesthetic attendant (not doctor) to wander out of the OR in the middle of a case. That happened yesterday during a cesarean hysterectomy for atony. Needless to say the surgeon was not happy. It did result in a lively conversation today.

“Loo” in theatre (OR) – a bit challenging when you are wearing a long skirt or scrub dress.

Other new concepts: All newborns here have the “flu”. They don’t actually but the moms think the babies do because they snuffle trying to clear their airways after birth. Mostly all newborns are given BCG and polio vaccines before discharge. All abdominal wounds are painted with Gentian Violet once the dressing comes off. Blood is not typed and crossed but it is “booked”. And it is high demand with short supply. And the operating room is the “theatre”. I realize anyone reading this from the UK may not find these words unusual. But for me coming here, understanding the British based terms, and the very soft-spoken locals who sometimes speak English and sometimes Lugandan – I feel like I have truly landed in a land of many new languages.

One last thought. Not only do mango flies lay eggs that hatch in larva that will stay in clothing that is hung on a line outside (no dryers here). The larva hatch, can burrow in your skin and stay there until they are ready to hatch from YOUR arm or leg (or elsewhere).  The other stunning thing about mangos is too many mangoes can cause constipation or obstipation or even bowel blockage – especially in young children. I may never learn to like mangoes.

The megaphone man is speaking….someone who hollers through a megaphone at various hours of the day (and night), mostly in language I cannot understand. From what I hear, the locals cannot tolerate his noisy rantings either.  When they complained to the police, they were told nothing could be done since the man also makes important announcements for the police (like avoid Road X because there is an accident there). Between him and the person who blares the booming base on the weekend at least from around 2200 until 0400, noise control is nonexistent. Thankfully last night, no base, no Megaphone. Until the next time….