the local doctor

I ran into the local doctor yesterday here in Mutarara. He arrived just three weeks ago – has been sent by one of the aid organizations. He was telling me how frustrated he is. The hospital here looks pretty from the outside. A new million dollar (rumor has it) building was constructed not too long ago; it sits atop the hill behind the original hospital building. It looks very nice on the outside, but is lacking all medical equipment inside needed to diagnose and treat patients. For example, he has no lab. All blood work needs to be sent to Tete, which is the nearest city and a strenuous 8-hour journey by 4x4. As a result, the lab tests are never guaranteed a time to arrive back in Mutarara. How can he treat his patients if he doesn’t know what is wrong with them by a simple blood test? His vehicles are also all broken at this time and he doesn’t have a proper mechanic or the parts to fix them. So he must find an alternative way to get the lab work to Tete. He also has no fuel. I had forgotten about the fuel – it has to be brought in from Tete as well. So if you run out while you are here, you are here to stay. He has no x-ray machine. No machines of any kind to test what may be ailing the patient. There is no running water. No air conditioning. Often there is no electricity, so it is hard to keep things sterile and preserved. The hospital beds are full of sick patients in need of care, the doctor wants desperately to care for them, but the reality here presents a very difficult challenge to do so.