Hôpital de l’Espérance

The Hospital Of Hope is a 30,000 square foot hospital that holds 65 in-patient beds. HOH offers a trauma centre,4 Resus (Réa), general medical, surgical, acute care unit, 4 operating theatres, post-operative unit, urgent care, ITU (basic), 3 isolation rooms, neonatal intensive care unit, paediatric wards, wound clinic, 11 triage unit and consultation rooms, a digital/portable X-ray imaging, ultrasound machine, Pharmacy (to order drugs for patients and for staffs) and basic Laboratory (for blood tests, blood bank). We send some specific lab tests to the States.

• 

• 

• 

• 

When I started in the HOH, we had two Medical Mission American Doctors (paediatrician), two American (Adult doctors) one French medical doctor (paediatrician), two surgeons, one GP (often doing surgeries), one American midwife and one American obstetrician and gynaecologist. There were no local doctors at that time. There were 3 contracted missionaries doctors and three visiting doctors (from the States/ and two foundation year one French doctor). Even though these doctors were trained as peads/ medical doctors in their allocated countries but they all took turns to cover for the whole hospital sites on their duties. Only surgeons and obs and gynaes were referred accordingly in emergencies.

I have had exposure to a wide range of tropical diseases; including malaria, typhoid, severe anaemia, snake bites, schistosomiasis, HIV and TB. I was able to perform the fundamental duties as traditional nurses but in undeveloped and poor resource settings. Every nurse on duty had around 8-10 patients on busy shifts (including paeds).

I had opportunities to care for vulnerable adults and paediatric (had never worked with paeds before) presenting with all sorts of medical emergencies with limited resources available. I learnt time management skills and how to work under pressure ensuring the safety of the patients. The nursing director of the hospital entrusted me with putting me as a nurse-in-charge of the department (A&E, Surgical, Orthopedics wards) just after a few shifts in HOH. I am able to run the shifts allocating the staff, delegating the tasks, supervising them, organising and performing the teaching session with other volunteers with the support of the local and overseas staff. I am still learning how to run shifts and lead staff in high-demand situations by delegating tasks and responsibilities accordingly. Supported mentors and preceptors in their role, ensuring learning opportunities were effectively utilised.
Being a nurse in charge of a well-facilitated developed hospital in a city is already stressful enough here the nurses have to be able to work in a cost-effective and cost-aware manner in less resource settings.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

This experience has taught me to listen and drawn me closer to God.
It also taught me to value differences in others. It has given me the courage to embrace new changes and challenges. I have learnt that he is not giving us worldly things to make us happy, but rather he is giving us valuable resources; just enough for a day. Every day is a new struggle at Mango but when I focus on Jesus, he gives me new strength to continue for the day. He gives me the wisdom to make decisions, and he gives me the love to care for my patients every day! Even when we don’t have resources like in the West; he is Enough! As Laura Davis (Physical Assistant) from Kentucky once said, “Jesus is all we have and Jesus is all we need.”