Medical Conversations

In the afternoon, I talked at length with Alex, the closest thing the clinic has to a full time doctor. My seventh grade nerd-self could not resist. I asked him about ebola (I read the book Outbreak in 7th grade). Yes, he said, ebola outbreaks are a problem in Uganda. He told me the story of how he had been exposed to a patient with ebola once during his medical training, and had to be quarantined for 21 days. It was fascinating. And scary, of course, to know that that's a possibility at any clinic at any time. But it is rare. And at least ebola isn't spread through the air. At least it isn't believed to be...

Alex and I also talked at more length about the struggles and difficulties he has as a doctor in a context where many cases are too severe for the clinic to handle, but patients cannot afford to go elsewhere. One little boy came in today with a serious problem with the bone in his leg. Alex said the problem will most likely turn into cancer if it goes untreated. The boys options are an amputation in Kampala, or a bone transplant. I'm pretty sure the nearest place he could go for a bone transplant is South Africa, which is clearly out of reach for the family. And the idea of amputation terrifies them, let alone the expense and the fact that the idea of traveling to Kampala is intimidating to these villagers to begin with. So the boy may die in a few years if nothing changes. Alex was very frustrated by the case, understandably. So sad.