L to R:Medical supply bag with unheeded suggestion ; M.A. unpacking consolation prizes for the kiddos ; The waiting room before the storm
Today started late as the doctors and most of the rest of the medical supplies that were delayed were able to make it here when the clouds cleared at last. Things began at about 11:00 and the arriving doctors had scarcely enough time for a rushed tour before being bombarded by patients. The flow only increased as the morning turned to afternoon, and I remember at about 1:30 or 2:00, while roaming and taking pictures, getting quite hungry and hearing one of our dentists, Jack, exclaiming something along the lines of “Lunch? We're here to work!” Noble as it was, and considering how little work I was doing compared to him, I really wanted to break to rest and eat! The arrival of the bags brought many more medicines and equipment. The dental station was set up, with the saintly help of support staff Mary Ann, Carol and John (whose service rendered it ludicrous for me to also equate myself with the title of “support staff”); the OBGYN clinic went into full effect, and the other doctors saw general patients.
L to R: Dr. Margaret, Sister Goma and Teresa consult with a patient in the OBGYN clinic ; One of our first little patients and her mother ; Dr. Patricia and Steve begin their clinic ; Bridget and Dr. Sidhartha see patients; Waiting patients weigh themselves up ; Bridge and Dr. Sidhartha and patient ; Amanda, Dr. Pranaya, Dr. Jack and Bob prepare to see dental patients ; Amanda sets up the dental clinic equipment ; Mary Ann, Carol, and Amanda - dental clinic assistants ; Dr. John unpacks the dental clinic supplies ; One of the tooth extraction rooms in its nascent form; The dental clinic team preps for service
I was in charge of picture-taking and also monitoring the activity in the pharmacy. With struggle myself, Carol (before the dental clinic was up and running) and Joyce K. tried to record the outflow of medicines while assigning them to names. At some point I was the main personnel in the pharmacy and realized that the Nepalese pharmacy techs were much better at the task than I. Not to glorify my laziness do I mention this, but to highlight the fact that these young men were more than capable and willing to easily record the names of the patients and their corresponding medications. I became rather futile other than to be sure everything was in order and to socialize with the boys. Their English was limited but pretty impressive, and they were good guys. I grew pretty fond of these adorable dudes in my 3 days at the hospital: Karnan left after the first day and took a bigger role as interpreter in the general practice room. Some of those left were Sanjay Kumar Yadav, 31 years old like me, married, and the best at English; Gokul Preshad Aduikeri, a sweet 24 year old who looked like the Nepalese James Franco and who blew my mind on the technology continuum of this world when, in pharmacy downtime, asked me if I was on Facebook, and then proceeded to friend request my by mobile as we sat there. This of course being in a hospital with virtually no electronic equipment on hand!); Arjun Kisan, a baby-faced lad who became the butt of the joke when I taught the others how to open U.S.-style childproof medicine bottle caps while he was out—there was much hilarity as the others challenged him to open them of his own devices); and Hari Purja, the older man who slipped in and out at complete random.
L to R: A patient waiting for her prescription with her new doll brought by one of our lovely mission members, probably Amy! ; The pharmacy at full stock with medicines donated by the foundation ; Gokul and one of the nurse's young brothers, who was a daily presence in the hospital
Patient transport Mustang-style ; A little patient gets a toothbrush - Henna holding down the supply fort - A dental patient stylin' in the donated sunglasses she picked up at the pharmacy ; Dr. Jack extracts teeth from a yogi
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