Day #2 N’gaoundéré-First hospital day

We had settled in on Friday and were ready for anything. On Saturday morning we volunteered to go in for rounds at 0730. We made our way out of the mission and into the hospital compound close by. Dr. Brown led rounds through the various wings of the hospital without hesitation as if he were back in the US. He seemed unaware of the conditions around him. Courtney and I were not. Everything was hot, humid, and dirty. The rooms were often full with four to five patients per room and their entire families with them. Dust settled on the floors, bugs crawled on the walls, and flies swarmed around patient’s wounds. But the amazing part was the staff at the hospital. From the janitors to the doctors everyone seemed to be doing the best with what they had. Dr. Brown seemed to lead the charge in this regard. Dr. James Brown, the leader of PAACS (Pan African Academy of Christian Surgeons) seemed to tap into an inner strength and faith few people have ever possessed.


Once we looked past the conditions we attempted to focus on the patients. From the child with a snake bite causing a permanent deformity of his arm to the women who had burns over 25% of her body from boiling water being thrown on her the patients were truly shocking. Patient after patient would come to this little hospital in N’gaoundéré from sometimes miles away with horrific injuries just for a shot at hope. Perhaps more depressing was witnessing a very treatable disease in the US being either horribly mismanaged or ignored by the patient or family until it was too late. Even if they were there in time and treatment was available at the hospital often times the patient had so little money the hospital would have to eat the cost.

We realized quickly where the need is in this community resided. The need for basic medical supplies and medication was a constant issue. The facilities all badly needed upgraded.

Courtney and I were finished with the hospital by the mid-afternoon for that day. But we realized the importance of bringing our story back to the United States for the never ending fight for quality health care around the world.

Brent and Courtney