OUR WORK > cbm co-worker stories from West Africa > John Paul II Eye Hospital
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John Paul II Eye Hospital
Up and Running at the HospitalWe are now finally operational at the John Paul II Eye Hospital in Lome, but not without a protracted struggle.
You may recollect that our roles here are dual - regional advosirs to West Africa while locally working at a recently opened eye hospital in Lome. We are ready for the returning newly trained ophthalmologist in 2009.
To work in Togo, Neil needed medical and specialist registration with the Ministry of Health. This was delayed for some months in part because cbm does not routinely pay bribes (petites cadeaux). Someone eventually realized the bribe was not forthcoming. Neil is now a card carrying fully registered member of L’Ordre National des Medecins du Togo.
Then came the hard part - running a theatre - which is somewhat different from running a theatre in New Zealand! Our French is not brilliant (one day we hope it will be) and none of the hospital staff speak English. The hospital had no experienced operating theatre staff so we needed to start from scratch and train personnel also. Our daughter Natasha and Andrew, a friend of her’s – both medical students in their final years - were visiting us over Christmas and helped us get started with training.
Just getting a surgical list together seemed impossible. We eventually had one operating list to ensure some practical training before the visiting Kiwis returned home. Natasha was scrub nurse, Andrew was instrument technician - cleaning and sterilising instruments – with both training hospital staff at the same time. They were excellent.
Now finally the surgeries are ticking over and the staff is coming together as a team, thank God (literally). The Nuns have a real heart for the poor, who are over-represented in this country, and they do focus on getting those who can least afford into surgery. The fees charged at the hospital are the lowest in the country so hopefully we can now get on and help them in their goal.
One step forward and two back, and occasionally two steps forward and one back! Each day brings its challenges. It is at times like those above that your support for us is particularly important. We gain strength to continue knowing that you are with us in spirit. Thank you.
But it is important to keep smiling – learning African dance is definitely one way to do that!!
Adieu,
Tania and Neil Murray
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