Yes that’s right I delivered more twins around 19:30 (7:30pm). This time it was a boy and a girl at 36 weeks. They were both breech and the first was stuck. I got called around 19:15 and we had them out shortly. I had an audience again this time. One of the families has children and young adults that are interested in seeing caesareans, and now all 4 of them have had a chance. I joked that they will start to think that all babies come in pairs, but the oldest 2 actually are twins. Mom and both babies are doing well as you can see. There was even another set of twins born at 0200 (2 am) but the general surgeons did that caesarean and I didn’t have to wake up and come in.

Two of the LIFT team members came by to visit Maternity today. It seems to be a popular place to visit. One was from Scotland but lives in Northern Ireland. Interestingly there are team members from both Northern and Southern Ireland, and I am told they get along just fine. I was also told (by the Irishman) that Scotland and England get along just fine, but the Woman from Scotland made a funny face when he said that, so I am not completely sure. The Irishman said he had delivered 6 babies and was quite happy to help out in a pinch if we needed someone. I did mention he wouldn’t be able to wear his work clothes in the OR. The woman’s mom is a retired midwife so it looks like we have a lot of alternatives if we need then.

It was really busy in the Outpatient Clinic today. Sa’adi (the midwife) and I both saw about 15 patients each in 2 hours. Sa’adi is much faster than I, but I like to think part of it is because I don’t speak Hausa. Some of them were normal prenatal visits, but others had all sorts of unusual diagnoses. Undiagnosed twins at 30 weeks, Infertility with large ovarian cysts, the list goes on. They have a portable ultrasound in the out patient clinic that is very good quality, and that helps to get the diagnosis quicker. Given the fact that they often show up late for treatment, delays are something to be avoided if at all possible. I hear the X-Ray machine is working again (at least part time), but it is only to be used for emergencies until someone comes out to have a look at the machine and the 2 others that need new batteries. I am not sure what qualifies around here as an emergency, certainly it is a different scale than back at home.

Everyone else is working hard as well. Joe Starke is the long term General Surgeon here and he pulls long hours every day. He also supervises the Nigerien Residents that are training here. Graham Johnstone is the regularly returning Orthopedic surgeon (who is really glad the X-Ray machine is working again) and he hardly has time to do anything but work at the hospital. It is a good thing that the produce shack and the “Co-Op” (read 1 room corner store) are right on the way to and from the Hospital so that you can shop in between clinic hours. And that's just the Surgical side. Then there is a whole team of doctors looking after the medical side, and all the other staff - nurses, pharmacists, teachers, administrators, the list goes on. I will have missed someone, and I am sorry, but there is sure a lot of activity around here.