Diabetes clinic at Mercy Hospital
Day 5 – Reflection from Mercy Hospital’s Diabetic Clinic
Hello again, Floris,
Our day today has held mixed emotions for me. Most of our team focused on supporting day #2 of the free diabetes clinic at Mercy Hospital today. Goals for the clinic were to begin to monitor and control both diabetes and hypertension, while triaging other conditions that may present to the doctors. This is year three of this annual HCW mission team supported clinic that works in partnership with Mercy Hospital.
For the clinic, I helped keep the medical records to support the dietetic/medical staff in the lab cubical. We saw 249 patients until supplies of medicine were limited for the day, which was a huge crowd, many arriving very early and staying for hours to be seen and then treated. We had a triage area to provide immediate insulin for those with dangerous blood sugar levels.
I cried the first time someone celebrated that their blood sugar was within normal range as they shouted, “Thanks be to God!” When did you do that when you last had your blood checked? You may have, but most of us know even if our levels are not normal, we can access the needed treatment regimens and monitoring equipment. In contrast, there was no one in today’s clinic group, even if being treated already for diabetes, that had a blood sugar monitor at home. The good news is that will change on Monday thanks to Mercy Hospital and our South Carolina team members who are beginning to provide free monitoring devices and access to the needed meds. The doctor serving with me today who specialized in nutrition and diabetes management will train the staff while we are here so that they can independently maintain this new program.
A story of note from the clinic was a severely malnourished teen girl who was in dire need of insulin yesterday and was treated late in the day. She returned today doing somewhat better. The staff were able to establish a relationship and hopefully will be able to get her Type 1 diabetes under control. The medical staff said if she had not been treated yesterday, she probably would not have lived through the night. I am so thankful she is now on a road to potential better health.
Other members of our team worked with the master teacher program providing coaching for resourcing that will unfold next week as they provide further educational resourcing. Three additional team members are also lending expertise in the areas of financial management programming, IT/cyber security upgrading and training, and environmental/waste management consultation.
I have much to process from all that I have seen the past few days. In that, I am thankful for God’s work here, for the legacy of Floris UMC in this place and the ongoing work that is saving lives and making a difference in our partnership with HCW. Thank you Floris/Restoration for your faithful generosity to the people of Sierra Leone!
I will continue to share as we move along. Tomorrow holds some preparation for preaching at the annual Youth Celebration Service at Centenary UMC in Bo on Sunday. I am looking forward to being with our UMC family here for worship, but please know I miss everyone at Floris and at home!
– Gina