Reminders that I work in a hospital in rural Africa...

1.I ask a coworker, “What did you do on your vacation?” They tell me they plowed the fields and planted their crops
2.Man came to the hospital because he was bitten by a black mamba snake
3. 14 and 15 year old girls having babies is a frequent occurrence
4. Coworkers charge their cell phones and flashlights at work because they don’t have electricity at home
5. People ask me, “How do you fetch water in America?” I tell them that everyone has water piped into their house. They laugh in disbelief
6. Little girl falls down the steps and breaks her arm. What steps?! Other than the hospital, I have yet to see a flight of stairs in Karungu
7. Hospital parking lot has 4 parking spaces. I have yet to see all 4 spots occupied
8. Each patient has a mosquito net hanging over their bed
9. The hospital laundry is hung outside to dry
10. Toddler was accidentally dropped in the fire by an older sibling. The little girl has burns all over her bottom
11. All garbage is taken to the trash pit where it is burned. Next to the trash pit is the BPP: Body Part Pit. A covered pit for the disposal of arms, legs, placenta, etc.
12. On patient charts it asks for a patients, name, date of birth, village, and chief’s name
13. A man was cutting the grass with a machete when he accidentally sliced his foot