The Face of Critical Nursing Shortages

From Tuesday, November 24, 2009

We left early again and hit the road for another long bumpy drive to Kabale to visit the SON there. Kabale SON’s Principal is particularly warm. I must say the Ugandan people are incredibly friendly and welcoming. Each person we meet whether the SON head or the person cleaning the hall floors greets you with a friendly, “you’re welcome.”

After we toured the school, we were treated to delicious African Tea and simosa’s (deep fried dumplings stuffed with meat) which are very popular here. I must say that African Tea (made with hot milk and spices) is now my favorite thing on this planet….next to my family of course.

We were escorted to the affiliate hospital next door, Kabale Regional Referral Hospital. It is better than many we have seen but each ward tells a multitude of painful stories of suffering. The HIV ward is jammed to the walls with people and the pediatric ward is also working beyond capacity.

Next we headed back to Mbarara to continue our visit which we began yesterday afternoon. We learned of their programs and how TGF might work with them to facilitate increasing their educational capacity and sponsor scholarships. I was impressed with the school head’s enthusiasm and innovative spirit.

Our new friend toured us through the hospital at Mbarara. This is where I am at a loss for words. I choked back tears at every turn. The nurses were so incredibly overwhelmed. We just witnessed one unbearably horrific sight after another.

The pediatric ward that day had 89 patients according to one of only two nurses on hand this shift. You read that correct, 89 sick kids and only two staff nurses! Most of the children were babies and toddlers. We saw a bench packed with mother after mother helplessly holding her sick child, many critical. This bench is their triage area. I almost broke down when I saw one baby with visibly labored breathing and very thin. What her mother must be feeling!!

We traveled through the maternity, labor, antenatal, postnatal wards with all beds full and some women under beds lying on the floor. Then off to the surgical and burn wards. One woman was treating her elderly family member’s sever burn wounds because the nurse was not available; just too busy with all the others.

Scenes like these kept coming and coming and my mind just went numb. The smells and sounds and sights were unbearable. I only wish that I could make everyone on this planet not living this reality witness this pain and suffering for themselves. This is the face of critical nursing shortages in disease-burdened nations like beautiful Uganda.