Victoria Jubilee Hospital

So, I am a bit shell shocked from my first day at the public hospital.

So much to process, so much to tell. Tonight it is not happening so this will be a shorter post.

It is very intense and very overwhelming there. A lot of injustice. A lot of pain and suffering. Very litte resources. Very calloused staff.

Of note: Women are strong amazing amazing creatures. Seriously, my respect for women has grown tremendously after seeing these women labor and give birth. Wow.

I did not take any pictures today but hopefully tomorrow.

I also got to deliver my first baby here!

Basically my day:
Cab to school to catch the 6:45am shuttle, discover that shuttle does not leave at 6:45 but rather 7:45.
Cafeteria for porridge and coffee. Cream curdles in coffee.
Arrive at VJH, find my way to where I need to be.
Sit through orientation
Work triage
Perform a lot of vaginal exams (effaced? station? dilated?)
Don't eat lunch
Delivery room. Watch several deliveries (8 babies born while I was there)
Deliver a baby boy
Help repair a vaginal laceration.
Leave on shuttle as to not get stranded.
Come home and try to process.

Here is an article that talks about the hospital. It is about 3 years old so I think somethings have improved (IE: the elevators are working--sporadically)

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20060929/lead/lead1.html

The hospital is funded by the government, is in the heart of downtown Kingston and is poorly staffed and stocked. Maurilee told me when I got home that when she did her medical rotation there that one day they just announced that there was no more diabetic medication for the next two weeks. The ER sees a lot of trauma from gang wars and car accidents and it is basically, I am told, like practicing medicine in a war zone. I am going to stop by the ER one time while I am at KPH.

Okay, I am exhausted. Good night