The HART surgical team arrived in Kakamega, Kenya on Sunday the 9th of November ready to carry out our mission. Our team consisted of two orthopedic surgeons, two plastic surgeons, one ENT, one Ob-Gyn , one dentist, two anesthesiologists, one CRNA, five RN's, three scrubs, one OTX and a large group of volunteers. Despite our jet lag and travel fatigue we went to work.
Unfortunately, our container of medical supplies shipped in early August did not arrive in time due to a strike in Italy and would not arrive until mid December. Fortunately, we knew this a couple weeks ahead of time and were able to adjust and bring with us enough supplies to make the surgical mission a major success including a SIGN orthopedic rodding system, a Zimmer Dermatome and Mesher!
The first day, Sunday, was occupied with the necessary and useful
formalities of introduction
to staff and facility after which we triaged the triaged patients and set up the supplies and equipment for each of the anticipated OR's. It was a major undertaking but with all of the excellent help from the local staff and our volunteers we were able to see it through. Drs., Onyango, Oketch and others greeted us as they ushered us through a tour of the facility, staff and patients. They were very accommodating in setting up for what they termed, "surgery camp!" Time and again they would say, "the hospital campus is yours to do as you see fit...." And so we worked with them very closely to understand and utilize their system thereby optimizing our collaboration to improve conditions.
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