FEB-B-1
FINAL PHASE OF SOMALILAND MEDICAL MISSION
TO BERBERA AND THE RED SWEA, TO CONCLUDE BACK IN HARGEISA
- Index to the Feb-B-series as we decamp from Hargeisa to Berbera to conclude Somaliland Medical/Surgical Mission back in Hargeisa
- Departure Hargeisa after “the longest day” and a near all-nighter in HGH and EAMH with operating theatre and crushing crowds of outpatients, to arrive at the Mansoor after midnight to be up at four and out at six for the road trip to Berbera in our convoy to the Red Sea port.
- On arrival in Berbera Hospital, an uncountable crowd of patients awaits, with over a thousand queued up for the medical clinic and hundreds more for the surgical clinic, with a rapid triage of the list of those waiting, seeing classic advanced pathology, and booking a dozen cases, including those who followed us down from Hargeisa, televised surgical ward rounds, and then a late night clinic closing the door as patients are still coming in to our exhausted team.
- A “theater day” in Berbera Hospital with a dozen cases posted and even more turned away as the team revolts for a quick trip to the Red Sea Beach to get the vehicle stuck in the sand, and return to the clinging conclusion as we attempt to get on the road back to Hargeisa, while attending delaying diplomatic ceremonies and receptions of gratitude before departure from the Mayor of Berbera on down.
- Our final day in Hargeisa Somaliland as we meet with the Hargeisa Hospital Board and take a very quick look around before departure having emerged from our clinical crush, as we pack our way back to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- Hale and farewell, Somaliland! Following two non-stop days of a clinical crush in Hargeisa and Berbera.