A most satisfactory day.

The start to today could not have been more different to yesterday. I wrote out our newly formatted operating list and the case flow through theatres was very efficient for a change. I had the list photocopied (there is one photocopier in the hospital admin block) and posted a copy on each ward as well as putting it up in theatres. Not particularly surprisingly, it was a massive hit as everyone knew what was going on. Accompanying this initiative, I suspect ‘the game’ was also raised today; either to try and mitigate yesterday’s performance, or perhaps in anticipation of our guest. Regardless, it was fantastic.

Our visitor, the specialist surgeon nun from Korogwe, arrived very promptly and her beaming smile as she walked into theatres heralded another good omen for the day. I made a point of introducing all the staff and whilst the first case was being prepared in theatre 1, we sat down to go through a brief presentation I’d put together. It went down very well and we were both very enthusiastic about collaboration, feeling like we were onto something good. She insisted on a photo, which I was rather flattered by.

It was never my intention for the day to become a ‘teaching list’, more an opportunity to start to work together, but she was quite clear that she viewed it as such. She wanted to be involved with all the cases, not just the mesh hernias. I had selected some suitably testing hernias for today, and they went extremely well. She was delighted for such experience and clearly very impressed with what we have put together in Muheza. She was very complimentary about how much she had learned. Praise indeed as I am pretty sure that she has by far the most experience of mesh hernia surgery in Tanzania (possibly more than everyone else put together). I felt very humbled, and she really struck a chord with me when she talked about learning every day. Even if it were to be for this reason alone (there are many others), I know we will get along brilliantly. Such things really are music to my ears.

She announced that she would be coming back every Wednesday until I leave, perhaps every Thursday too, keen to capitalise on what she views as a fantastic opportunity to learn. I only wish that we had met each other sooner. For my part, I feel I have found a very important person. She has already declared herself as a strong advocate for me; a suitable ‘sponsor’ if you like, which I have come to understand is very important in Tanzanian culture. She has a wealth of local mesh experience to draw upon as we consider widening our net. She is a willing collaborator and I am sure that together we can achieve much more than separately. She seems very willing to support Muheza when I am gone, despite the fact that this will create more work for her. And perhaps most significantly, I think I have found another important friend here.

Can you ask for much more from a day?!