Author: Michelle Hills

I have survived my first week in Zambia. The only thing I have struggled with is boredom as I’m usually a very active person. So apart from the odd trip to the shopping malls (and if you know me, you know I hate shopping), I have been mainly at my airbnb doing crosswords and swimming in the pool!!! I know, it’s a tough life.

However, all is about to change?? Yesterday I caved in and hired a car, so I could have more freedom, and get around easier. My first stop was a different shopping mall and this one had a cinema. Who would have thought that a grown woman could enjoy Dora the Explorer Movie. It was hilarious ?? I followed this up with Fish and Chips ??. I don’t feel I’m completely embracing the African life style but this time off work, was also for enjoyment.

Today I went to visit the elephant orphanage. This is where any baby elephants that have lost their mothers, to poachers and still need weaning are taken. They have room for 11 babies and weaning is usually completed by 3years of age. Once weaned they are reintroduced back into the wild. They take 2 litres of baby formula, with other nutrients added, every 3hours. We are not actually allowed to go near them, because the keepers want to keep them as wild as possible.

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After seeing the elephants I met up with 1 on the British doctors out here and we went to the Henry Tayali art gallery followed by lunch. I had a really nice time and the chicken curry I order was delicious and not Ram hot ??

The car I have hired is a Toyota with Japanese instructions and even a lady talking to me in Japanese, so if anyone can translate, I’d be much appreciated!!!

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Today I received the exciting news that I have got permission to visit the Paediatric Theatres at the UTH. I’m not expecting to be able to do anything, but it will be so interesting to see how things are done over here.

So, my thoughts on Zambia…..I am very happy here. The people are amazing, always so helpful and accommodating. I especially like the people trying to sell me things when the traffic backs up at the traffic lights. Most of the time they are just selling regular stuff such as fruit, veg, brooms etc, but then I got offered a puppy ? I thought nothing could top that until I got offered a live turkey today!!! ? The Zambians seem very proud, you don’t see any begging, the poor seemed to make a living by selling things at the side of the road. Obviously this is only my assumption and I haven’t even scratch the surface yet. There are frequent power cuts, which doesn’t really effect me, because they have a generator where I’m staying. My one main observation, is that I haven’t seen any old people.

And finally, this bad boy went under the door into my apartment when I left this morning. I hope it’s left, because if it didn’t I’m going to shit myself in the night when it runs out ??

Hello everyone. I’m finally finding my Zambian feet, and have been quite busy for the last couple of days.

Firstly I met up with the wonderful Doctor Emma Lillie. For those of you who don’t know Emma she is a Consultant Anaesthetist that I work with at the Children’s hospital in Brighton. Emma also happens to be Zambian, and it has been talking to her over the last few months about the work that she also does in Zambia, that made me choose this as my first destination. I met Emma at her home where I was made to feel very welcomed by both her and her mother. After a quick chat, we headed to The University Teaching hospital.

At the UTH we met Dr Naomi Shamambo. Dr Naomi, in her own time, showed me around this very large teaching hospital. It’s not without it’s problems, but so is the NHS, however some amazing work is being done there with limited resources. I guess as a nurse the thing I found the most shocking is the nurse to patient ratio. Next time you nurses out there want to moan about being short of staff, most wards over night have 1 qualified nurse for 80 YES 80 patients!!!! Most of the care/meds etc is given by the family. During the day there is around 6-8 nurses, but I think most of them are student nurses. Patients are transported around by their relatives, as there is not really any porters available.

My favourite visit was to the special care baby unit. I spoke to the lead nurse there and that day they had 6 nurses on for 80 babies. She said sometime they can have up to 100 babies and 8 nurses if they are lucky?? There were rows of little cots with tiny babies all wrapped up waiting to be fed….I could have quite happily stayed there and helped out, but I don’t have hospital clearance, and actually maybe they didn’t need my help ??‍♀️
Despite being so short of staff the lead nurse tells me that infant mortality is falling, due largely to better hand hygiene and other changes they have been making. What wonderful news for all concerned.

While at UTH I also got to met the Theatre Superintendent, who would be the person to help sort out my clearance to do some teaching etc. I’m got going to lie….she scared the bejeebers out of me. I may be imagining it, but she looked less than impressed by me being there. I guess she’s seen it all before, and what help can I be in only 4 weeks?? Probably lots of paperwork and agro for her, for very little return. However, I am here and willing to do anything I can if they want me. I also really appreciate the effort Emma and Naomi have gone too in trying to get me some work. Maybe I’ll just sneak back to the baby unit and help with the feeding ?

After leaving the hospital we went and met up with some Junior doctors from the UK and Australia who are part of the Zambia Anaesthesia Development Program (ZADP) zadp.org I think they are here for 6 months and then they rotate with a new bunch. They were very interesting and listening to the work they do at the UTH was fascinating. They don’t have ODP’s/Anaesthetic nurses here, so they looked lovingly at me ? (I may have made that bit up). They are trying to set up some simulation training and of course I have offered my services. Once again this may or may not be something that works out.

My final connection was via Skype with Emma and Dr Hope. Hope works at Maina Soko military hospital in Lusaka. She is currently setting up Simulation and was very interested in my previous experience. Hope is particularly interesting in Human Factors training. We had such a positive meeting and I think I can really help Hope. However as with everything, I need now Military clearance as well, which Hope is arranging. So, that’s where I’m at….hoping that I can help out in some way, but waiting for all the pieces to fit together.

So while I’m waiting, I’ve been trying to get out and about. I had thought about hiring a car, but the roads/traffic and general driving isn’t great. I’m usually a very confident driver, but with what seems no rules, I’ll leave it to John my taxi driver.

I been to the National Museum, and read about the history of Zambia, slavery and about it’s independence. Also the impact on Zambia when other countries like Zimbabwe were fighting for their independence. Outside the museum was a fantastic statue called ‘breaker of chains’ to celebrate Zambia independence.

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Below are some other pictures that I took from inside the museum. My favourite is a letter a child has written about who her heroes are (there were lots of letters, it must have been a class project)

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Well that’s about it from me, for now, and if you’ve got this far….well done. Just off for a swim because its 28 degrees here ??☀️☀️

After travelling for approx 22 hours, I have arrived safe and sound at my Zambian Airbnb. My visa is initially for 30 days and then I have to go somewhere important to have it increased for my last 6 days.

So far everything has gone smoothly, Matt who owns the Airbnb met me at the airport, took me to get some currency exchanged and then to the supermarket to get a bit of food. Loads of building work going on in Zambia, the South Africans are investing heavily in shopping malls etc. Matt has also sorted me out a SIM card for my phone so I can get the internet and keep you all updated!! I have also met Matt’s family who are great. Matt’s wife (who is Zambian) was a HCA at the RSCH A&E department before they came back to live in Zambia. It really is a small world.

The airbnb itself is wonderful, it has a beautiful garden, which I am currently sitting in and a swimming pool to cool off in when it gets too hot. It’s currently a sunny 28 degrees but with a lovely breeze ☀️So no need for it yet ?

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On a personal note….as I am going to do this blog warts and all….there were a few tears from me at the airport, I can’t comment on the others, I walked away without looking back. Was a little tearful last night, but I think that was tiredness more than anything, all ok today ?? Very very difficult leaving my family behind, but I’m only 12hours away and this will definitely get easier……. it will won’t it???

Only day 1 and I’m already a bit restless. I’m not use to sitting around not doing anything. Tomorrow hopefully I will get to meet up with the anaesthetists at the hospital and also do a bit of exploring ?

So that’s me for now…off for that swim ?‍♀️ Stay safe everyone. Much love xx