Greetings Kings and Queens,
So I finally summoned the nerve and nostalgia needed to write this piece. It would have been totally unforgivable if I didn’t put pen to paper for this one despite how lazy a writer I am. I have probably just witnessed one of the most amazing 30 days of my life and it’s important this one stands in posterity (unlike many other pieces). It’s a chronicle of activities around my elective placement at the University of Pretoria. For those unaware, medical students from the University of Lagos, are usually given a month off in their final year to go take up elective placement at other Universities of health facilities within and outside the country. This is to expand the horizon of medical students whilst broadening their experience and knowledge base.
The Hustle
I had thought the biggest challenge for me would be deciding where to go for my electives. Lol…how I thought so wrong! I had so many fantasies squashed before finally resorting to South Africa. God and His ways, who knew a last resort could become a best resort for electives? I had to first deal with the needless bureaucracy of my school – from searching for my file to losing it again to motivating staff with Juice packs to have work done, it was such a struggle! Then the online hustle was one to remember. I probably sent more mails this past year than I’ve ever sent in my whole life. Browsing and web searching was also endless, with over 30 tabs of web pages at times on my browser. You think all is done, when you make headway with all these till you get to the last and final stage – visa application! We practically had to fight for our visa to South Africa; we didn’t believe we were made to go through such a struggle to get to another African country. The famous ‘okada’ ride over Ojuelegba Bridge to get our travel insurance on the last Friday before travel is one I won’t forget too quickly – the struggle was real!
The Hospital
I was to take rotation in the Paediatric Departments of Steve Biko Academic Hospital and Kalafong Hospital, both teaching institutions for medical students of University of Pretoria. I looked forward to the experience and built up a lot in my very wild imagination. My first visit to the Steve Biko Academic Hospital had me in total awe; for the very first time, I didn’t feel like I was in a hospital when I was actually in one. I shed inner tears for its equivalent back home; it would probably take us years of demolishing and starting afresh to bring ours up to that level.
I spent the most of my first week at Steve Biko, working first with the Acute Paediatric team and then later in the Paediatric Hematology/Nephrology/Endocrinology. It was a fantastic experience seeing patient management from such an improved angle.
First, there was an electronic patient flow that calls out patients’ ticket numbers once it’s their turn to be attended to. Then, there was a patient record system that enabled health personnel access patient details online, this usually includes past, present and pending investigations done and their results, patient’s previous encounters with the hospital etc.
Part of my first week was also spent at Tshwane District Hospital, their secondary level hospital which connects to Steve Biko via an interesting tunnel. I would come here mostly in the afternoon to attend to emergency cases at the Emergency Section and most importantly get to learn procedures.
The next two weeks would take me to Kalafong Hospital, a tertiary hospital in the suburbs, not as super-specialised as Steve Biko was. My experience there was easily the most remarkable. I was exposed to a huge foray of General Paediatric cases, assigned patients and presented severally at the very educative ward rounds we had. That ward was an enthralling experience for me; watching kids come in fatally ill only to start chasing you all around days later. It was an absolute delight. The Peete twins are probably the biggest culprits with what they did to me one morning; I call it the ‘Morning Rush’. They ran after me in circles till I was panting! I also did quite a lot of ward work – setting IVs, drawing blood and all. The kids had small veins but strong muscles, so it was such a struggle each time.
My last week would bring me back to Steve Biko, its Neonatology section. It was a different experience altogether dealing with preterm babies and jaundiced newborns. I was working with such a hardworking team of student interns. We would see our patients and proceed to the daily routine – setting IVs and drawing blood from their very tiny and tender veins. We also had a stint at the theatre witnessing paediatric routine care for newborns (i.e. APGARs and all).
In comparison to LUTH, the three hospitals I rotated through had a few things in common – fantastic patient records system, effective laboratory services, medical insurance and highly motivated staff in a well maintained, healthy environment. Sadly, we have hardly made any headway in any of these areas.
The People
An integral part of my visit to any place would have to be the interesting people I meet and in Pretoria I met a quite good number. I was able to build a very good relationship with the students and doctors I worked with and I hope they will be lasting bonds. I must say, the best Consultant I worked was Dr. Snyman. He was such a gentleman; ward rounds with him were a unique learning experience each time and he never makes you look bad even if don’t know anything. Dr. Thomas, my American Medical Officer at Kalafong would stand out as one of the most interesting doctors I met. Her head was a bag full of everything Paediatrics and she was hardworking to a fault. I also enjoyed working with Drs. Nakedi, Oupa and Mokaba; they were by far the most interesting Interns (that’s what they call Houseofficers). Amongst the students, Jabulani was the first real friend I made. He was my neighbor and we shared lots of interesting moments teaching each other how to eat our different native delicacies.
Team Pretoria
30 days in Pretoria would probably not have been such a tale if it weren’t for the fabulous team of Royals that came along – Seyi, Rahman, Olaolu, Adaugo, Laju, GKK and Azeez aka Armani! This team was packed with all the wit, craziness and razzmatazz you need for any trip to totally rock! We had such an amazing time and shared an unflinching bond out there.
We also shared lovely moments with our visits to various tourist attractions in South Africa. Our visit to Gold Reef City was most remarkable. They had the most amazing rollercoasters and we probably had our hearts in our mouths riding most of them.
However, having dinner at the girls’ guesthouse would probably stand as most of our cherished moments. We felt so much like a family! We would talk and make a hell of a noise (their landlady didn’t find this funny – noisy Nigerians!) At times, we would also skype with other Royals around the world – Rukayat, Lola, Dami, Toke and Tolu Abidogun most notably. At other times, we would feed our eyes and mouth with the enormity of ‘PAP’ littered all over South African streets (only Team Pretoria would get the punJ)
I had a hell of a time these past weeks, Pretoria was such a blessing. Share your own story – back home, abroad? How was it for you?
YUSUF SHITTU
