In March, Daniel got to return to Angola! He brought along Deb Crotty, an ultrasonographer, and they taught a course in diagnostic ultrasound for 11 doctors from 4 different hospitals. Even though the course training was at a sister mission hospital in Lubango (CEML, where we first served in 2012-13), Daniel got to spend a weekend in Kalukembe and reconnect with colleagues there.
Many times in Angola, resources are greatly limited in evaluating patients. Exams like CT or MRI are extremely difficult or impossible to get. Bedside ultrasound (called point-of-care ultrasound--POCUS) changes our abilities to provide quality diagnosis and care to our patients. From identifying molar pregnancies, bladder cancers, putting in IVs into little babies, to draining perinephric abscesses, POCUS is an accessible, low-cost lifesaver. But like any procedure in medicine, ultrasound is a skill that demands practice and refinement. We are thankful to Deb for bringing her knowledge and patient teaching to share with our physician colleagues in Lubango! And we look forward to seeing our colleagues grow in their abilities to use this life-saving skill.
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| Deb Crotty teaching one of the classroom sessions for the diagnostic ultrasound course |
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| This ward patient enjoyed Dr. Hermenegildo's ultrasound skills. Groups practiced hands-on ultra sounding on patients in the hospital at CEML. |
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At Kalukembe, Julia (left bottom row) introduced Daniel to patients staying at the Casa de Esperança. The house is continuing to bless patients staying for prolonged care and others waiting to labor at the hospital. Julia remains busy with visits to communities for health education and visiting palliative patients at the hospital
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| This past weekend, Priscila went to the Consortium for Global Health in Washington, DC, to support presentations by Anna Eberwein (L) and Jasmine Su (R.). They each published research from Kalukembe in 2025 and are preparing another paper for publication soon on risk factors for uterine rupture at Kalukembe Hospital. Also with them is Dr. Kathryn Jacobsen, a longtime friend and mentor who has helped with ALL our published research from Kalukembe. So thankful for these women and the useful research they have contributed for Kalukembe! |
