“Moon atonaton atonaton”

Many of our recent patients are from the village of Kontabana in the Chiefdom of Marampa of the District of Port Loko.  In the Suspected Ward Abubakar was tested negative for Ebola yesterday, he will have to wait for a second negative Ebola test before he can be released.  Adamssay who came with him had an indeterminate test.  From reports, recently there have been a whole lot of indeterminate results and these have been viewed as laboratory errors.  They are both doing well.

In the Probable Ward, Kadiatu has a high fever and Martha is having diarrhea.  They look weak with Kadiatu looking more deflated and exhausted than the older Martha.  The doctor who speaks Krio and I were accompanied by a nurse who speaks Temne.  Being nauseated, Martha could not take big gulps of ORS, so we asked her to “Moon atonaton atonaton” (drink slowly, slowly or take small sips).  This became the morning mantra for the rest of the patients which the doctor repeated in a sing-song manner inducing delighted smiles from some patients especially Gabriel in the Confirmed Ward.

In the Confirmed Ward, Gabriel and Sullieu came into the ETU together eight days ago, however yesterday Gabriel’s repeat Ebola test was still positive while Sullieu’s turned negative.  Their tests will be repeated.  Gabriel argued with the staff that if Sullieu is discharged he should be discharged at the same time because he is the only caretaker left for him.

The Medical Tent is boiling hot from noon onwards; a respite is to be had in the corridor closer to the entrance of the ETU where there is always a welcoming refreshing breeze blowing.

The ambulance brought in Kadie from the same village of Kontabana.  She has no Ebola exposure but has fever and vaginal bleeding which she says is her menses.  However she has a positive pregnancy test.  The afternoon staff will need to query her further and examine her to determine her gestational period.

There are now nine patients in the ETC, 3 in the Suspected Ward, 2 in the Probable and 4 in the Confirmed Ward.  My mask moved its way upwards to my left eye as I rounded, making it extremely uncomfortable to see and examine the patients.  Somehow we finished seeing all our patients.  

The Changing Tent