Lesson from Chaos #6: Doctor, we have none

Sister Lewende in Malawi

It was my first case in Malawi. I don’t even remember what it was, but I knew there was an HIV rate of 30% among surgical patients. After scrubbing I looked at Sister Lewende, my assistant and one of the local nurses.

With horror and disdain, I asked, “Sister, where is your eye protection?”

She looked at me calmly and addressed me like I was a child. “Doctor, we have none,” she said.

Embarrassed, I realized I was an asshole.

Low resource settings lack many of the supplies and equipment we take for granted in the US and Europe. It is the local staff who are the real heroes.

It was a lesson I’d learn again and again.