 Day 13
- Last day in Somaliland Spent the day in
the mental health ward again. The patient who assaulted staff
members has absconded - probably desperate to get away from
medication or desperate to get Qat-Khat. I don’t know what he can
do in a virtually mute state on the streets here. Looked around
from the car but didn’t see him anywhere. I am sure he will come
back to hospital by his own means or by others. He has a
fluphenazine depot in him now anyway which might take the edge off
his distress. The mosque patient is much calmer but still homeless.
I see Zamzam on the ward. Zamzam regularly
helps us in our training in Somaliland. She has bipolar disorder
but is well now and employed as a cleaner in the hospital. When
unwell she has gone to battle front lines and put herself at great
risk. She has a child as well, who she is sole parent for. She
recognises me and even knows my name. It is great to see her
doing so well.
It is a Friday and day off but some of the
staff have agreed to come in on their day off to have a case
supervision session with me. It is effectively a CBD with a group.
The nurses struggle to speak English but can understand. We
go through many cases and I think they have learnt some things. I
tell them that I am not here to tell them what to do. However I can
pass on what WHO tells them to do with their new mhGAP IG document
which is a practical manual for treatment of mental illness in low
resource environments.
I leave the hospital with sadness. I wish I
could stay and be part of an exciting time of improvement. I always
am left wondering whether I am more useful back in UK or in
Somaliland where it can be so rewarding. It takes an immense
amount of energy and commitment to change an inpatient unit in a
place such as this. With Julie, I think they have someone who can
do this if anyone can.
I make sure to have the goat kebab as my treat
before leaving. This is one of Somaliland’s best
attractions. I am about to leave. We have achieved our goals
but there is much still to be done in this challenging environment.
There is a drought but not to the extent of Somalia in the South.
It is one of the most difficult environments for a foreigner but it
is also one of the most rewarding experiences. The needs are
immense, but you can make a difference.
What I get most from this, apart from
direct experience and sense of accomplishment, is that for these
few weeks I can totally forget my NHS work and stress! It’s
all about the clinical care and nothing more. Somaliland is my best
vacation destination for that reason - and so many more. It is
a country where I have grown to feel very much at home.
I can genuinely say I want to come back - yet
again.
THET
Somaliland Programme
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