Let's go do some good!

No time to be a slacker when you have so much to do. Our second day here we worked with the Vision Program. Dr. Jesse Hunsaker from Orem, Ut. brought to the DRC many supplies and taught the ophthomologists here to do sutureless cataract surgery. This had not been done in the Congo before and this was an exciting time for these doctors.We meet with several doctors at the Kinshasa Medical Center. All of these doctors have Lingala names. This medical center was at one time a state of the art medical facility but because of all the problems that the Conga has had many of the premier doctors left the country and the center has really deteriorated because of lack of funds. We started our day in a break room where we met the doctors. They were very excited to see Dr. Hunsaker. He had been here last year to a vision training where he taught an old technique for cataract surgery using sutures. He had left them with a lot of disposable supplies and some equipment which got them started in performing cataract surgery. They had not been able to perform this surgery as they did not have the instruments or the lenses needed to perform such surgery. They estimate that there are at least 6000 people in this city who need cataract surgery. No one has insurance and no one can come up with the money needed to get this surgery. Most of these people are well advanced in this problem and are totally blind in one or both eyes because of cataracts. This year Dr. Hunsaker returned to show a new technique that does not require sutures. This technique is cheaper, safer with less complications and faster. There is a christian hospital, St. Joseph’s that is partnering with the medical center to sponsor this training. St. Joseph’s is a hospital, that is in better shape but can not afford to do all the surgeries needed and they want to help the med. Center get up to speed and help them. Dr. Husaker had brought many supplies and instruments donated from the church, medical vendors and some he donated himself. There were twenty-four doctors, nurses and technicians who were there for the training. Training was done by video and two techniques were taught. That was all for the first day.

Dr. Hunsaker came to breakfast, lunch and dinner at our apartment. Food is so expensive to eat out and so we all just ate very simply here in our apartment. This is pretty standard when we have these specialists come in as they are so dependent on us for transportation and they are mostly paying their own expenses. We started surgery at St. Josephs at 8:00 AM. After a preliminary meeting we all suited up in greens even Farrell and went into surgery. Now I have been in surgery before and it wasn’t anything like this in the USA. Sterile technique was mostly followed but we were allowed to wear our street shoes into the OR. All the equipment is old. The handwashing technique was much different and what I learned as standard procedure. We began to realize that these people were well educated MDs who have studied all over the world but in this setting they were doing the best they could with what they had. I marveled at Dr. Hunsaker and his ability to perform a surgery he had never done before. He never had to do this as his equipment is much more technical and he was just using his expertise to help them learn this technique that fit their ability and equipment. When he saw that their surgical maneuvers were working ok even if he knew a better way he supported them in learning what they were comfortable with. He said he didn’t want to come on too strong and make them feel they were second class doctors when he could concentrate on the main issues and help them more.
The Chief Ophthalmologist at St Joseph’s, Dr Kalangalang had gone to a conference in Los Vegas last year where Dr. Hunsaker had mentored him and helped him get around and communicate at the conference. They had learned this new technique and he helped Dr. Hunsaker teach.
After surgery we had an appt. with the National Minister of Health of the DR Congo. All the doors to the offices are shut as they have only swamp coolers and they only cool the office not the halls or foyers. The ministers office was elegant with beautiful carpet, wood paneling and leather couches. We had the 4 missionaries, Dr. Hunsaker, the head of Ophthalmology from the hospital, Pres. Datarr (a Stake Pres. here in Kinshasa and the church rep.) and Pres. and sis. Maycock (mission president). The minister has an armed soldier outside his office who came in with us. This was an opportunity for the local Chief surgeon to express his needs for his department and praise the LDS Humanitarian Services for their help. The Minister welcomed Farrell and I to his country and thanked the Christensen’s for their help. That was it and it was over. It was a chance to let him know we were in the country and supporting his hospital system. The Minister told us that we should always feel that his door is open to us.
Last year after the vision clinic the doctors had given Dr. Hunsaker a gift. It was a bronze statue of a bare breasted Congolese woman. That got a pretty good laugh from the people in the mission here.

Day 2 of cataract surgery, we went to the Kinshasa Medical Center to do cataract surgery this time. Much the same as the day before but the surroundings were even more simple. Patients walked in bare footed with their clothes on and a hospital gown over their clothes. To cauterize they took an alcohol lamp and lit it and held a BB size ball with a little point on it in the fire till it got hot and then handed it to the doctor. He then used this to cauterize any bleeding vessels he might have in the surgical field. Dr. Hunsaker said he wasn’t sure what it was when they handed it to him but one of the doctors told him and so he just used it. He said it worked but he was a bit nervous at first. They used the regular cauterize at the end of the surgery but it didn’t work correctly because instead of the surgeon being able to zap it on and off the scrub nurse had to control it and the doctor had to say on and off to cue the attendant. Dispite all this the infection rate in all this is very low and people return very satisfied with their surgery.
The next day we were at the hospital at 8:00 AM far a losing ceremony. These people like ceremonies and official meetings. The purpose of this ceremony was PR for the Ophthalmology department, Humanitarian Services and the official time to turn over the supplies to the doctors. They started and ended the program by singing the DR Congo’s national anthem. It was sung in French and was soft and uplifting and talked about new beginnings, Several people spoke including the National Minister of Health. The Advisor to the Minister of Health spoke to Farrell and me about being in the country. He told Farrell he was trying to improve his English and he would volunteer to be my French teacher. How would that be? There were many people in attendance including government officials and church officials.

After the ceremony we went to clinic and saw yesterday’s surgery patients. Patients stay over night and the rule is you must bring your own linen and food to the hospital as none is provided for the patients. They were happy to be able to see again. Two patients that Dr. Hunsaker treated last year came in especially to thank him for helping them. Both were totally blind and Dr. hunsaker was able to help them see again. They were very grateful and wanted to come back and thank him.
We returned to the hospital the next day for a closing meeting. Dr.Hunsaker gave the doctors some more supplies which were a surprise for them. We discussed what was good and what was needed in the future. The doctors were most complimentary. They each expressed their gratitude for the assistance in not only learning the new surgery technique but also being given supplies with which to do the surgery. Dr. Hunsaker told them how much it meant to him to return to his friends and work with them again. Dr. Julee, a beautiful Congolese women got rather emotional as she told us, "I had almost quit being an eye doctor because I did not have the equipment or the supplies I needed to be an eye doctor. I felt like I could not be a healer just like our Father in heaven. I feel like I have been blessed in behalf of Jesus Christ to carry on. Our people are poor and assistance is necessary and it has lifted them up. The work of a doctor is to help. It is not money we look for but help to minister. "
Dr Mapunga, the Chief of Ophth. stated that many people came and talked about helping them but never return. He said he was grateful that we came back and that we did something. He felt that we really did care about his hosp.

This is in essence why we are here. So many people have given their monies to the church in hope of helping some one and this experience showed how well this program works and we get to be a part of it. We feel it a privilege to be here in the DRC and a privilege to be representing LDS charities as missionaries.

Farrell and Marilyn