Medicine in Mozambique: Obstetrics and Gynecology

Yet another week in my medical clerkship here in Mozambique, and this time I was in the little town of Chiure. Not too far from Pemba this place, just a 2hr drive or so. What is interesting with Chiure is that although it may only have 2 paved roads, it is quite a populous place. In fact, the district of Chiure happens to be the most populous in the Cabo Delgado province. Thus Chiure hospital sees quite the number of patients, all coming in from the surrounding towns and villages. Also, alternatively, some medical teams go out to the health posts on the country side and provide care more locally. I did a bit of both this week, working in the hospital and going out to the remote health posts. My hosts for the week were a lovely British/Brazilian family in which the mother was the OB/GYN I was working with for the majority of the week.

There is a real need for proper maternal health care in Mozambique, since a lot of women in this part of the world still die from pregnancy related problems. Such things like regular ante-natal checkups that one is used to in the developed world simply are not that common in northern Mozambique. The result is that problems that could be avoided early on in pregnancy are left undetected and can eventually become life-threatening. Thus the work within maternal health care in Mozambique involves both solving the grave cases that do occur, and also working on preventing them by getting mothers to do regular check ups. It is a interesting field of medicine to be sure, and I have been glad to have experienced it for this week. Now for some pictures!

On the road to Katapua, a remote health post.

Katapua Health Post

Doing Consults with Patients in Katapua

Getting ready for surgery in Chiure. Lots of C-sections (including twins) some hysterectomies, sterilizations and one case of a unicornuate uterus. Also a quite tragic case of a woman with a massive placental abrubtion, yet another example of how early intervention can be the difference between life and death.

An interesting week and lots of new things seen and learned. Next week I fly off to Gurue, (of drinking water fame) the more mountainous region of Mozambique not far from Malawi. Look out for a post on that at the end the coming week. Till then, cheers.