Projectgambia2009′s Blog

Hello!

Well, we wanted to see more maternity care and we certainly got our wish! This last week has been a rollercoaster of experiences; we’ve seen vaginal breech’s, premature labours without any medical assistance, some widely varying takes on neonatal resuscitation and we have seen how strong women really can be. The differences between maternity care in the UK and here are often indescribable, and then often quite minimal. Without a doubt we shall return to the UK with a different perspective on what we have at home, and what women really are capable of. The doctors, midwives and nurses at the clinic we are working at are a brilliant bunch of people, everyone is incredibly welcoming and as interested in the UK’s maternity services as we are in theirs. Their sense of team work is one we should all aspire to. We have learnt alot over these last couple of weeks, and image we shall continue to do so!

Pamela and Ashley xxx

Hello everyone

we have had a busy busy couple of weeks! First many thanks to mike and clare (and gerry!) for putting us up and taking us to the airport. We are now 10 days into our trip, and are both sunburnt, hot and both loving the experience of foreign maternity care. Our first week was spent in a private clinic, which was interesting, but very much led by the doctor, far more medicalised than we imagined it would be. Many of the drugs and skills are similar to that used at home, but with obvious differences. The most telling difference perhaps being in communication with the women and the woman-doctor-midwife relationship. In contrast this week we are spending our time in an NGO (non-governmental organization) German clinic, where we hope to see more midwifery based practice and look deeper into the communication skills and role of the midwife here in the Gambia.

with love from The Gambia

Pamela and Ashley xx

Well it’s 2 days before we leave for London and 3 before we fly off on our big adventure. All the work that has to be done has been done, the cases have been packed, unpacked and packed again several times (and probably will be again!!). We have to do a final count up but we think we have raised just under £650 an amazing amount and we both want to say again a big thank you to everyone who has donated money & items to the good causes we’re supporting. On saturday we met up with Francis Glynn from GTS/GETSuk at the Tate cafe in Liverpool and gave him £300, which with gift aid means a total of £375, you can see by the photo who came straight from work! Francis is also our landlord for the duration of our trip, so we also got last minute contacts and general info.

Francis receives our £300 donation

Francis & his lovely wife Filey & David in the background

So that’s it we’re all set. Thanks again for all your help & support over the last months & a massive thanks to the family and friends who have supported us through the highs & lows of organising this trip. On a personal note I want to thank my wonderful husband David Brodie. Without his support I would never have got through the last three years of training and certainly not been able to plan a trip of this length. He is my light & my life & I love him very much. (Ok that’s it, sorry to those who are now feeling queasy!!!).

Keep checking in, we will post on here as often as we can.

Pamela & Ashley xx

Well the countdown has truly kicked in now. Only 9 days left to go before we leave and almost all of our work is complete and the University is proving to be accommodating to our needs. We are both getting really excited now and even more excited about our first journal article being published. Take a look at http://midirs.org/development/MIDIRSEssence.nsf/articles/CDDFD65DDBE446BE802575D0004C71A6 . We still have room for a few more books if anyone would like to donate please get in touch. On the charity front we are well on target with only around £40 to raise now to reach the £600 target. What more to say? the sun is out and we are two happy students!! thanks to everyone who is helping to make this possible xx

Well here we are the beginning of June and only a few more weeks before we leave on our big adventure. Ashley & I are very busy doing our last few weeks on placement and writing essays on our days off. We have lots to do still & time is now against us, but fear not faithful readers, we are wonder women and will be done & dusted before we go!!!

We are meeting with Francis from GETSuk on the 27th to sort out the final details of the trip, which is so exciting. The fundraising continues, people have been very generous, with cash donations large & small,and lots of items, from sonicaids to knitted baby blankets  we are still a little short of the £600 we were hoping to raise, but there are still a couple of weeks left, we are hoping to do a boot sale (weather permitting) and some people have made pledges, so we’re hopeful yet that we’ll make it. We also think we have enough weight allowance now to take some midwifery books if student/ex-student midwives have any to pass on, but please no Mayes or Myles, far to heavy!!

We’d like to thank you for your continued support and there’s still time if you’d like to make a donation.

Pamela & Ashley xx

We’re up and running… yippee!

Check back here for news updates when they happen xx

March 18th 2009… Our first donation of £5 has arrived very excited & received with thanks x

March 19th.. 3 days in and already we’ve raised £45, a great start people x

March 25th.. Great day today we have been asked to write 2 articles for a well known midwifery journal, also two other journals have expressed an interest in receiving articles from us. As all the articles will look at different aspects of the trip, it should all be fine. So exciting for us to be published. Also a friend has been in touch to see if she can help as she has contacts with several medical companies. Happy Days!!!

March 27th… Just heard that an article on our trip has appeared on the Uni news board, LJMU rocks!