Thursday, April 28, 2011

S is for Salone

I have arrived in Freetown, Sierra Leone to serve as Plastic Surgery Team Leader on the ward aboard the Africa Mercy for 3 months. In this role I will be responsible for training a team of 15 nurses who have been designated to care for the plastic surgery patients. My job will be mainly a mentoring and teaching role, educating the nurses about different plastic surgery procedures and the care of patients with regard to wound care using sterile technique. Many of the plastics surgery performed aboard the Africa Mercy is to release old burn contractures with skin grafting. Sierra Leone or "Salone" as the country is affectionately referred to by its citizens was first discovered by the Portuguese in 1462 and given its name which means "Lion Mountain" for the beautiful lush green mountains rising up from the ocean behind Freetown. Sierra Leone underwent a devastating civil war from 1991 to 2002, resulting in over 50,000 deaths, thousands of orphans and victims of brutal war crimes. The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels engaged in forced recruitment of child soliders, burning of villages, rape, amputation and disfigurement of civilians. The events of the Sierra Leone Civil War are depicted in the film, "Blood Diamond" as well as in the autobiography of child soldier Ismael Beah, "A Long Way Gone." The documentary film "Sierra Leone's Refugee Allstars" tells the story of so many Sierra Leonean refugees who lived in refugee camps for over a decade in neighboring Guinea.Sierra Leone just celebrated its 50th Independence Day from England on April 27th. Banners, penants and flags are waving all over Freetown as the citizens look to the future for a brighter Salone.