The medical team was divided between the various wards at Benedictine Hospital and put to work straight away. The doctors and nurses were flexible and worked in areas where they were needed, which was not always the area they normally work in back home.

Karen Bennett, an ICU nurse, was put to work in the Pediatric (”peads”) Ward. The lack of space at Benedictine has meant that “Peads” can only accommodate children ages 0 to 6, children like Philasande Mata. Philasande is just seven months old. Her mother died in child birth and her father is unable to look after her. She has lived in the hospital since she was born.

Philasande is expected to reside at Benedictine Hospital until she is four or five years old. (© Eunice Oluoch/2006-04-11)

Sister T. S. Dlamini is the Unit Manager in charge of Peads. “The child will be here until the child has grown up and then the father will take the child,” says Dlamini. The father said when the child is able to do things for herself then he’ll come and take the child.

Dlamini says Philasande will likely reside at Benedictine for “four years or five years, I think so. The child is going to live at the hospital until then.”

This type of abandonment isn’t common said Dlamini, “It hasn’t happened before.” There is no one to breast feed Philasande. “We’re feeding her with a cup,” said Dlamini. “The baby is not crawling but the physios are attending to her.”

Older children, from age 6 to 12 are admitted into the adult ward.

This young boy is admitted in male medical at Benedictine Hospital. He’s in a ward with TB patients. (© Eunice Oluoch/2007-04-11)

It was a very emotional day for some of our team members.

Tammy Tenny worked in the new born nursery. “They didn’t have enough basic materials,” said Tenny. “They are low on towels, napkins and other things you need to deliver basic care.”

“If the baby is under the warmer, there’s no monitor to check how warm the baby is,” says Tenny.

Ruth Larmond checking the temperature of a new born baby under a warmer. © Eunice Oluoch/2007-04-11

“There was a baby on oxygen, three litres via nasal canular and there’s no O2 saturation monitor. How do you know when the baby is ready to come off? Right now they are basing it on the doctor’s best guess.”

“If I could give them anything,” said Tenny, “I would give them O2 saturation monitors, I would give them more thermometers, more towels, more sanitation wipes, alcohol swabs and IV poles.”