As the missionary physician explained, blood banking at Heri is not complex. A simple HIV test is performed prior to withdrawal of 200-300ml of blood. He wondered how they could improve their transfusion practices, but I assured him that, in absence of additional resources, they were doing all they could do. Some of the things we consider basic to blood banking, such as hepatitis testing, component therapy, and blood storage, are currently not feasible at Heri. The surgeon longs for the capability of testing for potassium, sodium, BUN, and creatinine.
Electricity is scarce on the mission compound.
They did have a smaller generator for lights for emergency surgery. The hospital is licensed to use a frequency of 6880 kHz to talk with other mission stations. The needs at the hospital are numerous. The doctor s wish list includes a better microscope, some sort of chemistry laboratory instrument, electrocautery for surgery, sutures, needles, sterile gloves, updated textbooks, an antenna tuner for their radio, some sort of solar-powered electrical system. After this, my first overseas trip, it will be a long time before I complain about stateside food, laboratory or living conditions.