DHQ-Timergara is my second mission with MSF, but this was my 6th international mission, en toto, outside my country.
I can clearly see now the differences in perspective, implementation of principles, delivery of services, context and view of the different mission organizations.
I can also observe that different MSF OPERATIONAL CENTERS have their different S.O.P.s and perspectives that make MSF a “unique” NGO
I arrived in Timergara on the 21st of July, 2010 after a period of about a month where the DHQ-Timergara was without a surgeon.
As it was always been, it’s a challenging and exhausting experience to be working and doing volunteer work in the context of Lower Dir. It is an endeavor that every practicing surgeon should and must experience. First and foremost, being able to serve a people of different color, language, culture & traditions and creed. People with a different outlook and perspective in life and with strict cultural and religious adherence.
HIV-AIDS is not really a worry in this mission but Hepatitis B & C is very prevalent so patient usually (but not always) who comes into the theater is screened for Hepatitis B & C. Nevertheless, protection and extreme precaution is strictly practiced in MSF section of the MoH.
For this particular End of Mission report, I will forgo of the historical and contextual aspect of the project as it is all printed out in all the briefing documents available in MSF HR department. The surgical statistical data will be presented to show the people concern the bird’s eye view of what had transpired in the operating theater in the duration of my stay in the project.
Team life in Timergara is never perfect but we, the expats who are living together in one house were harmonious and mature enough to be able to deal with all our the differences. We all tend to adopt to each other and in the long run, complement each other.
Lastly, I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to my
predecessor, Drs. Martial and Martin for doing a great job in Timergara and to MSF-OCB for trusting me and giving me an opportunity to serve in Lower Dir, MSF mission project. If ever I would go for my next mission next year, I will chose to return to Timergara, Lower Dir
Surgical Statistics:
Total No. days in the field ………………………..83 days
Total No. of surgical cases performed (mixed)…...158
Distribution:
Trauma--------------------- 115 (72.8%)
FAI --------------- 47
Stabs-------------- 9
Mine blast ------- 3
RTA-------------- 8
Burn ------------- 30
Others ---------- 18
The rest of the surgical cases were under Pathology due to non traumatic causes. Six perforated peptic ulcers, one perforated typhoid Ilietis and 5 under obstetrical & Gynecologic causes.
During my tour of duty as the surgeon in DHQ-Timergara (MSF section), I had 3 mortalities (1-95% TBSA Full Thickness Flame burn; 1- massive mesenteric thrombosis, blunt abdominal trauma and 1- suspected FB embolism, FAI). We transferred 3 post-surgical patient for critical care to Peshawar.
