Sun & Cloud

This week we saw real babies and some fake babies (simulation models for learning). As per usual, all the fake babies lived and got better. As per usual, it’s a mixed bag in the real world. In PICU at the moment - one baby is on a hope-filled road to recovery, the one beside him is struggling for every mechanically ventilated breath. I don’t envy the one who has to say, there’s nothing more we can do. But how wonderful to be able to say - he’s going to make it.

Even the lockdown itself is having a mixed-bag effect on the hospital wards here - paediatric intensive care has never been emptier, praise God! Since there has been such a reduction in transmission of other viral illnesses. But the children’s wards are filled with kids struggling with their mental health. Particularly eating disorders. Which isn’t surprising...I saw a video today that was apparently trending on social media, where kids were challenged to see if they could tie their earphones or their facemask
around their waist.

But there’s good news too! Learning today about child global health - child mortality has halved pretty much in my lifetime! They say prevention is better than cure - but often I forget to see, and be grateful for, the pain that has been prevented. Apparently one of the most effective measures of improving child health has cost nothing at all - the setting up of local women-led support groups in low income countries.