it's not malaria...it's obama fever!

Obama fever is sweeping the nation!!! In his first visit to Africa since his inauguration, Obama will arrive in Accra tonight and will spend two days in Ghana. Tomorrow he will be spending the day in Cape Coast! The city is absolutely alive with energy and excitement! There are billboards covering the streets with a picture of Barack and Michelle or with a picture of Barack and John Atta Mills (Ghana’s President) all declaring “Akwaaba!!” (Welcome). Secret Service agents have been patrolling the roads and waters for months now and their presence has been impossible to miss over the past few days. The streets are being cleaned, the buildings painted, the city beautified. People are walking around with Obama watches, earrings, pins, dresses, shorts…you name it! It’s absolutely hilarious and so exciting at the same time! We are hoping to catch a glimpse of him from near the Cape Coast Castle tomorrow but it has just been wonderful to see how much hope Africans have because America has elected an African-American President. It is impossible to not be totally wrapped up in joy and energy!!
Other than Obama news, I have spent two weeks in the NICU and it’s been pretty cool. The first week I mostly just fed, changed and cuddled the little babies. Their mothers aren’t allowed in the NICU because of space constraints so it’s important just to love on them as much as possible. I obviously have loved loving on day old babies! This week has been even better because I have been shadowing Dr. Erobu, a junior doctor from Nigeria. She is absolutely wonderful and has been teaching me so much. She makes her rounds visiting babies in the Delivery Suite and in the ER before heading to the Outpatient Department. When we are examining newborns in the Delivery Suite, she lets me do their full assessment to ensure that they’re healthy which is cool. Plus because she is Nigerian, she doesn’t speak Fante so all the nurses and patients know to communicate with her in English, which makes spending the day with her a lot more enjoyable! Today was an insane day in OPD – we had to resuscitate two babies and then spent two hours on another 6-day-old baby who had a temperature of 40.6°C. Dr. Erobu keeps me right in the action, helping to resuscitate the babies, start them on oxygen and even drawing blood samples for the 6-day-old; very cool!
That’s all I have to report for now! Hopefully the next entry will be filled with pictures of when we’re asked to dine with the President and his family! Haha. One week from today, we will be leaving Cape Coast to travel for 12 days before returning home. Oh how time flies when you are having fun!!