Hi there!!

There was a medical transport in early June, and I would like to share it with you all.

This time, I went to a country called Namibia. Have you all heard of it?

I had not. For those who, like me, were unaware, Namibia is located in southwestern Africa and is a rich country in nature where you can see wildlife. The climate is mostly sunny and pleasant during the day, but the temperature can vary significantly. Also, there is a long dry season, and in winter, the humidity can drop below 5%, which can cause bleeding from the nasal mucosa due to dryness.

During my stay, I ended up getting a nosebleed just from blowing my nose. The safety situation is not great either, so even in bustling towns, it can be dangerous even for men from other countries to go out in the evening.

Generally speaking, one of my coworkers and I take turns doing medical evacuation, but for some reason, it often happens that I get assigned to transport to minor countries. Of course  the main purpose of going overseas, yet I can experience various landscapes and cultures, which is stimulating.

I put pictures taken from the air of Namibia and when I got off at the airport. 

As for the transport case, it involved a patient who lost consciousness while traveling on a cruise ship running around the world. The ship stopped by Namibia to drop the patient for transferring to a hospital, but the patient had to move to another hospital in a city due to the unavailability of a neurosurgeon there. Due to language barriers and differences in medical quality, the patient wished to return to Japan. The patient's condition was stable and able to walk, and had some ability to communicate. The transport to Japan was finished without any complications. Since the local doctor provided discharge permission and the patient's condition was stable, the patient can only see a neurosurgeon at a Japanese hospital as an outpatient to determine optimal treatment plans.

Namibia was the first country for both the doctor and me, and even though we had received information and contact with doctors from local hospitals in advance, since time zone differences made it difficult to obtain full medical information, not being able to make us capture the patient’s condition clearly. Moreover, even when we received information that has been fully given, it was sometimes insufficient. So, we decided to go to the local hospital and see the patient with ample time to ensure everything went smoothly.

When transporting patients across borders, information about the patient (whether it's initial data or the latest) becomes crucial, regardless of how stable the patient's appearance seems. Depending on the situation, there may be times when a patient cannot return home with us. For example, attempting to return to the home country just two weeks after the onset of a cerebral hemorrhage. (The airline regulations vary, but there are defined timelines for when patients can be on board based on their medical condition or surgery.) Therefore, it is necessary to assess on-site whether the patient is in a safe condition to board the aircraft.

Now, let's talk about something delicious.

As I previously mentioned, Namibia has full of nature and wildlife. When we went to a café, the menu included dishes like impala carpaccio, which is something you certainly won't find in Japanese cafes. The atmosphere of the café was quite similar to Japanese, with terrace seating, and the carpaccio was elegantly decollated. (drizzle of oile, sliced mushroom and shredded cheese on top)

However, please eat raw items with utmost caution and at your own risk!

For those traveling to Africa for work or tourism, I highly recommend getting vaccinated in advance. Our clinic is equipped with some vaccines, so please feel free to contact us.

For those returning to Japan from other countries who are feeling unwell, we can provide treatments such as IV drips (excluding children), so please come and visit us.

Though the hot days will continue for a while, please be careful of heatstroke and make sure to regularly take in small amounts of salt and plenty of fluids!