How much does it hurt?

29.06.2010- Many of the patients who are treated on our hospital ship experience for the first time treatment in a state of the art hospital.

This can be very scary, not only to trust their lives to a group of western doctors but just to find themselves in a situation so foreign can create a lot of anxiety.

Before each operation our doctors and nurses explain what they are going to do and hope to achieve. Before and after the procedures our patients are shown a « level of pain » illustration, to help them communicate how they are feeling.

This is extremely useful and effective as many of our patients are children. As well those who are adults usually speak a local tribal language and communication happens through one and sometimes two chains of translation. This simple chart is a great way to connect with the patients of any age, from any tribe with out the message being lost in translation.