Adventure (5)
The next morning.
Choi Ki-seok left MHC with a suitcase in tow.
Then, as I turned around and looked at MHC, I felt overwhelmed. It was no exaggeration to say that his training began and ended at MHC.
From residents to fellows.
I spent the longest period of time at MHC during the most important period.
In fact, it was no exaggeration to say that the hometown of my heart was MHC, not Uijin University.
I couldn’t stop thinking about my precious colleagues and teachers, but I gritted my teeth and started walking again.
The training is over, but there is still a lot of work left to do.
I promised myself that I would not return to MHC until then.
Choi Ki-seok got in the taxi and looked at the scenery outside.
Buildings soaring high into the sky and the vitality radiating from people going to work.
Today is the last day for these familiar sights.
He applied to NSF and began his medical career again in the barren land of Africa.
‘I can do well. For sure.’
Choi Ki-seok consoled himself and thought about his future schedule.
NSF, which he supported, stands for Doctors Without Borders.
NSF was once awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of its contribution to visiting medically underdeveloped countries to provide medical welfare.
His activity period was 3 months.
Usually, NSF seeks long-term applicants for more than 6 months, but since he is a thoracic surgeon, a rare applicant, he was able to receive a short-term mission.
While I was thinking about this and that, I arrived at the airport.
Choi Ki-seok sat on a chair in the lobby and looked around.
Perhaps because time went by quickly, I still couldn’t see the person I was supposed to meet.
I was watching TV in peace, but suddenly my vision became dark.
Suddenly, someone covered his eyes with both hands.
“Whose crab?”
“The kindest and prettiest person in the world.”
As soon as I answered, a burst of laughter erupted from behind me.
The dark vision returned to its original state.
“Why are you laughing? “Did I say something wrong?”
“no. Because it’s so true. Anyway, our honey has perfect sense.”
When I turned my head, Jeong Seol-hwa was smiling brightly.
Ki-Seok Choi was not the only one involved in NSF activities. When he expressed his desire to apply to NSF, Jeong Seol-hwa also said he wanted to work with him.
[I have also wanted to volunteer as a medical volunteer for a long time.]
[The medical school will take care of me being away for three months at a time?]
[Is that possible? I was just thinking about taking this opportunity to move. I’m popular. They asked me to come, but there are a lot of them?]
[….]
[And if you think about going alone, I won’t leave you alone.]
On the day that Seolhwa Jeong expressed her desire to work at NSF, she declared her intention to do so.
Choi Ki-seok decided to respect her choice.
So, I didn’t say that NSF activities would be difficult and that it was because of me that they were having a hard time.
“How does it feel to be out of MHC?”
“It’s dull. It’s neither good nor bad… Ah. If I were to be honest, it would probably be closer to the bad side. “It feels like my heart has been ripped out of my chest.”
“It’s natural because I trained at MHC for almost 5 years.”
Jeong Seol-hwa nodded as if she understood.
“But honey, you’ll do well wherever you are. “I believe so.”
“thank you.”
The two people exchanged warm glances.
As we met after a long time to catch up and catch up, it was time to board the plane.
Choi Ki-seok and Jeong Seol-hwa boarded the plane and continued their conversation.
It was difficult to hide my excitement, expectations, and worries about my first medical volunteer activity.
Soon the long journey from North America to Africa began.
After two transfers, the two arrived at their destination, South Sudan.
Sudan had the largest territory in Africa, but is currently divided into North Sudan and South Sudan due to cultural differences.
South Sudan, where the two were active, uses English as the official language and is home to several tribes that have come together to form one country.
As I stepped into the Juba International Airport located in the capital, a sticky and humid atmosphere enveloped my entire body. An unknown smell unique to that country also irritated the tip of my nose.
Choi Ki-seok dragged the suitcase and looked around like a child visiting an amusement park for the first time.
As I looked at the various signs and the Sudanese people walking around the airport, I felt like my soul was going out.
I wondered if this was what Alice in Wonderland felt like.
After completing the immigration process with Jeong Seol-hwa, he stood in the airport lobby and waited for his guide.
Just then, a man came up and spoke to the two.
“Are Dr. Choi and Dr. Jeong the ones who applied to NSF?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“nice to meet you. “My name is Nareka, and I’m in charge of logistics management and emergency transportation.”
Nareka, a local guide, showed his white teeth and offered to shake hands, and the two exchanged light words with him.
Because Nareka was fluent in English, there were no major problems with communication.
“First, we will move to Obeid, where we will perform medical activities. “Let’s take a taxi to the private airport.”
“Are we going to the airport again?”
“yes. It is safest to take a private plane to Obeid. “The civil war is not over, so if you make a mistake…”
Nareka pretended to shoot a gun, which became a very effective means of communication for the two.
After some time, the three took a taxi and went to a private airport.
“I’ve heard a lot of rumors about Dr. Choi. “You said you are a world-class thoracic surgeon. Is there a reason you applied to NSF?”
“I came because I wanted to have a new experience. “I also wanted to reaffirm my concern for patients.”
“Hmm…”
Nareka quietly stared into his eyes.
“I have been with NSF for over ten years. “You can tell at a glance whether an applicant can survive the mission period or not.”
“How about me?”
“Seeing the spirit in your eyes, I guess at least you won’t run away.”
“Is there anyone running away during the mission?”
“It’s more than you think. The person who was dispatched just before Dr. Choi raised the white flag as soon as he saw his first treatment at the hospital. There is a world of difference between treating patients at a well-equipped hospital without worrying about money and NSF activities. “Just as the way of life of a flower in a greenhouse is different from that of a cactus in the desert.”
Nareka looked at Choi Ki-seok’s expression as she spoke.
However, even though he was moderately scared, his expression did not show the slightest movement as much as a fingernail.
Usually at this point, he would show signs of concern.
You will find out sooner or later whether you are fearless or thoughtless.
“Where exactly do you practice medicine?”
“This is Obeid Hospital located on the outskirts of Obeid. “If you look at it in person, the term ‘hospital’ may be a bit meaningless, but there is no hospital like it nearby.”
“….”
“I thought you were living in a tent or something?”
“I thought that might be the case. “The NSF did not mention a specific location.”
“what. Although tent clinics still exist, they are becoming fewer and far between. They say a place makes a person, but in a tent clinic, no matter how good a doctor can fly and crawl, proper treatment is impossible.”
“Are there any other hospitals near Obeid?”
“There is a hospital run by the Red Cross about an hour’s drive away. “The facilities there are slightly better than Obeid Hospital.”
“okay.”
Ki-Seok Choi continued to ask questions to Nareka and dug up new information. It is unclear how medical activities in Sudan will proceed or what variables will emerge.
So, I wanted to gather as much information as possible from a local guide.
“Aren’t you giving me a vest? “I understand that vests are provided when activities begin.”
“ah. “You’d be better off not wearing that vest.”
Nareka smiled bitterly at Jeong Seol-hwa’s question.
“If you wear a vest, you are revealing yourself as an NSF employee, which can make you a target. “It’s best to wear jeans and a comfortable t-shirt.”
“If you are the target…”
“Well. “I believe you will understand even if I don’t explain it.”
After a moment of silence, Choi Ki-seok opened his mouth.
“Why is Nareka active at NSF? “If I could speak English, I could have found a better job.”
“That’s it… there are circumstances I can’t talk about. “It’s as if people all over the world keep their secrets buried in their hearts.”
His eyes slightly fluctuated as he spoke, but Choi Ki-seok did not ask any more questions.
As the taxi headed to the airport, Nareka told us what to watch out for during medical procedures.
Over the course of three months, the two people engraved the advice that would become their blood and flesh deep into their bones.
How much time has passed?
After arriving by private airline, the three boarded a shabby plane and headed back to Obeid. I felt life-threatening at every moment in the violently shaking plane, but fortunately there was no accident.
After arriving at Obeid, the group took a jeep again and visited Obeid Hospital.
When we arrived at the hospital after going through a lot of hardship, it was dark.
“Here it is.”
Choi Ki-seok looked around Obeid Hospital and nodded. The hospital is a three-story building built in a modern style, and looking at the exterior, I thought it could accommodate about 120 beds.
“Do you like the hospital?”
“It’s better than I thought?”
“ha ha ha. “It seems like expectations were incredibly low.”
Nareka burst out laughing at Jeong Seol-hwa’s words.
“But don’t be disappointed. “I don’t know what the hospital will be like, but the patients you two will deal with will never disappoint.”
Nareka said something unexpected and took the lead, and the two people followed.
“First, let me give you information about the hospital. And let’s slowly say hello to the staff members working there.”
“yes. “I do that.”
The hospital tour with Nareka has begun.
The first floor of Obeid Hospital was the treatment room. The treatment room was divided into a total of five places, and in front of the room was a name plate indicating the doctor treating the patient, not the ‘department’.
“Currently, there are three doctors here: two local doctors and a doctor from Canada. Since two people came, there are now five people. “There is a shortage of doctors, so we need to provide treatment in all fields, regardless of department.”
While listening to Nareka’s explanation, I looked around the treatment room located on the first floor.
“Surprisingly, there are plenty of treatment tools.”
Seolhwa Jeong looked at the dresser and smiled with satisfaction.
“I may not say it myself, but I am resourceful. Next time, let’s go to the second floor. “There is a hospital room on the second floor.”
The two walked down the hallway following Nareka.
There were at least seven patients in the hospital room, and even their guardians took their seats, so there were no complaints.
In some hospital rooms, there were no beds, so stretchers were used instead, a situation unimaginable at MHC.
It felt more like the patients were locked in a cage rather than a hospital room.
“As you can see for yourself, we can’t even dream of a 5-person room in our hospital. “No matter how rich you are.”
Nareka spoke calmly and continued walking, and Ki-seok Choi felt that NSF’s activities were not easy after using the Eye of Hippocrates on patients.
From patients with amputated arms to patients suffering from malnutrition, patients with sleeping sickness, patients with Chagas disease, etc.
There was no patient at all.
