Monkey Jam, Eat Pepper

One of the biggest challenges here at JFK Hospital is malnutrition.  Upon first reading, one might say, “Of course malnutrition is a problem.  It’s Africa!”  But, the patients and the disease processes that come with malnutrition are only the tip of the iceberg here.  You see, the problem that I am speaking of is the difficulty that we have with TREATING malnutrition here.  Without getting myself into too much trouble and ruffling too many feathers, I will just say that the kitchen at JFK does not supply enough “high protein milk” for the kids with malnutrition here.  And, this “high protein milk” is actually not up to WHO standards.  So, these patients often LOSE weight while admitted and, not infrequently, die.  It is SO frustrating.  There are a few very capable feeding centers in Monrovia (with F-75, F-100, and Plumpy Nut donated by UNICEF …. Formulas and foods made for re-feeding malnourished children in developing countries).  However, JFK Hospital has not wanted to accept such donations.  (It is a long and frustrating explanation.  We have been trying to get this situation taken care of… but, the politics involved are overwhelming and, honestly, unbelievable.)   Therefore, when I am here at JFK, I make it a priority to discharge the malnourished patients as soon as possible to follow up at one of the feeding centers.  While the kids are admitted, I go out of my way to INSIST that the children get enough milk from the kitchen.  I haven’t made many friends in the kitchen doing this.  Lol.  But, I explain that this food is their medicine.  They have had every excuse in the book for why there isn’t enough milk… which keeps me on my toes.  My favorite was when I saw a giant tub of milk sitting on the counter and they told me I couldn’t have the milk b/c I didn’t have any water bottles to put it in.  Since that day, Katherine and I have made it our daily mission to gather empty water bottles in order to supply our patients with milk.  (I will upload a pic when possible : )

There is a saying here in Liberia: “Monkey Jam, Eat Pepper”.  It’s a different way of saying that when you are in a rough situation, you just make due with what you have.  (Obvious explanation: When a monkey is hungry and there is no food to eat, he will eat pepper.)  So, until we can get JFK to provide WHO level care for malnutrition, I will make my daily trips to the hospital kitchen to get them “high protein milk”.  It may not be perfect, but it’s something!