Dedicated nurse making a difference

Former Whanganui High School student Deborah Adesanya on tour with the world's largest civilian hospital ship, helping children in need in West Africa.
Photo/ supplied.

A former Whanganui High School student discovered the "art of nursing" while volunteering on board the world's largest civilian hospital ship in West Africa.

Joining a crew of 450 volunteers, Deborah Adesanya spent her 2017 New Year on board Africa Mercy docked in Benin where she spent 20 weeks nursing to help provide free surgery to children in desperate need.

She described the experience as "confronting" and "surreal".

"In New Zealand if you have a lump, you get it seen and it gets treated. Over there children were walking in with massive tumours the size of water melons - it was really confronting," Ms Adesanya said.

For the 26 year-old it an experience close to heart and an opportunity to pay it forward.

Ms Adesanya was born in Nigeria, only a few hours drive from Benin, and emigrated to New Zealand when she was 10.

She lived in Rotorua for a short stint before moving to Whanganui with her family when she was 15.

After finishing high school she moved to Auckland to complete her bachelor of nursing degree in Auckland.

As she was driving home on the Auckland motorway she spotted a billboard advertising Africa Mercy.

"Deep inside it felt like it was something I was meant to do so I went home and did a bit of researching and a few months later I was on board docking into Benin."

But it wasn't all smooth sailing and there were moments that almost broke her.

She remembered a little boy who got rushed in after he had fallen into a camp fire.

"He had excessive jaw and mouth injuries and horrific burns, his whole body needed a cast. This kid was incredibly resilient but the treatment was intense. He started screaming, speaking Yoruba, but I couldn't understand it."

She said most people over there could speak French so they had a French translator who spoke to the father and the father translated to his son in their local language.

"The intensity just broke me and I had to hand the tube over and leave the room. I just went to a corner and cried and cried."

Ms Adesanya said when she came back into the room the boy didn't hold a grudge but was so thankful.

"Even if we couldn't fix them, they were so grateful...it was amazing how you formed this connection with the patients through the language barriers."

She said she was able to push through those confronting times because she started to see that what they were doing was helping and they were making a difference. 

 

"Being over there it took me back to the art of nursing. You were connecting with the patients and it became more than just a job.

"There was no sense of entitlement over there. In New Zealand it's not intentional but there is a sense of entitlement like I should have this...it really made me see that first world problems are a real thing," Ms Adesanya said.

She said coming back to the same job in New Zealand at Starship Hospital in Auckland felt "pretty bizarre".

"Sometimes it feels like that trip to West Africa was a dream."

But she brings her surreal experience with her to work.

"Having that connection with patients is important and being over there it really did open up my world view, all the extra clothing we took over we gave away...you learn to let go of material things."

Looking into the future, Ms Adesanya said aims to save up to do more volunteer work.

"I would definitely recommend it, and they aren't just looking for nurses but canteen staff, cleaners, doctors, all sorts."

By Emma Russell
Wanganui Chronicle 28/9/17