People
A night call in Chiili
David Genis recalls how a district hospital and a regional team worked together.
Published
This is a translation. The original is Русский. Language review: not performed by a native speaker.
In chapter eight of “A Doctor’s Notes”, David Genis recalls a trip to Chiili. At the district hospital, Serik Mauenov, head of the infectious diseases department, told him about a 23-year-old shepherd in a serious condition. Genis went to the ward with Mauenov.
Late in the evening, Genis reached the post office and telephoned Shadybay Abdullayev, chief physician of the regional hospital in Kyzylorda. He asked him to send a resuscitation specialist, a nurse and a supply of blood. Genis recalls that the team arrived at around four in the morning after travelling roughly 150 kilometres.
The team worked with the patient throughout the day. A few days later, the shepherd was moved, with assistance, to another ward. Genis recalls that the shepherd’s father followed behind, crying with joy.
Later, Mauenov invited Genis to a Kazakh meal with the recovered shepherd. The author writes that he was never able to make the visit.