Accident
It's been couple of months, since last rode my zebra motorbike. After Accident I was taken by lieutenant Henri S. (please read my last post) to state hospital in Kedougou - Senegal. And only by european context I understood how little is there available an how much we having in our world. Yes there was emergency unit with medical staff, they have x-ray and that is pretty much all. I had to paid for all bandages and pils from pharmacy - I was lucky that one of them could speak english, but I knew they will ask for money on the end of it, I understood and agreed to that. In their opinion my bones were un-touched and I should have some rest, After "the diagnose"they took me to the hotel. I lie on the bed in big pain but at this point I realized I could be dead instead of. Now I appreciate I am alive. Thank you to all this people.
Back to Dakar
After 5 days in hotel (no water in toilet) but with great care of staff I was slowly recovering. For better diagnose I was taken to Dakar. Mamadu and Lamin - Senegalese sent by Lutz took my bike and me to Dakar (van) - travel was bad - 700km in 18hrs and we puncture 2 tyres at the same time but we made it early morning. Following week Mr Lo helps me with getting around all hospitals and privates clinics he is very good solving all the problems and he knows all people around there. We did all scans and we visit most of private clinics as well state orthopedic clinic in Dakar, and it took 5 weeks to find reason why my hand remained flat down and no way to lift it up.
Diagnose
After all of this, my Senegal doctor Maggate D. reassumed this is displaced greater tuberosity fractures and need to be properly repaired. She suggest the best is to come back to Europe to get this done.
How the insurance works and how it doesn't
My travel insurance had medical cover. This was the only insurance covers motorbike travel over 125cc and I bought from Voyager Insurance. This type of insurance doesn't cover private treatments so they direct me to Dakar biggest state hospital. To get private treatment you would have to buy more expensive proper medical insurance, but you need check if this would cover motorbike travelers. What happened next day after accident: I dialed number by Skype (3th time succeeded) after all my details were passed on I could report my accident and get some advise what to do. They were professionals but they didn't know how national health system would look like in Senegal. I went to state orthopedic hospital but had to use private clinics for diagnose and paid in full. the good point of having this type of insurance was to get my flight back to UK for free. Once I knew I have zero chances for an operation there, Insurance doctor decided to back UK and use NHS facilities there (I have dual citizenship and paid my insurance there)
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| back at Glasgow airport |
Flight back Glasgow but an operation in Poland?
I got my flights back booked with my insurance company - I was happy. After long time (5 weeks) waiting for diagnose I like to be back to Europe just to have my arm repair and to have some rest. My flights was from Dakar - Casablanca - London Heathrow and the most cultural shock was in London airport. Compare to Senegal, people were like single satellites in the crowd, all was nice and smells tidy - automated society.
Straight from plane I called 24NHS service to get information, next day I was with GP and things looked slow as Senegal I came next day as advised to get appointment with specialist. At that point I was contacting my brother Wojciech from Poland, he actually found solution there and next few days I flew Poland.
As I arrived I went for more tests and agreed this will be screwed back in state hospital but unfortunately needs to be fully paid (no insurance and national contribution in PL) . I was diagnosed once again and operate - bone was reattached and I got immobilizer I went home next day and this was 10 days after my arrival. This is what we call it ''kwickfix".
Than 6 weeks immobilization and 6 weeks physiotherapy and than...
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| day of my operation in Poland - still not happy face |
