In her everyday life, Pascale Widmer works as an intensive care nurse in neonatology at the Cantonal Hospital Winterthur KSW. From November 2023 to April 2024, she volunteered with the Swiss Laos Hospital Project in the provincial hospitals in Phonsavan, Sam Neua and Luang Namtha. Hans Ulrich Bucher spoke to her about her work and her experiences.
What motivated you to take an unpaid leave to work in Laos?
I went through an extensive recruitment process at Médecins sans Frontières – but then there was no offer for my qualifications. That’s why I planned an assignment in Laos on my own initiative, since I had already worked there before. Because of the pandemic, there was a lot of catching up needed there. My plans were supported by both the nursing management at KSW and the SLHP.
How did you prepare for this assignment?
I completed a CAS in international cooperation and global health at the Swiss Tropical Institute in Basel to complement my diploma in intensive care nursing (first adults, later neonatology). In the summer of 2023, I applied for an unpaid leave, arranged all the insurances and got in touch with people in Laos whom I already knew from previous stays.
Where were you on assignment?
In the three provincial hospitals in Sam Neua, Luang Namtha and Phonsavan. I worked in one hospital for a few weeks at a time and then traveled through Vientiane to the next hospital.
What were your main tasks?
I primarily trained medical staff in the areas of hygiene and nutrition for newborns. I taught how to use simple medical aids for postnatal adaptation, respiratory support and nutritional support. I also instructed positioning techniques, breastfeeding management, patient monitoring and documentation.
How were you received?
I was warmly welcomed with open arms in all three hospitals. I managed to gain the trust of the nursing staff and doctors. This allowed me to make suggestions for improvement during bedside teaching sessions, which were gladly followed.
How did you communicate with the Laotian staff?
The Laotians speak little English. That’s why I had already started to learn some Laotian during previous stays. I continuously improved my knowledge so that I was able to follow simple discussions. When I was at a loss, I found a solution with the help of Google Translator, sign language or pictograms.
Did you also work with other volunteers from Switzerland?
Yes, I was in Luang Namtha together with Karin Götz and Ingrid Rohrbach and with a whole team from KSW in Phonsavan. So I wasn’t all on my own the whole time, and I really appreciated this exchange.
Did you never fall ill yourself during your assignment?
Yes, I did get caught out once with food poisoning. But apart from that, I’ve only had colds and trivial gastrointestinal problems.
What achievements are you particularly proud of?
At Sam Neua, I was able to put a bubble CPAP device into operation together with company representatives, which was procured locally at my request, and instruct them on how to use it. Apart from that, I was able to give lots of tips on how to improve hygiene, for example by collecting used syringes in special containers. And we were able to hand over several baby bath tubs, a baby scale, an otoscope and other equipment.
Which patients have particularly affected you?
In Sam Neua, the parents brought Lekeng, a 10-day-old premature baby (birth weight 1300 g, 30 weeks‘ gestation) to the hospital. He was hypothermic, dehydrated and apathetic. He was nursed back to health with infusions and a slow build-up of food and was discharged home after 4 weeks with a weight of 1900g. His further fate is unknown to me. His parents, who belong to the Hmong ethnic minority, did not get in touch despite repeated requests for a follow-up check.
In Luang Namtha, a three-year-old girl in poor general health was taken to hospital with petechiae and bleeding in her mouth. There she was diagnosed with leukemia. An oncologist consulted estimated the chance of survival at 60 percent and drew up a treatment plan. As the parents had no money to pay for such chemotherapy, I started a collection via WhatsApp and raised 1,600 Swiss francs, which meant that at least one treatment could be started. However, the fate of this girl is uncertain.
What has burdened you?
The fact that we have lost some premature babies and newborns suffering from infections due to a lack of suitable treatment. They would have survived in Switzerland.
I also found it difficult that parents sometimes leave their children in hospital because they can’t afford the treatment. This happens especially with premature babies who have to stay in hospital for a long time. How desperate such parents must be to take such a step! Fortunately, we found foster families who were willing to adopt these children later on.
If you would receive 10,000 Swiss francs from a sponsor: How would you use such a donation?
I would promote means of transport for the transfer of sick newborns to a center hospital, ideally a Laotian Rega.
I would then primarily promote the training of local nurses and doctors. I would also procure medical equipment, preferably the same for all hospitals, and also equipment that can also be repaired in Laos.
And finally, I would use it to finance the treatment of individual children who have the prospect of a good quality of life.
What are your plans for the future?
I intend to take at least four weeks‘ unpaid leave again in 2025 to continue the work I have started in the three hospitals. I want the care of newborns in Laos to improve sustainably.
