Search for The Elusive Antibiotic

One of my family members has been battling an infection pretty much since we arrived 6weeks ago. Finally, test results indicate that a fourth antibiotic is the answer. I set out at 09:30 am to find this antibiotic which the Dr. has told me might be a bit difficult to find. She suggests I try a private clinic's pharmacy and I get the name.

After a Google Map search and directions from a professional driver, I arrive at one of the oil company's laboratories. It turns out that this oil company has a medical clinic for its employees, but I arrive at the lab where they take oil samples. We are talking petroleum!

Incredibly, a driver for the company, who happens to be delivering something, pulls up and tells me to follow him to the actual clinic. This starts feeling like a treasure hunt.

The driver honks and waves off and I arrive at the "Farmacia" for the clinic, but  the pharmacist has not heard of this antibiotic. She directs me to another major pharmacy. This pharmacy directs me to another and so it goes until 12:30. Six pharmacies later, no antibiotic, and I am now feeling desperate. This is no longer fun.

Along the way I gather tidbits of information regarding the antibiotic: several pharmacists have never even heard of it, it is only used in hospitals says another,  only I.V. form is available, or not in stock say others. I hear that I should try the major pharmacies only, or, try the smaller pharmacies since they might have some boxes stored, or no, they don't know when they will get more in.

I need to head to the kid's school and there are 2 pharmacies which I leave for the next morning. Meanwhile, my husband is checking into the possibility of having the antibiotic shipped in from South Africa.

Today's morning search is fruitless as well.  Finally, after I plant myself in the clinic where we got the prescription and demand help, I start getting answers. It turns out that the antibiotic is only available in I.V. form which opens up another can of worms: to hospitalize or not and if so where? At this point I need sedation as well. Red wine and tiramisu gellato takes care of me at the end of the day.

Several people I have spoken to today say that this situation is not uncommon here in Angola. Unfortunately not all medications are available at all times and people resort to friends or colleagues coming back Luanda to be their pharmacological couriers. Also, hospitalization entails evacuation to South Africa. Living as an expat, this is one of the major challenges at times: medical help. Although I have met knowledgeable doctors that instill trust, the system surrounding care delivery can be chaotic, disjointed and not what we may be used to at home.

After many phone calls including a Dr. in Norway, the hospital's medical director, a pharmacist and the nurse working at the kid's school a plan is devised: I.V. medication as an out patient.