During a downpour, the streets are deserted and no one ventures outside, but as soon as it is dry, normal life continues at double pace. Last month we welcomed the highest number of outpatients of this calendar year! For us this is a good sign, more and more people know the Lion Heart Medical Center and moreover they keep coming to the hospital despite the rain. This allows us to be there on time and to treat the disease at an early stage. Also in the case of malaria, a disease that we now see a lot, prompt treatment is of vital importance. The rainy season here also means the 'planting season', which means that we see relatively few men in the outpatient clinic. Due to the high inflation in Sierra Leone, the harvest this year is extra important. All the young men who normally come for inguinal hernia surgery (about 20-30 per month) are now busy planting, harvesting and making money. We expect to see a peak in this when work on the land has calmed down a bit.