What a treat today to only drive 15 minutes to get to clinic! Yay! Today we set up in what would be considered as a one-level apartment complex here - incluinding a large open courtyard with a large mango tree in the centre of it - perfect for shade! It is a building that is in process. It was great to have cement floors! The Mayor of this area, Veronika, came be to receive greetings. She is the one who approved the clinic to happen in this village. She seems very accomplished and well spoken.
Once again, we saw many babes and tots today - which makes for complicated Pharmacy work, in terms of calculating doses and preparing suspension medications. It is a tiring thing in Pharmacy, continually labouring (as Ellen described - a great word!) over each patient's card and being sure the med is appropriate and the right dosage; if it is safe in pregnancy or for the patient's specific age. Our Tanzania Dr's are not as familiar with some of the donated drugs we have and so we have to watch the prescriptions very closely. Health Partners International is the organization that we get many donated medications from - they receive them from various drug companies and Pharmacies. We also make a point of ordering a lot of medications in country, which is important in terms of supporting the local economy and using meds that patients can actually re-fill in their own country.
We had a few significant Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) today and the issue of infertility was seen several times over today. Interestingly, Ellen learned today that a wedding dowry is often connected with an expectation that the woman will bear children. Therefore, it causes a lot of anxiety when she cannot conceive because she feels as though she cannot fulfill the dowry that was paid.
I met another July today (pronounced "Julie") and we had a lovely photo taken together :) Dallas broke out of the "cage" (Pharmacy) today and was so happy having the triage experience! I got some great shots of her in action too!
I also got to do a head dressing on a girl named, Dotto. She is a 7 year old with significant delay - she is also remarkably underweight for her age. Dotto is a twin, but was born 30 minutes after the first one and the Mother says that her umbilical cord separated from her at birth - the story was a bit unclear. As I was doing her dressing, she was a bit restless and so I started signing in Swahili one chorus that I had learned - that seemed to calm her. Then, I started to sing the other one I had learned and when she heard "Upendo" (which means "love") this big smile stretched across her face. So rich a moment like that is - it cannot be replaced.
A few other memories from the day...
- a 5 month old baby with syphillis - transmitted through her mother's breast milk.
- two young men seen who have confirmed epilepsy - we were able to provide them each with one month's of medication. I pray they will somehow be able to get more when needed.
- A older woman who has a large uterine prolapse - we will refer her to Urafiki and hopefully be able to cover the cost of surgery for her. What a change that will make in her life!!
- Ellen had the opportunity to pray with two people who had made a decision that they wanted Jesus to be a part of their lives - that was very, very cool. The first was a young man whose wife is a Christian and he said he has been thinking about it for a long time, but decided today was the day. The other was a lovely Catholic woman. New life for both!
The girls have attempted email but it didn't go entirely well - the internet is if'y at times and een when it's there, it's a bit tempermental! We had quite a funny post all ready for Sara Jane's facebook, but it was too slow to get it up there.
It's time for bed now. Another full day ahead. Only 3 clinic days left - hard to believe. We will be ready to be done, there is no doubt, for all of us...Urafiki and Canadians. It is a tough pace and difficult to keep up with at times, but over and over and over again, we are knowing God's strength and that is amazing.
And...thank you Jesus for tiger balm!!...my good night treat every night :)
Night!
One of the little faces that greeted us everyday while walking to Urafiki
Dallas getting swarmed by kids after taking their photo! :)
Dr. Mukulla, Albina and Modesta from Urafiki
Now, we loved this Pharmacy set up!
Valina and myself working in Pharmacy
Neema registering people
Dr. Mukulla and our lovely lady who will be receiving surgery for a uterine prolapse
Ellen and stickers!
Triage ladies!
Mama Edah and Neema with more registrations
One large family
Under the shelter of the Mango tree while waiting patiently
Marilyn and Dany working with a young family
Little Dotto and her Mama
Another July (pronounced Julie)!
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