It’s Saturday afternoon and things are relatively 'settled' at least for the moment…
The skies are beginning to clear after a couple of hours of torrential ‘fire hose’ rains. The birds are singing and the construction crew, who work tirelessly from dawn to dusk on the soon-to-be Community Center, have upbeat tones in their banter with one another. Soon the Saturday afternoon drumming practice led by Mandela (Kitchen Assistant) and Peter (Information Technologist) will begin and the community of Kigutu will gather to witness this amazing spectacle. The lake is beginning to come into view and tonight the plethora of fishermen’s sparkling lights to attract fish should be visible.
The week has flown by. The days are full with many patients seeking consultations with a few requiring hospitalization. Some of those who have been admitted include: a 13 year old boy with newly diagnosed insulin dependent diabetes; an 8 year old girl with a faulty cardiac valve (perhaps from rheumatic fever) who came all the way from Tanzania with her parents; a 25 year old man having seizures (carried by his friends for several hours); a 19 year old boy who had a bicycle accident a week ago who may have a perforated bowel as a result of a blunt trauma injury (also carried); several babies suffering from malnutrition with dehydration and/or malaria; a baby with severe asthma; and a man with a nasty perirectal abscess…the list goes on . . .
I feel very fortunate to be learning so much from Dziwe and the staff about the management of these patients. It’s been gratifying to really feel as though I am able to assist them and be part of their team. I continue to be totally impressed by the high standard of care and commitment of the staff despite not having all the ‘tools’ and diagnostics available. There are many challenges… for example, how do we send the diabetic boy home when there is no insulin (or refrigeration) and no glucometer for him. Last Thursday I had the privilege to meet with the group of accompagnateurs (about 38) who came to VHW for their monthly gathering. The dedication in the Partners in Health teaching manual is a great tribute to them:
“This manual is dedicated to the thousands of accompagnateurs whose tireless efforts make our mission a reality, and who are the backbone of our programs to save lives and improve livelihoods in poor communities. Every day, they deliver medicines and social support to patients in their homes, refer people who are ill to clinics, provide health education, and teach all of us that solidarity is the most potent remedy for pandemic diseases, poverty and despair.”
Per the request of the seven chief accompagnateurs, Achel (one of the nurses) and I, with the help of Tolstoy’s translating, did a teaching session…
Vital Signs: Ibimenyetso bikurubikuru k’umuntu
Blood pressure: Ivuduka ry’umurindi w’amaraso
Temperature: Ubushuhe
Pulse: Kumviriza ukuntu umutima utera
Respirations: Uguhema
When Tolstoy told the group that I had walked up into the hills last weekend they were most impressed and expressed much gratitude for my efforts and interest. At the end of the session, I took individual photos for their new ID cards. Achel then distributed the anti retroviral drugs to them which they will in turn distribute to their patients. Afterwards, we all had lunch before they headed off…some would have a four hour walk home. How I would love to see them all equipped with raincoats, good walking shoes, tote bags, torches, water bottles (anyone out there have any connections at L.L. Bean or REI?), as well as basic medical equipment-a blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, thermometer, watch. Cell phones for all will hopefully be a reality soon. Please consider donating your old cell phones. (Please see www.hopephones.org and the Village Health Works section on the home page for information about donating). Thanks so much!
The surnames of the accompagnateurs are quintessentially Burundian… Nkengurukiyimana ( “I thank God”) and Ndayifukamiye ( “I kneel down for Him”), Havyarimana (“Only God gives birth”) are some examples. I look forward to working with them more. Now that I have all their photos and names on file I have my work cut out for me to learn them all!
Before konking out each night I snuggle in with my new Kindle…I have read Julia Child’s autobiography, the new Jon Krakauer book about Pat Tillman, “Travelling with Pomegranates” by Sue Monk Kidd and her daughter Ann and last night I began ‘The Story of Edgar Sawtelle”.
Helen
Helen with Accompagnatuers
Consult with accompagnatuer
Lunchtime with accompagnatuers
Fungus foot
Mother and baby
Community Centre under construction
1 comment:
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