January medical / training camps

January , the heart of the Harmatan season has seen a surge in deaths from diarrhoeal illnesses. In one month alone over 200 have died from cholera across three communities.

The dry season sees the river recede and drinking water become scarce. The rain harvesting tanks are empty and the creeks are slow moving with heavy contamination from faeces and waste. Even paddling to the centre, more fast flowing waters of the river is of little help , as this portion carries the faecal waste from communities upstream. The atmosphere is hazy with the eye pricking dust from the northern sahara, and visibility on the river is reduced, requiring a keen eye to avoid fishing nets and buoys.

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Even mid morning, the sun is hazy and the riverbanks lost in the haze of the Harmattan dust

Ogriabene, Ekogbene, Opokonou and Oboro were the focus of the first camp in January.

The cholera outbreak dominated the camps, IV fluids crucial to support those severely

dehydrated. Chest infections were also predominant, malaria and malnutrition. Our resources were overwhelmed and the local government agencies were informed who used radio broadcast to urge the boiling of water. Given the price of kerosene at the present ,few people have the luxury of this option, the use of alum added to water the other available choice.

 No government help was seen in this area to deal with the crisis.

 

It is clear that public health initiatives have the maximum impact on the health of a community. The second camp concentrated on Health Care Worker Training. Nutritional research had shown that not one child in the communities had received the WHO/ Nigerian Government target for childhood vaccination and that a third of children in the communities screened were significantly underweight. Training was targeted at understanding the causes, developing strategies for future camps and how to educate mothers on a one to one and small group basis. Sessions were also held to strengthen team building, explore individual growth and problem solving within a team setting. A second paper on malnutrition is underway  and will provide the basis for new initiatives.                                             This camp also allowed us to undertake several repairs to the boat, though further work is needed.