August medical camps
Camps across seven communities plus collaboration with a Nigerian NGO eye and medical camp making august a busy month.
With no family to support him this elderly sick man has to manage by himself. Too ill to farm , free medical care provides some security. In a subsistence economy , family are crucial to those too old or infirm to work. Without, the future is bleak.
The first camp took place from the 5th-- 9th of august, taking in Okoloba, Akugbene, Obeinama.
367 patients were seen in total
The second camp held between 20-24th covered Esama, Gbalegoro, Opokonou and Oboro communities. 187 patients were treated.
'We arrived akugbene wednesday the 7th with our chartered engine powered canoe as it is impossible to get any form of boat transport as at 7-8am,if you have to travel using the commercial boats you would have to be at the waterside by 4am,if not you would have to forget the journey or charter a boat
These little difficulties we experience along the rivers has made us appreciate our engines and boats snatched by criminals in these waters.'
At akugbene 214 pts were seen as the community executives were on ground to help with crowd control.
This community was in the news recently as there was a birth of triplets recently in the community,but the mother died a few days after. We tried to ascertain the cause,but were told that she was poisoned,the midwife was not around to give details.
What is clear is that there is endemic ignorance of good birthing practice and totemic beliefs carry very real dangers for both the child and the mother.
Though mortality is surprisingly low given the facilities and beliefs, maternal morbidity is very high indeed, as different local methods are employed during pregnancy and delivery.
|
Antenatal home vist
|
Orphaned Triplets
|
The second camp started at Esama community where 87 patients were seen. We have worked hard to establish a comprehensive antenatal program, checking haemoglobin, urine, BP, full obstetric and gynaecological history and examination plus immunisation so that numbers have significantly increased at each clinic.
During the clinic a lady presented with pre eclamptic toxaemia, her BP 170/110mmhg.She has had a previous stillbirth with similar symtoms,she also had bilateral pitting oedema up to the knees and marked protein in the urine.She complained of severe headachea also. She had had stillbirths in the past, but her husband agreed to take her to the nearest hospital at Bomadi. This would otherwise have probably proved fatal.
Diarrhoeal illness continues to take lives, Bronchopneumonia and Malaria. As with much antenatal care , common sense measures and education is the key.
Teaching rehydration measures (as demonstrated by a health care worker below) can never repeated enough and the rehydration spoons are issued to all families, allowing the correct measures of salt and sugar to be added to boiled water to rehydrate the child suffering from diarrhoeal illness.
|
|
Rehydration measurement spoon (sugar A salt B)
given to each mother.
|
Between camps New Foundations were invited to partner with 'I Care', a Delta State Nigerian NGO , and 'Eye Care International' Over 1000 patients were seen and 90+ cataract operations undertaken.Both these Christian Nigerian organisations provide free eye care and services.  Cataract surgery at Sapele Camp organised by 'I Care ' Nigerian Christian Charity.  Representatives from 'I Care' , 'Eye Care International' and New foundations. | 
