March report 2009
Enekorogha calling!
With Dr Oghumu studying in Liverpool March and April's reports are compiled from telephone updates from the Health Care Workers, and community council members via telephone. Despite no fresh water or electricity mobile phones and coke are virtually ubiquitous in even the remotest corners of the third world. A 30ft bamboo pole, cheap antenna, gaffer tape, and vintage handset and Voila! you're connected globally, and impressively the reception from Enekorogha often clearer than the service in Cambridge.
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The Clinic has been supported by the Community Council and the Delta Youth Council as The Health Care Workers maintain front-line services. Rose and Conference have provided updates of current activities, with Malaria again at the top of the workload. |
Another child presents in coma , feverish and Cheyne-Stoke breathing. A finger prick blood test reveals that this child is severely anaemic with a Haemoglobin around 4g/dl. Whilst not as accurate as a laboratory test this quick reference test amply differentiates between normal and severe anaemia. Anaemia is the principal cause of death in these children and unless rapidly transfused the child dies. The child had been treated by the native doctor and died within minutes of arriving at the clinic. We are now researching establishing a small lab at the clinic for blood grouping and with the Delta State Department of Primary Cares assistance hope to be able to offer donor transfusions later this year.
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This small newborn was brought to the clinic with an inverted eyelid that was the result of trauma during delivery by a local birthing attendant. The child was transferred to hospital but sadly the eyeball beneath had shrunk and was not viable, assumed to be the result of the overlying pressure. We do not know the outcome as the child had come from a village within the creeks.
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This lady had been suffering with persisting right arm pain for many years. A farmer, the pain was worse after a day in the fields, and she had been to the local healer repeatedly. You can see the numerous cuts the healer had made over the upper and forearm in the attempt to alleviate the pain.
There is also a charm around her neck. The pain was worse on flexion of the neck and it was clear from simple examination that the problem emanated from the neck when she was bending in the field. A nerve was trapped in the neck giving rise to the arm pain. Simple explanation, painkillers and physiotherapy greatly helped, though little could be done for the literally, hundreds of scars over her arm. |
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Skin infections are very common in children, fungal, bacterial and parasitical. This poor lad presented with widespread boils over his face and neck. Antibiotics proved helpful but poor nutrition had a part to play, being underweight and his siblings similarly ill with skin and respiratory infections. Education for the mother regarding good hygiene, and nutrition is as vital as medicine |
The lady on the left presents with a chronic discharging abcess from her left jaw.
Over the past three months it has enlarged and in the context of poor nutrition
it is exactly these chronic infections that slowly enlarge to create the disfiguring
ulcers seen in the lady we attempted to help last year. It is hoped that with long term
antibiotics and nutritional supplements this early abcess will not progress.
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