April report 2009

Dr Lawrence picks up the baton again when he returns to the Delta from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in mid May.  An telephone update from the Clinic meanwhile confirms the continued attendance of patients who have been treated by local healers and dubious fetish practices. These patients are examples from the past few weeks and months.

A ten year old boy with Epilepsy. Suffering recurrent seizures his body is disfigured from

the traditional healer's blade, both front and back. With no access to anti-epiletics he remains

with his mother, and needs constant surveillance. Amulets, cutting and fetish practices

lock the child in the role of the 'possessed'. Unable to climb trees, swim or work independantly

his condition has implications for the whole family.

The lady on the left has marked scarring and disfigurement from seizures whist cooking

on an open fire. The man on the right remained until recently a social pariah in his

community and has not worked since adolescence suffering seizures several times a week.

With education and family  financial support he is controlled on medication.

A child presents with an infected leg, treated for some time with native herbs. Another child is unable to weight-bear the result of a large abcess in the buttock, the result of a re-used needle from a native healer. Both children recovered well with antibiotics.

Sensitivity to cultural practice is appropriate but delay in effective treatment has seen children like the boy on the right become lame, or even die from septicaemia. The native healer's practice is highlighted in a report from April 2007.

Next month a joint cataract and hernia camp is scheduled, and a new initiative will be started with the local Primary School that is situated beside the Clinic. Devoid of resources (of any meaningful nature) we are looking to facilitate books and teaching materials in accordance to the teacher's needs. We will also help build exercise equipment for training and playing for all ages, as part of the school's curriculm.