october camps 2007

Another collaborative eye camp and three medical camps in Inekorogha, Ogriagbene and Okoloba.
In anticipation of our rural Cataract clinic we also held triage camps in the riverine communities and undertook to complete the clinic base prior to the team arriving on the 20th November.



The Clinic  'Surgical Theatre' looking ominously empty of all matters surgical. With a week to go the clinic stands without doors, without any furniture and devoid of power. With a carpenter who has reneged on every opportunity to complete the tasks agreed we are now uncertain if the building will be ready. This is disheartning given the appalling cases we have seen in this and neighbouring communities, and incredulous that a community member seems unphased by jeopardising the whole camp...

This is the young lad , blind from cataracts since age three who we wish to operate on, beside 30 or so others. Each camp his father checks to see if we can undertake the operation, and we agreed for this November. Witout the operation couches, doors , and simple clinic furniture the camp will not be possible. The Clinic is certainly situated in a community that has colossal need yet is beset by partisan interest and  the lack of a shared vision. It is clear that if the concept of Primary Care can succeed here , it will work anywhere. It is always tempting to just post the good news, but in truth this joinery farago has consumed a huge amount of our time and efforts this month, stress one could do without. However we now have plan B in the wings and should the floods recede (!) then the house below will be a suitable alternative for the camp. Here, a member of the team surveys the accommodation.

However there is good news!

We supplied staff and equipment ( our operating microscope seen below) to a large Nigerian led eye camp held in Warri. For many from the creeks getting to the city is financially impossible , costing maybe a month's salary so, though difficult, we are committed to taking the surgical services to the riverine communities and members of Eye Care International  will join us for our cataracat camp in late November.




Two of our Health Care Workers left for a three year course in Primary Care at the School of Health and Technology. New Foundations covers all their fees and they will rejoin the camps during vacation time. This has allowed us to interview for two new local Health Workers.

Camps at Ogriagbene, Inekorogha and Okoloba saw 210+ patients treated, an updrift in malarial cases in these camps. From december the State Primary Care Agency are providing New Foundations with Insecticide treated nets and Artemesin antimalarial drugs , the gold standard for Falciparum Malaria treatment.


So , a mixed month but much to be thankful for!


  Any good recommendations for reliable carpenters drop us a line...............................