Big Bay Day 2
A quick breakfast was followed by rapid setup and we were in action again.
The demand was much more paced today and we felt slightly more proficient. My cases included a scabies that was a bit tricky to diagnose, a woman with hyperventilation from anger with her husband (I got a chance to do some basic feminist advocacy), and a classic case of a child with nocturnal asthma. I was pleased that this patient understood my demonstration of how to use a spacer. I got a minor injury making the spacer using Trevor's Swiss army pocket knife on a water bottle.
Everyone worked hard, and Trevor entertained the children continuously, which was delightful to see, and gave a lighter atmosphere to what could have been overly serious work.
By lunchtime the waiting list had dwindled to nearly nothing, and there were several requests for housecalls to the village. One patient was the chief here and another a 76 year old who was in basic good health and starting to develop signs of ageing. Unfortunately these encounters involved a bit of to and fro-ing back to the clinic for items we hadn't anticipated we needed. Several of us became foot runners. It was hot. We were tired. We closed the clinic.
Another delicious lunch of wraps, with Bill joining us, and then we had him take us on a walk in the conservation park. He pointed out stinging plants, vines, various trees and birds, using bird calls to lure some towards us.
By 4pm we were lolling in the wonderful Big Bay waters. The low light was popping the colours of the bay and children further down the beach. Paradise!
Packup. Speeches, gifts and we were on the road. Michael was in a racing mood which made back riding such fun. Back at Sara a child fired a slingshot at Amanda, probably in retribution for her vandalising their activity day! Not really... Just having some fun shooting the Westerners. Once on the bitumen, Amanda, Simon and I huddled down in the tray as night fell and it became cool. I had numb fingers by the time we got "home" Nothing that a few stiff drink couldn't fix.
The demand was much more paced today and we felt slightly more proficient. My cases included a scabies that was a bit tricky to diagnose, a woman with hyperventilation from anger with her husband (I got a chance to do some basic feminist advocacy), and a classic case of a child with nocturnal asthma. I was pleased that this patient understood my demonstration of how to use a spacer. I got a minor injury making the spacer using Trevor's Swiss army pocket knife on a water bottle.
Everyone worked hard, and Trevor entertained the children continuously, which was delightful to see, and gave a lighter atmosphere to what could have been overly serious work.
By lunchtime the waiting list had dwindled to nearly nothing, and there were several requests for housecalls to the village. One patient was the chief here and another a 76 year old who was in basic good health and starting to develop signs of ageing. Unfortunately these encounters involved a bit of to and fro-ing back to the clinic for items we hadn't anticipated we needed. Several of us became foot runners. It was hot. We were tired. We closed the clinic.
Another delicious lunch of wraps, with Bill joining us, and then we had him take us on a walk in the conservation park. He pointed out stinging plants, vines, various trees and birds, using bird calls to lure some towards us.
By 4pm we were lolling in the wonderful Big Bay waters. The low light was popping the colours of the bay and children further down the beach. Paradise!
Packup. Speeches, gifts and we were on the road. Michael was in a racing mood which made back riding such fun. Back at Sara a child fired a slingshot at Amanda, probably in retribution for her vandalising their activity day! Not really... Just having some fun shooting the Westerners. Once on the bitumen, Amanda, Simon and I huddled down in the tray as night fell and it became cool. I had numb fingers by the time we got "home" Nothing that a few stiff drink couldn't fix.
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