Saturday in Chimajoro...

I am so excited! Maria, Temwa and Gloria are here. They are the nursing students I have worked with on my other trips. They went with us to Chimajoro today and it made a huge difference in our efficiency. This was a great help and on the perfect day. We have found out that the last couple of teams have set aside a night to barbecue for the group we work with. Haley, who grew up on a ranch, and therefor grew up cooking outside has acceped the challenge. I was her assistant. We needed to get back early in order to have time to prepare the feast.

Maria helping us with triage.

Haley, Mel and John setting up the pharmacy.

L to R.  Maria, Temwa and Gloria.

I decided to sleep in this morning rather than go to mass, but although I did not attend, I did not sleep in. As soon as the choir started, which I can hear from my room, God had a rooster perch right outside my window and crow every 2-3 minutes until additional sleep was hopeless.

Today was no different in that there were patients waiting to be seen after Mass and before we left for the village. We told everyone we would be holding clinic here in Bowe on Monday and to return then. Everyone but one. The welding instructor at the mission's trade school had sustained a puncture wound with a piece of metal to the thumb pad of his right hand. Father had given him money to go to the hospital which he said he had done. They gave him paracetamol which is like acetaminophen or Tylenol. His thumb was so swollen, red and tender that it looked like a sausage with the skin peeling off. At home he would be seeing a hand surgeon I'm sure. We again have antibiotics we were able to provide. When he was told he would be receiving an injection in the hip (as well as oral antiotics) his pupils dilated and he looked as if he might faint. He took it like a champ though and we look forward to seeing him again tomorrow to find out if it has improved.

Chimajoro was the most primitive village we have visited. We held our clinic in the worship space. We were more organized with our triaging and again we saw some very ill folks. I saw a young man who had had an abscessed molar removed last week without the benefit of any antibiotic treatment. Unfortunately the abcess had been so advanced that it began draining through his lower jaw. We do have a a pretty good armamentarium of antibiotics, so hopefully with treatment he will not develop a fistula, which is a chronic non-healing tunnel. We also saw a 4 year old albino child with a terrible sore on the back of her neck that appeared to be an advanced basal cell cancer. This is a type of cancer caused by sun damage to the skin. Ray Misomali, Orant's director and one of our team members, was able to contact the hospital in Lilongwe and Dr. Grace Stewart spoke with the doctor there. They have agreed to accept and care for her and Orant will pay the fees. There does not seem to be the stigma of being albino here as in some other African countries where they are thought to be witches or are killed for body parts which are then used by witch doctors for magic and potions.

Private examination room.  Bring your own flashlight. 

Bringing the family to be checked by the visiting doctors. 

Timeyo buys papaya from a villager. 

Kids will be kids for the camera! 

Young mother who is very proud of her healthy child.

Mel, with Stefano interpreting, cares for a patient.

We returned to the mission and Timeyo built a barbecue pit of bricks. John Turner, the Orant board member with us, had gone to town with Big E and they had a welder make a spit out of rebar. The menu was cabrito, red beans and roasted root vegetables. They were surprised that we asked that the goat be skinned. They apparently just cook the hair off in the fire. I cannot imagine that helping the flavor. It took longer than we planned or hoped for the meat to cook but there was plenty of beer so it was just fine. Then we had the best time eating and visiting and the meal was a hit. We brined the meat then made a garlic and seasoned salt rub with some Tony's thrown in. We had so much fun, even Big was dancing before the night was over.

Although we have been working very hard, I am thoroughly enjoying sharing this adventure with Haley. She seems to be embracing every aspect of the culture and experience. I am also enjoying very much seeing the friends I have made here.