Swaziland Day 5 wrap up

We did it. Final day of rain, wind and cold, over 150 patients seen in about 4 hours and things buzzing with activity. We finished the week seeing 1111 patients in 5 days many of which were cut short or started late because of the weather. After all was said and done we saw who we needed to see and more. The team worked tirelessly and we saw children with illnesses ranging from pneumonia, simply infections, to complex illnesses, and some significant illnesses which required referrals to advanced healthcare facilities. There was one day when we came across children who had no shoes and had no decent clothing who were shivering in the cold and the rain and wind and team members took off their own socks and gave them to the children in addition to shoes that have been brought over by a team member. Any clothes that we had on were also given to the children that we thought would help with the cold. The team members were servants above all. This trip that was not meant to be for Swaziland but Zimbabwe, turned out to be one of the most powerful trips that we have done in a long time. The children needed us, we needed them, and without the incredible help, guidance and support from the Swaziland home team we would not of been able to do this. Our thanks to them. Internet has been lacking and again I can only post a short message with one picture. I am currently on my way to Mozambique to see how our almost 700 children are doing there, to be followed in two days by a trip to Zimbabwe. As for the team we parted ways this morning with their return to the US and my utmost gratitude and thanks for their sacrifice for all that they did. The stories that they have, the relationships that they developed with the children, the things they saw, the things they heard, and the things they did will stay with them and with the children to whom we came to serve for a very long time. There's nothing more rewarding than following God's will.

In all things give thanks,

David

Swaziland day 4

About 2.5 hrs north of Mbabane, is a small project, isolated, on the border of Swaziland and Mozambique. Rain continues to disrupt an even flow of children in the clinic, but we manage. Poor is poor. The children are well cared for but still are in need of more. Barefoot, cold and in tattered clothes, they come. They come for their meal that sustains them for another day, and a night of sleep. I wonder how 1 billion dollars is spent on a presidential campaign, most of which is donated money, when that 1 billion dollars could make a difference in these childrens lives or in the lives of the many children who are homeless in the US. I see the faces as they look at me, and wonder what they are thinking. I hope it is a thought of comfort knowing that we are there for them.
Internet service is out so a short blog and pictures. I know you understand.
In all things give thanks,
David

Swaziland day three.

Rain. Lots of it. We were in a remote area, working under a big tent, and the rain came. And the thunder. And the lightening. Metal poles were not our friend. We collapsed the tent, ran for shelter, kept seeing patients under flashlights and in a crowded room. About 100 people in there. We did what we could. Medical Mercy at work because one child matters. (Internet out. Still using my BB)
In all things give thanks,
David

Swaziland day 2

A place far from the main city finds a small project with 150 children. A somewhat slow day, leaves us moving through the patient load easily without stress and able to spend time with our patients. The children are anxious for attention, going from one of us to another, looking for and receiving hugs. We look to their faces as they sing, seeing happiness despite the lack of comforts as we know them, and I wonder if we should look at ourselves once in awhile and see if we truly need all that we have.
Internet service is lacking still so a single picture and a small token of an update typed on my BB. All is well. The team is cohesive and working in unison, the purpose evident.
In all things give thanks,
David

Swaziland Day 1

No internet service. I'm emailing this from my BB to my blog address so it is short and limited. Not even sure this will get out. We went to the very first project ever opened years ago and where we had built out medical clinic over 5 years ago. 307 patients were seen after a late start. A few very sick children, one who was sent to a hospital and one child who was severely neurologically devastated from birth. One who need her foot amputated due to progressive gangrene. All that in addition to 5 hours of lectures to the HCWs, nutritional assessments, dental hygiene, VBS, spiritual counseling, pharmacy, all patients entered into our database using bar codes, reading glasses for the elderly and more. The team didn't blink an eye. For now, everyone here sends hello to their loved ones. We were promised a working internet server tomorrow. We'll see. Tomorrow is another day, another test of our endurance and a test of faith.
In all things give thanks,
David

Tomorrow we leave - Swaziland

We leave tomorrow....

One week from today...

Just when we think that everything is in place, the ground shakes and it all tumbles over. Such is the case with our well intentioned plans to go to Zimbabwe. A team of 26, planning for a year, stacks of credentials collected from the medical folk who were going, over 200 emails (yes I counted them), and a lot of behind the scenes work from a group of dedicated, tireless, and uncomplaining partners on the ground in Zimbabwe went all for naught in a matter of days. Getting approval from those who would credential us to practice medicine in Zimbabwe was not to be. New plan. Swaziland. It took just 3 days to pull it all together, with our partners in Swaziland openly agreeing to welcome us and to make flight changes, hotels, arrangements, and notify the team so that they could decide if the change in where we are going would change their heart for going. Nope, it didn't. So, off we go to Swaziland in one week to go to 5 projects, work with 48 health care workers, do public health education, first aid training, VBS, and more. We'll see patients, children and adults, making sure to do what we do best. Follow God's lead. And that's what it all comes down to. God's lead. I'll be traveling to Zimbabwe and Mozambique after Swaziland to see how we can help. So, if you are curious about how it all plays out, check back. In the meantime, I'm following my "leader". Him.

In all things give thanks,

David

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Kenya wrap up: Sustainable healthcare

Many wonder when they ask what Medical Mercy does, is whether we are simple a "band-aid", "feel good" medical team going in and doing a song and dance and leaving. Hard words, but asked all the same. After 7 years of medical trips totaling close to 50, treating and caring for over 75,000 patients, I can honestly say that we are firmly ingrained in "sustainable" health care. When we leave, we leave something behind. Continued health care for those who need it. We establish referral liaisons with local physicians and hospitals, we build physical medical clinics that are then staffed by local physicians and nurses, we work along side local nurses and physicians when possible, we train local lay people to be healthcare workers who stay behind and care for the children, and we follow up on the collaborative healthcare programs we put in place with the projects. This trip to Kenya is an example of that.

18 US team members (Amanda, Caleb, Sue, Anne, Kelly, Richard, Mary, Michelle, Bridgette, Ben, Darlene, Michael, Charis, Alyssa, Erika, Patricia, Samuel) joined 16 Kenyan HCWs who we trained over 3 years ago to care for 850 of our MoM children. Lectures every morning before we left for the medical clinics, honing physical examination skills along side the US team members and seeing patients for 5 days, gave the Kenyan HCWs a stronger foundation of knowledge and skills to care for the Mom children. Sustainable healthcare. We did nutritional assessments, treated on the spot those we identified as moderately or severely malnourished with a program of supplemental nutrition and put in place referrals for those children who needed additional care and put in place a concrete follow up program. Sustainable healthcare. Just a few of the many pictures taken will tell the stories. No need to say anything else. I'm proud of what we do and stand behind our mission to give the children the healthcare they need whether we are there or not. My thanks to the US and Kenyan tema members. Yes, we did "feel good" about this trip, but we did so humbly knowing that we left something behind.

In all things give thanks,

David

Kenya: when it feels right

Another day in the bush at a small Masai community called Olootepes, population unknown due to the nomadic nature of the Masai. 150 MoM children though. And another 150 children not in the MoM program. 300 children, all trying to grow. I learned that drought season here is dismal. Children may get 1 cup of water a day if that. The river beds are dry. When it rains the river is dirty and is not drinkable. We are so far into the bush that trucking water in from the nearest town costs 250 dollars not including the cost for the 500 gallons of water. One wonders how they survive. MoM feeds the children and they drink from the sources put in place. It helps. Somewhat. More can be done though.

Atop of a mesa, surrounded by the plains of the Rift Valley, we worked side by side the HCWs examining the children and some of the adults. It all is worth it. Far away from what we know as home, it still felt right. Now all we need to do is to make sure that the water flows and that the children can drink. We're working on it...by prayer.

In all things give thanks,
David

Kenya: rough as rough is

50 kilometers from Kajiado is a small village called Kiburro. It took us 2 hours to go the distance. 30 miles. It gives you a sense of how deep into the bush we were. This was Masai territory, traditional in dress and culture. Beaded jewelry on the women, rhythmic dancing, leaping men with long sticks, and machetes. We were greeted with that and blessed with it when we left.

I looked out from where we were holding clinic and could see for miles, the valleys of the Masai territory. Umbrella trees giving shade to acres of bush and then open plains. We saw gazelle roaming freely and small herds of goats roaming under the watchful eyes of young Masai boys. I grew up in Somalia and being here in Kenya brings back so many memories of my years there. I feel at home. I'm back fulfilling a dream of being a doctor and practicing in east Africa. I was 6 years old when I made that my goal. God is amazing.

We saw all of the MoM children and then some. The HCWs shined as they examined the children, their skills becoming fine tuned under the guidance of the US team. We are a total team of 36, Kenyans and US. We have one purpose. To care for the children where no one else wants to go. And that is Kiburro. The MoM children we so much healthier than the children in the village who are not MoM children. A testimony to a HCW program, sponsorship which ensures food, clothing, education and love. Perhaps one day we will have all of the children of Kiburro under our wing.

The US team is powered by a spirit of love and grace. We move to another village tomorrow, distant as well. We are not weary. We are privileged and blessed.

In all things give thanks,
David

Kenya: When it rains it pours

It's the rainy season here. Therefore it rains. Rivers flood and washes overflow. You'd think we'd know better....wouldn't you. Not us. We forged ahead. I am typing this on my BB and can send only one picture but it will give you an idea of what we went through. We walked across and took all our med over in a small truck, making it across okay. Coming back we didn't. The truck got stuck in the middle of the wash. No 4 wheel drive but a lot of pulling and pushing the truck worked. We spent just 4 hours in the village before we had to leave since the clouds were gathering and we were afraid to get stuck there overnight. The children sang and danced for us and we then worked with the healthcare workers examining them. We go back there today. Hopefully it will be better. Sorry about no pictures. I'll make it up when I get back. My fingers are cramping from typing on this BB keyboard anyway. I'll hope to be able to send you something later. We are well and thankful for being able to do His work.
In all things give thanks,
David

Ethiopia: Healthcare worker assessment

Joyce is a Medical Mercy HCW in a small village about 70 kilometers south of Malindi which is on the eastern coast of Kenya. The village is in the bush and is isolated, remote, and as far from anything one would consider civilization as one can imagine. We have about 150 MoM children there and they all are being cared for by Joyce. She set up her "clinic" with medications and a little table. You see her record books in front of her and copies of the certificates I gave her for completion of the different levels of HCW training she went through. He fanny pack is her "doctor's bag" with her stethoscope, blood pressure cuff and all the tools she needs to do a comprehensive physical examination. Her scrubs identify her as a HCW. She is one of 16 healthcare workers that we've trained in Kenya. They'll be joining the US team in 2 days as we do 5 days of clinics. I'll be giving them additional lectures, moving them into more advanced assessment techniques, and they will be seeing patients with us gaining advanced physical diagnosis skills. Remember the theme I shared from Ethiopia: fruits of our labour, plant the seed, teach them to fish..sustainability. Healthcare for the MoM children.

In ll things give thanks,
David
(Note: we will be in a region that has no internet service and the data service on my phone will be marginal, so I don't know if I will be able to get blogs up and posted. I promise to do the best that I can. Be with us in prayer as we bring His word to those who seek it.)

Ethiopia: Fruits of our labour

 



Fruits of our labour. Plant a seed. Teach them to fish. All are familiar phrases that address doing something for someone in order to make them self sufficient and show their success, to give them an opportunity to succeed, and to put in place a plan that will grow. It is what we strive to do for those who are less fortunate than most, and who are willing, dedicated, motivated and driven to make the best of what they have been given. The Healthcare Worker (HCW) program I developed 7 years ago, is that seed, that teaching to "fish", that opportunity, to give those lay persons who are responsible for the welfare of our MoM children, the knowledge and the tools to ensure that our children are healthy. The intent of the HCW program is to ensure sustainability of healthcare needs of the children after our medical teams leave. The HCW becomes the one source for healthcare needs in their projects. There are now trained HCWs in Cambodia, Swaziland, Ethiopia and Kenya. The question is, has the HCW program been successful. That's why I'm here in Ethiopia. To see if it has made a difference. I spent several hours the first day reviewing their knowledge base, given them some advanced lectures and quizzing them. No need for worries there. They were sharp, inquisitive and motivated. I then went to the projects and did a medical standards assessment on the healthcare of the children. Here is a summary:

We have 11 projects in Ethiopia with about 3000 children that we care for. There are 9 HCWs here, having completed their training just over a year ago when we came here to do clinics. They worked with us for 5 days and were seeing patients on their own most of the time, making the right diagnosis and starting the right treatment. In one year since they have been on their own, here's what I've found:

1. referrals to outside clinics are down by 55%

2. healthcare costs for the projects are also down by 50%

3. the HCW is seeing on average 10 children a month

4. 32 children were identified with potentially life threatening illness, treated and never hospitalized

5. children with chronic illness such as TB, malnutrition and anemia have been identified and are followed on a regular schedule of physical exams and treatment by the HCW

6. medical records for all children are now in the child's respective folder

Outcome measures that are positive, fruitful and successful. There is more that I've found in addition to what I've listed above, but I hope you see the effect of this HCW program. The MoM are well cared for.

I leave for Kenya tomorrow to do the same there, except this time, I'll have my medical team with me. 18 US team members. We will have 5 days of clinics and the HCWs will work with us. Fruits of our labour. Planting a seed. Teaching them to fish. THe children are better for it.

In all things give thanks,

David

Dominican Republic: a life worth saving

In communities in the Dominican Republic, children find themselves at small grocery stores like the one above, seeking out a candy bar or a soft drink. The question is how do they do it without any money. They beg. I saw these 2 boys doing that and even from far away, I could sense that the shop keeper, himself barely keeping his little store open with few patrons, giving in to them. They both left with a small piece of candy. gifting from one who little to gift. And that set the tone for all that I've seen here in the DR as I've moved from one MoM project to another. MoM staff gifting from their hearts, using personal funds and resources in addition to those from MoM to help a child.

Like this little girl, a MoM child in a small project in the DR. Clothes, food, healthcare and education. Spiritual growth and most of all love. Gifting from those who gift without taking. But here is the story that takes it all to the heart.

She is 12 years old, and a few months ago, she took ill with an unknown infection, became combative, then losing consciousness and quickly passing away. The project leader took her to the hospital and before even asking MoM for help, the project leader put down a sizable amount of money from her own pocket and that of the other MoM project staff to get the care she needed immediately. This little girl spent 2 weeks in the hospital, slowly recovering. I saw her CT scan and her EEG (brain wave recordings). An area of infection was clearly noticeable in her brain, and her EEG was abnormal. The project director and her staff prayed for her continually and also made sure that funds were available for the care that was needed on a daily basis. Little is done in a government hospital unless you pay up front for medications. I saw the bill. Diapers, IV solutions, medications, and more. All paid for by the project staff. This little girl left the hospital with some mild residual neurologic changes (you can perhaps see that the left side of her face is slightly drooping), but she is recovering more and more of her function daily. I examined her and she is bright, happy and thankful for her life. She gave me permission to share her story and her picture to say thank you to all who care for her.

I came to assess the healthcare programs we've put in place in the DR, Honduras and Haiti. I was struck with the fact that the programs were not only working well, they were being built upon by the projects themselves with self direction and efforts. But most of all, I was struck with the kindness of the MoM staff, and this project leader. To gift to a child, to save her life, is a heart driven act that no "program" can ever match. And isn't that what we are all about? To ensure that all children have an opportunity to experience his or her's God given potential. A child's life worth saving.

In all things give thanks,

David

 

Haiti: What do you hear....

I've just finished an almost 3 day trip from the south of Haiti to the north and then to the east, visiting many of our MoM projects, examining the children and checking on their health care. You want to hear that all is well, that all the children are growing, are healthy, that they are stong, resilient and without illness. Not completely, but pretty close. What you will hear is that the children are well cared for, physically, spiritually and emotionally. You'll hear that they are for the most part holding their own, getting vitamins and meals that are nutritious, and that when they get sick, they are taken to a local clinic, seen and treated. You'll hear that we have some bumps in the road that we are dealing with, but nothing that we can't make smooth. You'll hear that I am pleased to see that the children in our MoM projects are all healthier overall since we came here a while back with a medical team and saw over 2000 of the children in one week. You'll hear that the teachers, the project directors, the regional director, the facilitators, and all of the MoM local staff are committed to ensuring that the health of the children is a top priority. A healthy child is one who will be able to learn, to sing, to play and to live life and be loved . You'll hear that healthcare is process, a determined act of caring and curing. And you'll hear that the MoM children of Haiti are better for what has been given, and for what we will be giving in the years to come. A healthcare system that is tailor made for the MoM children of Haiti, addressing their individual and unique needs. I came here to hear what has been done right and what can be done better. I heard and now you have. It sounds like we've done okay, wouldn't you agree?

In all things give thanks,

David

Dubuisson: A place of want....

When Medical Mercy arrived 72 hours after the Haiti earthquake, we set to work on helping theinjured and homeless. We came across a refugee camp several days into the devstation, where no medical teams had been nor any help at all. It was called Dubuisson. We stayed there for 2 days take care of over 400 refugees. I came back to that locale today and saw how it had grown, and the community had settled. But there was one area that we came upon yesterday that MoM and a partner US church is looking to embrace. What you see is a church without a roof with mothers and children in there. That will be the center of a new MoM project, a Child Development Center (CDC) as we call it for 100 children. I examined quickly about 80 children who were there, and saw that almost half were malnourished, anemic, had bad nasal drainage and pneumonia.These children are in need of health care. These children are in need of nutrition, education, clothes and much more. It is a place of want. We're there to fulfill the need.

In all things give thanks,

David

 

Honduras: Doctor, doctor...always available

There is nothing better than being surprised and happy about it. Honduras has 3000 MoM children in over 20 projects, many of them in Tegucigalpa, some in the north and some in the south. How do you ensure that those 3000 children get health care, all of the time, consistently, completely and without question? You have doctors like Victoria and Francisco with the help of Mae-Ling and her husband to take care of the MoM children. 24 hours a day. Really. 24 hours a day. Victoria and Francisco, 2 recent graduates from medical school in Honduras, had a place in their heart to serve the underserved, to give and expect nothing and to be there for all who came to them. Through a series of events and some divine intervention, MoM came upon these 2 noble physicians and they found us, and the relationship was born. For several years now, Victoria and Francisco have served all of the projects, visiting all of them and all of the children multiple times a year, established a nutritional supplementation program, a 24 hour call center, an ambulance, a central clinic base, and a mobile clinic program, twice yearly physical exams for all the MoM children, and much more. I spent 2 days with them, traveled to 4 of the projects, saw what they had accomplished, and stood up and applauded. Standing ovation!! These 2 young physicians found a place to serve, to give and to fulfill their vision. The children of MoM are better for it.

In all things give thanks,

David

 

What's it all about....

Three countries, 5 cities, 10 days. That's what I'll be doing when I leave in a few days for Honduras, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. I'll be going to several of our projects in each of the countries to see how we're doing with our medical care. We've been to each of those countries, bringing medical teams and teaching, and now I'm going to find out how sustainable our medical care is. It's all about what we leave behind. If we've done our job well, we've left behind an infrastructure of health care that is supporting the growth and development of the children. There may be a few hiccups, a few things not in order, but then again, it isn't all roses with health care here in the US either. I expect that I'll find that most of what we went to those countries to accomplish (having a health care process available to the children) will be for the most part intact and functional. I'll be going to the projects, looking at the children, talking with the project leaders, the teachers, the cooks, local health care professionals, and yes, even the children. I'll seek answers to questions and ask "Tell me where it hurts (where is the health care here not up to par), and what can I do to make you better". I'll help fix that which needs fixing, and applaud that which is going well. I'm looking forward to clapping long and hard and perhaps even giving a standing ovation. We'll just have to wait and see.

In all things give thanks,

David

 

India Clinic Costal Orissa wrap up 2012

Something seems to be out of sorts. We finished up the last 2 days of clinics, and we are feeling lost. Not because of what we weren’t able to accomplish, but because we couldn’t do more. The last day of clinic was probably the reason for this. We had a usual day of clinics on Thursday, seeing several hundred children, no issues, straight forward. Then Friday came. About an hour drive from Puri, is a small fishing village,   population 25-30,000, all contained in within a 2 kilometer square parcel of land. About 30% of the population are children, or so we suspect. That’s around 900 children. Now consider this. All, and I mean all are malnourished, sickly and isolated. There is room for about 370 children in a school, and the rest of them have nothing. You ask why? This village is a village of “displaced” people, lower caste, unwanted by the general population, wanting for much, but given nothing. We came upon this place due to a change in plans. Divine intervention perhaps, but it was good that we did. By seeing what was, and knowing what was not, we all came away feeling that we had to make this fishing village a priority. And that is in the works.

The 17 ream members, Kelly, Michael, Sue, Jeremy, Tyler, Simon, Heather, Lauren, Marlene, Anne, Peggy, Sarah, Justin, Amanda, Lara,and Carleen worked hard and without fanfare. Pharmacy, data entry, nutritional assessment, medical examinations, crowd control, and pastoral care ran without a hitch. It was all because of the coordination and implementation of the India team: Judith, Sudip, Daniel, Kevin, Mark, John and Raju. We saw close to 1400 patients in 4 and a half days, and left with a sense of well being knowing that we did what we were asked to do. Serve. It wasn’t what we brought but what we left behind. A dose of grace, a pinch of love,and a teaspoon of compassion measured a thousands of times over. The ingredients of His love for us.

In all things give thanks,

David

India Clinic day 3

It’s not over. At least not for us. But the 3 days that we’ve spent in this small fishing community is. We have been holding clinics in this fishing village in the town of Puri, from which many of the children come from. The village has a population of 25,000 and is considered the poorest of the environs of Puri. The poorest of the poor. And that is what MoM does, finding and caring for the children who are far from the common place. We saw another 250 patients today, most of whom were children, sick, but still full of smiles. They perhaps know no better. For what they have is what they have and they wont for not. I sometimes wonder if I could be like that. What spoke today, was the story told about Pastor David, by Pastor David (it isn’t me). 39 years ago he was an alcoholic, a hit man for a mobster organization and a worshipper of the monkey god. That is the monkey god tattooed on his arm. He fell off his bike one day after drinking way too much, and woke to find a piece of paper next to him with a scripture verse on it that said “Jesus is God.” He wondered who could this one man be who claimed to be god, when there were so many other gods like his monkey god. Pastor David  went to a church the next morning and again the next day, and then the next, and for 365 days he went to church, studying the bible, listening to bible classes and found the way. He began pastoring in this fishing village and today he ha a congregation of over 900 people. He tends to the MoM children and served with us. What is it that made him change. He really could not put his finger on it, but he did say one thing. “A monkey god is simply that. A monkey god. But Jesus is a god that was man, who came to earth to carry our sins. How could I not believe in that?” He spoke in his broken English as the children ran and played around us. He looked at them and quietly said, “they too one day will hopefully see that the monkey is just a monkey.” I took his hand and we prayed together. And the children played.

In all things give thanks,

David