The week so far

An apology/correction

It has been brought to my attention that in the last post, I used the word "enginuity" where the intended word was "ingenuity".  Hopefully not too many of youse were confused.

Dooff Dooff cars in Melbourne are amateurs when compared to the moving speakers that are the taksis in this area.   It is not just a bass sound thing.......it is a you can hear the whole song (many in Ingrish) for at least 500 metres before and after the vehicle passes.  And, and, and, whilst I am in a picky mood, they could do with some mufflers on motorcycles.  Bloody noisy.

Driving!

So far, we have borrowed a  minivan/ people mover, and finally the community ute, to travel to and from the house. It is about one to two kms.   Andrew is the designated driver (because the others are far too drunk after the post work drinks) and thus far has done o.k.  Hopefully the IDP ( international driving permit) that he hasn't  got has not expired.

Tonight, the two mini vans were missing, so it was either the standard Nissan ute, or the 3-5 tonne truck.  So we unloaded the ute, and it was Andrew and our two NZ colleagues inntHe front, and the other four in the tray........ Where is a camera when you need it.   Maybe in the morning.

As has been previously described, the roads and traffic are positively benign, when compared to other Asian localities.    

Klinik

Today was clinic day, but as these go, it was pretty quiet. So much of the time was spent in the hospital.  At this point we would like to thank our GP Dr Kevin Quek, for strongly recommending the outrageously expensive Japanese Encephalitis immunisation.  There is a strong suspicion that one of the patients in the hospital, has JE. Not that one can catch it from the patient, but it means that it is in the environment, and a very ugly disease to pick up.(Mosquito vector).

The main hope of having the expertise of the visiting medical staff, is to educate, advise, mentor, motivate, and oversee, best medical practice as is permissible by the relative lack of training, experience, funds, and clear lack of initiative of many of the staff.  One of the tasks undertaken is to survey the several large bins of medical supplies, most of which have been donated, to establish the usage, and if necessary dispose of items too far past effective use parameters. 

It is very difficult to work in a hospital when the water and electricity is a variable commodity.

Lisa, having an ECG, performed,after a hard night, just in case.  No she is not in AF. The steam driven machine with suction cups. BTW Lisa was heard to say "you see I still know how to nurse."

Many of the medical items not used, include specialised dressings, splints, various catheters, etc.  many of these are not used because the staff have not been (or don't remember that they have been ) trained, which is quite frustrating.

Some of the wonderful patients

I couldn't guess how many patients there are in Melbourne with JE, TB, leprosy  or malaria, but there would be many injured and long term I'll patients who are getting top notch care in our health system.  What makes the patients here so special is the rarity of health care options available.  A very severely disable person would be cared for, within a village, usually to the extent that they would have a hut, and food.   

There are several patients here who have an opportunity of a lifetime, to access care that was not possible to them before Hohidai, set up here.  There is a young man Tison, who many years ago was badly burnt, and was destined to a miserable deformed, and non productive life, in the village.   Coming to the mission offered initial treatment, then the opportunity for him to travel to North Americal to have his chin un fused from his chin, skin grafts on his face, legs, chest, and arms.

T is an inspiration years after the injury he still requires daily dressings to his legs, which stillsuppurate and smell.  He is very active which still causes problems with the wounds not healing, but if he is not active the muscles will contract.... He is always happy, loves a hug from nurse Sandie, and is as cheeky as they come.  His English is magnificent, is currently in the grade three that Andrew tries to teach, and he has the detimimination to achieve if he can continue to be given the chance.  It's all about $$$, that often is not immediately available.

Nurse Nat, and nurse Andrew dressing Tison's burns...Andrew is the one in the background with the gloves on.

But he is learning to do Tison's dressing, under close, very close supervision.

Octavia is a young lady who has spent much of the last few years at the hospital

Thirteen year old Grace, who with the determination of volunteer Peter, and ingenuity of Kevin,  You should see the smile on her face.

That is all.