June has provided enough rainfall to allow us to get the boat through a tiny creek to a small community we have been trying to reach for some time. With rainfall and a high tide we managed to make the journey to a remote community with no access to health care or immunisation.
The childhood mortality is high and confirmation from the local government officials that the vaccination schedule had not reached this area has made us think how we can make some regular visitation possible.
Certainly our pastor's able punting skills prove useful when it's too shallow to use the engine.
Sadly it's often the case that after both time and money spent getting to these small communities, the medical camp itself is often without serious illness. Certainly de-worming, treatment of skin and respiratory conditions, malaria and gastroenteritis is valuable, but few have life-threatening presentations, and there's a feeling that attendance is more opportunistic than timely. It seemed we were treating the healthy residue, hopeful that we could prophylactically prevent future illness.
The high mortality is because there is no care at the point of need, and without such, most children requiring help have died. The seriously ill adults infrequently attend these types of camps and concerted house visitation over days or weeks is necessary to overcome stigma and build trust. Even after four years at Enekorogha we find patients alone and suffering who don't feel able to reach out for help.
Knowing that only a trained and resourced Health Care Worker in the community will effect real change the camp demonstrated that there was a willingness on the part of the community to explore this further. Over 70 patients were treated, 40 patients were fitted with glasses and the Gospel of Jesus Christ preached to all.
The community seems responsive and if partnership is possible (which one can never assume) then training up a local worker would be the logical next step...
