quackery!

Whilst famine is declared in Somalia, and its attendant suffering in the main beyond the blame of man, (accepting civil conflict has destroyed the infrastructure to help),we frustratingly continue to treat pointless acts of barbarism that stem from casual indifference or ignorance, resulting in quite needless suffering.

This lady suffered with simple toothache and sought the help of a local village chemist ( someone who sells prescription drugs and treats without any medical training) who bizarrely injected her just above her right eye, into the socket with an undisclosed medicine.....

Over four weeks this injection site has now developed into a discharging abcess with extensive spread down into the maxillary sinus and nasal cavity destroying bone and tissue as seen below. She has both fever and unremitting pain.

Though she improved with a week of IV antibiotics her son took her home before we could facilitate a surgical review ( though a health care worker commented a prior patient with the same complaint regrettably died during surgery)

Our clinic diaries are replete with similar cases and toe-curling photos, all needless and difficult to treat.

The challenges of East Africa's current plight are acute and mainly logistical, getting crucial aid to the point of need quickly and triaging those needing priority intervention.

In the Delta the challenges are chronic and lie at the societal level. Education, prevention and primary care remain pivotal. Already we have seen a surge in mothers delivering at the clinic following extensive educational programs and the involvment of the women's committee.

Avoiding these pitfalls of money driven quackery is a hard nut to crack however.

Relentless love and relationship building builds trust, trust that has for many resulted in preferentially seeking out the care and programs we offer in service from the clinic. We pray that in seeking our help they will also come ultimately to the soul-saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, without whom there is nothing that makes any sense in this world.

Outwith the Clinic

Many, for often spurious reasons do not come, or bring their loved ones to the clinic. This 'over the shoulder' peek follows the Health Care Workers working in the community, visiting a palliative care patient, an elderly man with advanced Parkinson's disease, and a remote immunisation camp.