We wish you all a healthy 2013! That this is not obvious was experienced by Aida and Mariam, 6 month old twins, who were brought to our nutrition consultation by their grandmother. Their mother had died while giving birth, something that’s still way too common in Africa. On this continent t[...]
Archive for the ‘Medical’ Category
Albinism in Senegal
In an empty classroom, armed with only a stethoscope, first aid kit and prescription pad I provide a free clinic for people with albinism (popularly called albinos) in Senegal. I provide basic care, give information and hand-out sunscreen. It is October 13, a national day for people with albinism, o[...]
September 3rd, 2012 - 18:04 § in Medical
Hygiene
“Who has washed his hands before joining the table?” asks one of the nurses in a loud voice. I am just about ready to start a class on hygiene, when a grateful patient brings in a big plate of food. Without hesitating, the employees start eating. We all eat from the same large plate, as [&hellip[...]
When the rain comes…
“My wife and children could not sleep in a dry place” says Boubacar, one of the clinic’s guards. He lives in Grand Yoff, an area that was seriously flooded after the heavy rains last week. Because the clinic is slightly elevated, he was able to bring his family over to spend the night [...]
July 8th, 2012 - 15:34 § in Medical
On worms and dreams
“This is another nice patient for you” Amadou approaches me in the hallway waving some lab results. It is a joy to work together with the – mostly Senegalese – staff. Amadou is one of the nurses at the clinic Keru Yakaar, When I ask him about his dream for the clinic, he answ[...]
June 1st, 2012 - 16:02 § in Medical
Tabitha teaching in Bongolo
Each Dutch woman over thirty is familiar with it: the smear … It is an important method for early cervical cancer diagnosis. Due to lack of adequately equipped laboratories in the tropics, a smear can often not be made. The consequences are sad and deadly. Cancer is discovered at a late stage,[...]
April 23rd, 2012 - 16:01 § in Medical
Joy to the pediatric ward
Jessica has a sweet grandmother and a monkey. Her mother died from AIDS. She is 6 months, and has been infected with HIV and tuberculosis, a combination that we unfortunately see often. Her grandmother carries her in: malnourished and cramped- she weighs only 3 pounds. We’re glad she came,[...]
April 19th, 2012 - 18:17 § in Medical
Sadness at the Pediatric Ward
Knowing there are children dying in Africa is hard, but seeing a child die is terrible. Milani gasps for breath as he is brought into the Pediatric Ward, he’s only 2 months old. A severe pneumonia, maybe TB or HIV, it looks serious. I continuously walk in to see how he’s do[...]
Myths around pregnancy
“When you eat an egg during pregnancy your baby will be born bald…” An American guest-gynecologist reveals some pregnancy myths. “And when you stretch both arms high up; the umbilical cord might get around the baby’s neck.” “We relate a circulating umbilical cord to a pregnant woma[...]
Thursday in March
This Thursday in March was different than all other days so far. At 9 o’clock in the morning, an hour after the Morning Meeting, Jeanette, a surgical nurse, died. She was admitted the night before after a sudden severe stroke. Almost no one was working that morning, and a large group of collea[...]
