Face of Malaria

This young girl named Mary was bitten by a stray dog just a few days ago. So she returned to the clinic for her rabies shots. Only today she was sick! The thermometer read 103 and her body felt hot! She looked like she didn't feel well at all. Her mother was with her. Dickson and I took care of her. First checking her blood--- and it was + for malaria. We gave her some Tylenol for her fever but she soon vomited it right back up. Dickson continued to communicate with the mother to find out her other symptoms. Her fevers just started last night, so it was a blessing that she was already coming to the clinic. We drew up the two rabies vaccine as well as some Artemether injection to treat the malaria.

 She is one brave little girl!

She rested outside for 2 hours, we rechecked her temperature- normal, and she was sent home. She was able to take the pills for malaria and stay hydrated. She will return in a few weeks for her last rabies injection. 

This is 16 year old boy, Kaya, also has malaria. He was very lethargic and restless. Also, high fevers for 3 days, joint pain, and headaches. We started an IV and a Quinine drip to treat his more advanced malaria. After a few hours his fever broke and he was doing 100% better. We were able to send him home later that same day! He returned the next day and was doing well. Now he is on CoArtem (pills) for malaria treatment for the next 3 days. 

This young boy, John, age 12 works at the grinding mill just across from the clinic. Got his finger too close to the machine. Dickson placed 6 stitches after numbing the skin with some lidocaine. We gave him some antibiotics, pain medication. and sent him to Doctors Without Borders for a tetanus vaccine. 

Happy family at the clinic. 

Day in the Clinic

Mother and child- who is sick with malaria

Hanging in the Pharmacy with Zachariah

Diana at work!

2 men from the Nuer Tribe- loved his cowboy hat :)

Clinic staff- Peter & Benjamin

Medications arrive!

-Before picture-

Finally a new shipment of medications has arrived here for the clinic. Currently the new storage room for the clinic is in it's final stages of construction! Cabinets are being placed and painted and any other last minute touches. 

So in the mean time all the boxes of medications are being stored here on the base. So Diana & I tackled sorting and unpacking all these boxes one afternoon! We went through all these boxes- counted the number of canisters of each drug, noted the expiration date, and documented it in the registration drug book.  Then placed them in the current medication room or transported them to the Maternity Ward store room. It was a huge task but thankful that Diana and I did it together!

another before picture

After picture!

The door on the left leads to the current medication room which is packed full of important medications and other medical supplies or equipment. All the boxes with the dark green markings on the edges are treatment for malaria- it's mosquito season!!! All of those boxes have now been moved to the Maternity Ward store room. 

Blood Donation!

There was a phone call asking for O+ blood needed at the hospital in the nearest town, Bunj. So I volunteered. I have O+ blood and I'll probably not be able to donate once I get back home to Texas. So my friend Diana and I got on a motorbike to ride to Bunj. Don't worry Mom, we wore helmets. Just had to navigate through the obstacle course of pigs and goats and donkey carts and children.

   We arrived safely to the hospital. Proceeded to the laboratory. First they did a quick blood draw to confirm my blood type and checked for HIV and Hepatitis. Next I laid down on a table and Solomon placed a 16 gauge (ouch!) needle in my arm. My "stress ball" was a urine dip stick container. The bag was placed on a chair lower than the table I was laying on. The blood came out rather quickly. I donated 1 pint.

   Afterwards I didn't get a sticker, a t-shirt, or even a pint of Blue Bell Ice Cream for my donation. I did drink a half liter of Gatorade (that I brought with me from my tukul) and dried cranberries (also brought from home). Solomon insisted I lay down on the table for a few minutes after the donation was completed. Then I was able to move to the chairs in the waiting area for another 15 minutes or so.

   Still feeling fine, We hopped back on the motorbike. Diana and I stopped in the local market- she got herself a cold Coke and I sat in a tea shop with a Carcadeih (Hibiscus) tea. Two Mabaan friends, James & Jeremiah stopped by to greet us. Once finished with our beverages we paid and the kind lady running the Tea Shop, Lydia,  and she gave me a nice tea glass to keep. At first Diana and I were confused. But luckily another shop owner nearby spoke a little English to help us. Lydia wanted me to have this tea glass as a gift. I smiled, we shook hands, and I said "shukran" which means thank you in Arabic.

   So that's my first experience donating blood! It's kinda cool to think that you are able to help another person. The patient who received my blood I know nothing about. Only they were in the operating room at the time and needed my blood. There is no refrigeration here to store and keep blood on hand for emergencies.

Clinic Work in Mabaan

Pharmacy

Waiting Room

Dickson & young boy

mom & twins

me & young Mary getting a weight check

Mary and her family

Rebecca, Sarah, Jimina, Axia