Mphingu clinic

Wednesday Sue went with Kathy Bowler and her physical therapy 'team', to see Kathy's set up and offer suggestions. The rest of us had plans to go to Daeyang Luke Hospital but that did not work out. In the evening, we got a call from Carson - she had been called to Crisis Nursery about a child and ended up bringing a sick little one to the ward. Dalitso is ~5 months old and a twin, she is small (~4 kg) but had been doing fairly well until she developed respiratory grunting, retractions, nasal flaring and cough. We went up to evaluate her - I will keep you posted on her condition, but keep her in your prayers.

Thursday we went to Mphingu for a village clinic. Becky Epperson had a team arrive on Wednesday - two nurses and 4 other sets of willing hands. She rented another vehicle that would seat 8 (8 sets of seat belts) but the window sticker said '7'. We loaded 8 folks into that vehicle, plus Becky's van and off we went - well, we didn't get far before we were flagged over by a police officer - you guessed it, Joseph was ticketed for one too many people in the car. 3,000 kwacha. Plus we had to go back and get another car. I drove the third car - while that sounds like nothing to most of you, any of you who have been here or been to a third world country (where on top of everything else, they drive on the wrong side of the road), you will know that can be challenging. And I have been totally spoiled by having Joseph drive almost all of the time!! However, we finally made it to Mphingu village, only a little bit behind schedule. We had been invited there through Fredna and Gaylord Brown (A/G missionaries) and the ICA. There is a home for street boys being constructed - there will be 5 houses, with a different emphasis in each home. I think counseling, training, etc. These are not orphans, but are boys who are separated from their families due to family difficulties or abuse. Currently one house is finished, one is almost done, one is under construction. There are 5 boys living in the finished house. The surrounding village has about 1000 people. We set up our clinic in the almost finished house - it had running water and a flush toilet so we were thrilled! Gloria Nsoma, a VCT nurse (voluntary counseling and testing - HIV) was our liaison. She did a nice job and even had a great lunch cooked and brought in to us - rice, chicken, vegetables, drinks and fruit. I do not know how many patients we saw - I personally have given up on counting them. I do know that we never seem to see everyone. It seems that when the people are standing in line they 'share' their complaints (the women especially). If one person has a specific complaint you will see a whole string of the same thing - at Mphingu it was 'heart pumping' - personally, I think my heart pumping is a GOOD thing!! Oh well, makes it interesting. We saw a couple of malaria cases, still lots of coughs and colds, abdominal pains, rashes, high blood pressure, and heart pumping. Many, many of the patients there were HIV positive and on ARVs (antiretrovirals). We did HIV testing if they wanted it (thanks to Gloria), but most either had already been tested recently or refused. We did find one additional positive. After lunch Joseph tried to focus on the men while I did women and children. The bathroom functioned as the 'private exam room' - Joseph found one man with a huge inguinal hernia, extending down into his scrotum. He also had a man using a golf putter as a walking stick (pretty ingenious). He had a man with places on his face that may have been lepromatous leprosy (I will let any of you doctors out there give me your opinion) - they had come up over a 2 year period, minimally tender - he mainly complained that inside his nose was painful - and denied any other areas of involvement. There was a lady with a massive goiter and a child with extensive skin rash. We again saw a few skin wounds (thanks to Carson for her wound care). And of course, the general body pain and high blood pressure patients. At the end of the day, we piled into the cars and made it back to ABC safely. I think Becky's team enjoyed their time, meeting and helping Malawians.

Thanksgiving / praise - safe travels to Mphingu; the ability to care for at least some of the patients we see; our supporters who make this possible through their gifts and prayer coverage; our health; teams willing to come to Malawi to help out; Chikumbutso (in the ward) who looks great!!

Prayer requests: Dalitso in the ward; safety while I am driving; Sue and Katie as they wind up their time here; Matt and Toni Moffett as they leave the EE training in Malawi to return to their home in Ghana; Becky's team for safety and health; fuel (as in finding it!).

Pictures:

Joseph, Charles and one of the street kids being checked - note the Batman t shirt

The 'doctors' room - Joseph and Charles seeing a patient, Esnart (my translator) waiting for me to return. We share a table so that we can consult AND share some of the equipment.

The next two photos - setting up the pharmacy in the living area of the house

Triage - in the kitchen

Patient after facial shingles that destroyed her eye, left her scarred and in chronic pain.

Massive goiter

Charles, family of three and Dr. Joseph, doing his thing.

Chronic rash on young girl's legs

Man with facial rash (? lepromatous leprosy?)