Worms and other stories (not for the squemish!)

Well, it has taken me a few days to proces the remainder of this week. It was a little strange and a little eventful. A large part of what Mercy Ships is involved in is health education. Largely this can be the community projects that go on, HIV and aids teaching, handwashing etc when being taught how to prevent the spread of infection and diseases common place here. This week I have really had to step it up with a couple of my patients and thier caregivers.
Unfortunately, worms is a common complaint for many people. Poor hygiene just because of lack of education and understanding about the spread of worms is the most common reason for it's spread. Two of my smallest patients this week have been found to have worms (unfortunately, one of them by me!!). The treatment is very straightforward, but without explaining how we can stop it next time, it's a pretty futile battle. So I have spent some of my time at the end of this week, reiterating the need to wash hands before and after using the toilet, and especially for little ones to try not to put their hands in their mouths (easier said than done for a one year old!). I had the great joy of being called over by one of the aunties this week and asked to look in her niece's nappy...lovely, a live worm! Well, one of many things I have had to learn while being here. If you find anything unusual anywhere, keep it! I hadn't quite realised the importance of this but the lab actually has to look under the microscope and analyse worms to check if the treatment given is appropriate. Strangely this little girl had already had treatment which would have killed any worms. So, here is aother little one of my 'everyday' occurances here. What is quite difficult is the limit ofthe teaching we can do. On the ship the patients have a bathroom and a sink and soap t owash hands, at home many don't even have dug latrines, infact as I have witnessed, many people will go and toilet wherever, near houses and even the markets, especially children. So the ministries we have in the community are crucial to continue this work effectively.

We also had quite a situation on the ward this week with someone who was quite sick following surgery. It was a very hard situation as the wards have no curtains around the beds, (we put up curtains around the beds using magnets for particularly invasive dressings etc) so we had to move all of one side of the ward to another while we worked on the sick patient, with quite limited instruments and supplies. Thankfully 25 people (anaesthetists, surgeons and nurses) appeared with the emergency call out. What was so amazing to me was the response of the other patients. I went to check everyone was ok and asked all the other patients to join me praying for this person as the team tried to help him. expecting 'Amens' when I finished, I was moved to tears from the loud heartfelt prayers that came flying out even from the kids on the ward for this patient. I have never heard anything like it in a hospital! AWESOME!
...and the patient is well and now back on the ward, even better!