Saturday, June 21, 2008
World Refugee Day and case updates
Yesterday was world refugee day. In Nyabiheke Refugee Camp there were speeches of encouragement from refugee leaders, camp managers, UN officials local politicians and students. Dancers, music and a skit provided entertainment. The program was three hours. It was almost all in Kinyarwanda so I could not understand most of the speeches. Near the end the dancers chose people from the audience to join the dancing, and of course as I stood out in my pale skin, I was soon dancing.
Recent clinical cases
We are occasionally able to fit middle aged or elderly patients with reading glasses selected from a large box with glasses labeled with a US discounter’s label. Last week a 55 year old woman was so pleased she danced a little jig. A four year old started on Phenobarbital a month ago for seizures returned and her father reported no further seizures. Unfortunately we were out of the drug and they were told to return in a week to see if our supply has been replenished. Financial restrictions frequently lead to lack of supplies.
The child who I wrote about in May who had severe malnutrition returned to the clinic a week ago with shortness of breath, no fever or cough. He was transferred to the local hospital and died the next day at 10 months of age. The cause is uncertain, but I suspect infection or heart failure causes by malnutrition. His body was held overnight in the clinic’s isolation room awaiting burial the next day.
The newborn that the health team resuscitated about six weeks ago had a cold last week and I was able to examine him and talk with his mother. Later he received routine immunizations. He is doing very well.
Recent clinical cases
We are occasionally able to fit middle aged or elderly patients with reading glasses selected from a large box with glasses labeled with a US discounter’s label. Last week a 55 year old woman was so pleased she danced a little jig. A four year old started on Phenobarbital a month ago for seizures returned and her father reported no further seizures. Unfortunately we were out of the drug and they were told to return in a week to see if our supply has been replenished. Financial restrictions frequently lead to lack of supplies.
The child who I wrote about in May who had severe malnutrition returned to the clinic a week ago with shortness of breath, no fever or cough. He was transferred to the local hospital and died the next day at 10 months of age. The cause is uncertain, but I suspect infection or heart failure causes by malnutrition. His body was held overnight in the clinic’s isolation room awaiting burial the next day.
The newborn that the health team resuscitated about six weeks ago had a cold last week and I was able to examine him and talk with his mother. Later he received routine immunizations. He is doing very well.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Laws and safety
Rwanda is a law abiding and safe country according to my experience and everyone I’ve talked to. People feel safe walking alone at night and theft is infrequent. Traffic laws are obeyed, although many drivers proceed after the light has turned red.
A month ago while I was photographing the green hills a policeman in civilian clothing asked me what I was doing and why was I here in the town of Byumba. We communicated in broken French and English and he became somewhat belligerent, demanding my passport. My driver’s license was not sufficient, so we walked a block to the ARC house where the guard and a manager talked to the policeman. After seeing my passport he thanked me and left. The next day a different policeman made an inquiry about ARC and me at the ARC office in Byumba. Speculation of my companions as to why he was suspicious include boarder security issues, as we are close to Uganda and threats made toward refugees by various foreign or terrorist groups who took refugee’s photos. Yesterday while walking home through the camp, I was stopped by the president of the refugee organization. He didn’t know me and inquired what I was doing. I explained my role as did a nurse who was nearby. He thanked me and I said I understood that non residents are not allowed in the camp without formal permission. J-walking laws are frequently enforced in cities, but luckily I have not been cited and am being more careful.
Today I’m finishing my work in the Gehimbe camp. Unfortunately I can’t get the projector to work for a presentation about using the internet for finding medical information. There is no active internet connection so all the information is in my computer. Maybe someone will be able to help. If I’m lucky my computer will be compatible with the projector, the correct plug adaptor will be available and the generator will work.
It is now the next day. The power was insufficient to power the projector, so I held up my computer anf moved around the room to give a partial view to the nurses.
A month ago while I was photographing the green hills a policeman in civilian clothing asked me what I was doing and why was I here in the town of Byumba. We communicated in broken French and English and he became somewhat belligerent, demanding my passport. My driver’s license was not sufficient, so we walked a block to the ARC house where the guard and a manager talked to the policeman. After seeing my passport he thanked me and left. The next day a different policeman made an inquiry about ARC and me at the ARC office in Byumba. Speculation of my companions as to why he was suspicious include boarder security issues, as we are close to Uganda and threats made toward refugees by various foreign or terrorist groups who took refugee’s photos. Yesterday while walking home through the camp, I was stopped by the president of the refugee organization. He didn’t know me and inquired what I was doing. I explained my role as did a nurse who was nearby. He thanked me and I said I understood that non residents are not allowed in the camp without formal permission. J-walking laws are frequently enforced in cities, but luckily I have not been cited and am being more careful.
Today I’m finishing my work in the Gehimbe camp. Unfortunately I can’t get the projector to work for a presentation about using the internet for finding medical information. There is no active internet connection so all the information is in my computer. Maybe someone will be able to help. If I’m lucky my computer will be compatible with the projector, the correct plug adaptor will be available and the generator will work.
It is now the next day. The power was insufficient to power the projector, so I held up my computer anf moved around the room to give a partial view to the nurses.
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