Monday Surgeries

Wonderful breakfast of cinnamon rolls. Education on schistosomiasis. There’s so much to learn in tropical medicine! Schistosomiasis is the main reason we can’t swim in the lake. That and the amount of amoeba in patient’s stool samples. 200+ patients registered. My first diagnosed case of syphilis ever- photo if you wish! More bowel things. A nephritis. 2 boys of 8 and 4 came alone without their mother. Older one declared he had malaria. They had a blood prick test and took it in their stride. Both negative! No social workers informed and off they went back on the boat. More rain and wind. Hilary and Mark seen in 3 layers!
Fast work meant an earlier finish and time to sit in the sun preparing my health talk for tomorrow on syphilis. We have diagnosed a number of cases. Lots of cases of multiple partners. The privacy they don’t have when talking about their sexual health! And through a translater. My translater Constantine always lowers his voice when talking of such things. He is actually a nurse/midwife and very experienced and must wonder why I’m faffing so much! The Tasmanian ‘doctors’ just order a lot of tests and then give lots of drugs as far as I can see. Boat driven off out of bay and further out to collect water. This is then filtered twice and boiled if used for cooking. Our drinking water is separate. The village has no running water. All collected from the lake shore and carried sometimes 100 metres uphill in 20l buckets on their heads!Read more