We started with some outreach prep work, staff meetings and for Dani a couple of visits to the hospital (a pastor from a village asked her to visit one of the young men who was in ICU following a serious head injury).
On Wednesday we returned to Nagado for the purpose of following up on some of the patients who had presented with various benign lumps and skin lesions. We set up a mini surgical operating clinic and Dani spent the day wielding a scalpel with the help of Ali, Ane, Ben and Kaba as assistants, light holders, steriliser and translators. It was also Ali’s first time driving the beast that is the medical truck over the hilly dirt roads. We all survived 🙂
Holding the gauze is a very important job, you know.
We were sad to say goodbye to Richard & Thelma Dingle this week, but we had fun at their leaving lovo where we got to eat some very tasty food and see some island dancing.
This week we travelled to Natawa, a village of approximately 70 people located in the Nausori Highands. The team included Bjarte (Marine Reach’s Medical Co-ordinator/nurse/truck-driver and all-round funny guy), Ben (master of Fijian village protocol), Rowena (acting dental assistant/ storyteller/evangelist) and Grace (gap year student/translator).
Well, it’s been nearly three weeks since the outreach team departed and life has gone on. After closing up the clinic on the Wednesday we all visited a local school for some health & dental education, and for once Dani and I got to do this together! We handed out a load of toothbrushes and toothpaste for them to take home and in turn the children treated to us to a selection of songs in Fijian and English. Pretty good lungs for their size!
