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Health

Uncovering Yaws in Northern Ghana

2009/12/09 By GRID

In November 2009, members of the visiting medical team encountered unusual skin ulcers in many children from remote villages in the Deg area. They became suspicious that Yaws might be the cause of these painful sores, even though the disease was considered to be eradicated in Ghana.

Yaws is an infectious tropical disease that affects skin, bone, and cartilage. Its primary victims are children under 15 and it can lead to chronic disability.

Consulting with local health care workers, the medical team determined that what they were seeing was indeed Yaws.  Their Ghanaian colleagues hadn’t seen any cases of Yaws for over 20 years, and the discovery caused real concern that this contagious infection might be returning.  Team members began treating patients for this condition.

The medical team members also carefully documented 81 cases of suspected Yaws, which David and Brenda Mensah then submitted to the Regional Director of Health Services.  In a meeting with the Director, the Mensahs learned that health officials are concerned about a resurgence of Yaws in the country.

Although treatment is a relatively straightforward and cost-effective injection of Penicillin, it can be difficult for Ministry of Health personnel to locate patients afflicted with Yaws in order to give them the necessary treatment.

The Ministry of Health is thankful for the contribution that NEA and the medical team have made by sharing important information about the incidence of Yaws in the Deg region.  They also expressed deep appreciation for the team’s treatment of afflicted patients in the Deg Region.

Filed Under: Health, Sustainable Development

“I Feel Like a Young Man Again”

2009/12/01 By GRID

Hernia repair made this man feel young again
Successful surgery made this man feel young again

In their recent mission in Ghana, members of the 2009 medical team were blessed by  a man who calculates himself to be 120 years old.

The surgeons with Operation Hernia, who were once again a part of the medical team, had completed a successful hernia repair on this gentleman. The elderly man was very emotional when he addressed the team, explaining how he wished he could give them something to express his gratitude for the team for coming to help him.  The hernia had caused him great suffering and now he was pain free and felt like a young man again!

He went on to say that the only thanks he had to offer was to ask that the Most High, Almighty God would bless the team members and their children with every possible blessing, and that he considered them all to be adopted members of his family from that day forward.

For more stories from the medical team’s two weeks in Ghana, you can download our latest newsletter [PDF].

Filed Under: Health, Team Updates

Medical Team 2009 Wrap-Up

2009/11/20 By GRID

The Uxbridge Medical Team has returned safely home. Members will be delivering a presentation about their experiences at Uxbridge Baptist Church on this Sunday, November 22.  You are welcome to join either the 9:00 am or the 10:45 service; the team will be presenting in both.

Filed Under: Health, Team Updates

Uxbridge Team Wrapping Up for 2009

2009/11/12 By GRID

Dr. Jennifer Wilson, in Ghana with a team of over 40 other medical professionals, has been updating us on the team’s progress over the last two weeks. Here is the latest from her.

The medical team has finished their clinics and is exhausted but happy. They had enormous numbers of people this year and were able to see most of them. They only ran out of a couple of medications and they were able to replenish those from the hospital in Wenchi.

They received four rams from the villages that they held clinics in. During their last clinic yesterday, a small red car pulled up and the chief from another village stepped out with another ram and yams. Several people from his village had visited the clinic that was closest to them so he wanted to show his appreciation.

The team was able to contribute to the community in an unexpected way this year: by purchasing a cow. An expense they had already paid for before their trip ended up costing less than they were quoted and the team unanimously decided to put the extra money into purchasing some sort of bovine for their Ghanaian friends.

Jennifer and the team thank everyone for their prayers. Mid-afternoon during their final day many team members were close to hitting the wall. She knew it was the prayers of their supporters (aided by some instant coffee) that kept them going.

The team plans to leave Carpenter at 5:00 on Friday for the 10 hour bus ride back to Accra, where they will spend some time at the market and then begin the flights home.

Filed Under: Health, Team Updates

Medical Team Starting Last Clinic

2009/11/10 By GRID

Dr. Jennifer Wilson, in Ghana with a team of over 40 other medical professionals, continues to update us on their progress as she has access to technology and free time.

The team is only a few hours away from their last day of clinic and they are beginning to feel the effects of working incredibly long hours.

Jennifer reports that the the Bamboi clinic on Monday was huge: the medical/dental people saw six hundred people and the vitamin station saw just as many. The village of Bamboi is larger than the others that they visited and the clinic seemed to be more taxing on the team members.

On Tuesday the team ran a clinic in Carpenter and saw over 550 people at a more relaxed pace. They are still surprised with the sickness and disease that many people have accepted as normal for their lives.

The optometry team has been running the eye-glass stations on the second day in each village. As patients were examined by the medical team and identified with sight problems they were told to go to the eye-glass station the next day. On day two, Marion Hurlburt and May Tracey would set up in an area and begin seeing the referrals. As soon as people saw others coming out with glasses on there would a rush to the eye-glass station. The team has handed out all of the glasses that were taken and this has been major contribution to the mission this year.

The team plans to conduct their final clinic in Carpenter on Wednesday and then take Thursday to debrief and organize for their return on Friday. Please remember to pray for the team’s health and energy.

Filed Under: Health, Team Updates

Medical Team in Carpenter and Bamboi

2009/11/09 By GRID

Dr. Jennifer Wilson, in Ghana with a team of over 40 other medical professionals, continues to update us on their progress as she has access to technology and free time.

The medical team in Carpenter reports that they have been able to see record amounts of patients because the clinics are running so well. The team members are all working hard and are able to maintain the pace.

Here are some highlights from their experiences:

On Thursday in Yaara a three-year-old boy was brought to the clinic. He was very sick with pneumonia and they weren’t sure if they could help him or not. Joan Maguire, an IV specialist, was able to get him started with IV fluids. They were hoping to send him to a hospital but some of the translators and local medical personnel said that he would probably die in the hospital. So the team took him back to Carpenter with them and the nurses took shifts monitoring; Joan had to reinsert the IV several times. As of Sunday he was doing a lot better and they are planning for his return to Yaara.

Apparently this little boy is David Mensah’s nephew. Peter, the boy’s father and David’s brother, was in Carpenter for hernia surgery while this was taking place. At the church service on Sunday, Peter addressed the congregation and said that while he knew that the team was coming again this year, he didn’t realize that they would be coming just for his family. It was a beautiful time for everyone.

One of the area pastors, George crashed his motorcycle on his way to the church service on Sunday and was hurt badly. He did have a helmet on, but it was not done up so it did its job then flew off. Most of the damage was serious lacerations to his leg. One of the hernia surgeons actually specializes in vascular surgery and was able to stitch the wounds, including tendons, in Carpenter. The local medical people doubted George would have been able to receive comparable care in Accra.

The team had a good weekend, even fitting in some games and visits on Saturday evening. They are all looking forward to their remaining clinics before their return to Canada on Friday.

Filed Under: Health, Team Updates

Uxbridge Medical Team in Yaara

2009/11/06 By GRID

Dr. Jennifer Wilson, in Ghana with a team of over 40 other medical professionals, continues to update us on their progress as she has access to technology and free time.

The medical team is doing a lot of work and the sense of teamwork is great. The bus ride home is quite noisy with laughter and singing … even after working hard all day in the heat!

The medical team wrapped up their second day in Nyamboi yesterday.  They were able to see everyone who came and didn’t need to turn anyone away. While they were Nyamboi, a young boy collapsed, unconscious with severe malaria.  After a few hours with IV fluids and antimalarials he was well enough to go home.

The dental team is very busy, often pulling multiple teeth per patient.  When they finished in Nyamboi they were honoured with a ceremony where they were presented with vegetables and their first ram of the trip.

Today in Yaara the medical team saw many untreated ailments. The area is so remote that most people just live with their sickness. The team had a whole tent full of patients to see the surgeon to get on the hernia list for 2010!

The surgical team is making great progress and is repairing around 30 hernias each day. Some patients have two hernias so this really represents about 20 patients per day.

Unfortunately some team members are dealing with travel-related sickness.  Four team members had to stay back yesterday and one today.  The four who were sick yesterday were back at work today, so the bug is unpleasant but brief. Please remember the health of the team members in your prayers.

Filed Under: Health, Team Updates

Uxbridge Medical Team in Nyamboi

2009/11/03 By GRID

Dr. Jennifer Wilson, in Ghana with a team of over 40 other medical professionals, continues to update us on their progress as she has access to technology and free time.  This morning she was able to send home a brief update while on the bus to Nyamboi.

Yesterday the medical team held what was to be a small NEA staff clinic.  The clinic ran until after dark last night and they saw over 300 people.

Laila Bishara diagnosed six people with diabetes. Laila is off to Wenchi today to run a diabetic clinic, where she will be very busy.

The hernia team completed several surgeries yesterday and was already operating when the medical/dental team left for Nyamboi.  The teams are all working very well together.

Please pray that the team members can quickly get used to the heat and maintain their strength.

Filed Under: Health, Team Updates

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