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.
Team Updates
Uxbridge Team Wrapping Up for 2009
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.
Medical Team Starting Last Clinic
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.
Medical Team in Carpenter and Bamboi
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.
Uxbridge Medical Team in Yaara
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.
Uxbridge Medical Team in Nyamboi
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.
Uxbridge Medical Team Starting Work in Carpenter
Dr. Jennifer Wilson, coordinator of the Uxbridge Medical team that is spending two weeks with NEA in Northern Ghana, has confirmed that everyone is safely at the home base in Carpenter.
Their voyage from Toronto to Carpenter went smoothly. Despite having ninety-five bags of medical supplies, each weighing 50 lbs, their check-in at the airport was well-organized and fast. The members reported that once airport security had confirmed that the contents of their luggage matched the description they provided, they were allowed to pass through very quickly. In fact, much of their time with security was spent in sharing their perspectives on the H1N1 virus.
The team is ready to begin work in Carpenter and the surrounding areas today. They are working with an Operation Hernia team from the UK, and already the teams are coordinating very well together.
As the doctors find time and access to technology to send updates, they will be posted here, so check back often.
Please continue to pray for the medical team and supporting staff, particularly for:
- health for the medical team members
- stamina for the medical team and the NEA staff supporting them, as these two weeks are busy and physically exhausting
- strength and health for the patients whom they serve, that their recoveries are quick and uncomplicated
- that residents of the communities in Northern Ghana might know the love of God as a result of this practical service
Uxbridge Medical Team
A team of 46 medical professionals departs for Ghana on October 31st. During their two weeks in Carpenter, this group of surgeons, physicians, and nurses will be performing surgeries that are otherwise unavailable. They will also train local health professionals and lead some community health education sessions.
This is an exciting and busy time for everyone — we would appreciate your prayers for safety, stamina, and health. Stay tuned for more updates.