Angola: Medical and eye surgery outreach to Cuito Cuanavale and Mavinga
|
The medical and eye surgery outreach to Cuito Cuanavale and Mavinga was probably one of the toughest ones DFL undertook thus far. The people in Mavinga are very isolated and the need for medical care is great. The approximately 200km took some of the team members almost 3 days due to trees that had to be cut down, and a puncture on one of the tyre. The 200km od trip between Cuito Cuanavale that we thought would take a full day, took the truck with surgery unit almost 3 days. We got stuck, flat tyres on the surgery unit truck, trees falling on the truck cab etc. Two people in the team were treated for malaria while being in Mavinga and the trip back was just as challenging.
But going to these areas was worth it. The team of doctors, medical staff and volunteers were able to help hundreds of needy people. In return the patients often expressed their joy and thankfulness often in very illustrative ways. In total we did about 72 surgeries of which most were to treat or prevent blindness. These were mostly cataract and trachoma cases. We also gave out hundreds of prescription glasses and treated and screened many hundreds more for things like epilepsy, malaria, leprosy, abscesses etc etc. We also treated many for Trachoma (with Azythromycion) that is mostly linked to areas that have a lack of hygiene. We also assisted the people with dental extractions. We look back at our time in Mavinga and Cuito with thankfulness, that we returned safely and that we had the privilege to go to those remote areas regardless of the challenges. |
|
|
|
|
Update on the 2011 Aid to Africa medical outreach to Angola
20111102 Aid to Africa
The team finally reached the first destination of Cuito Cuanavale after about six days on the road. The target area is isolated and the team had to travel on bad roads, some of which were marked with land mine warnings! The 500 litre drinking water tank broke off the truck, damaging the vehicle, and one of the trailers broke down twice. Thankfully the damage was not too serious and everybody arrived safely in a hot Cuito Cuanavale.
The clinic started on Monday and the first few patients who received cataract surgery had their eye pads removed today (2nd Oct). Their joy at being able to see again was wonderful to witness. One man, Joao Babtista, a pastor, is looking forward to preaching again and being able to read his bible. For the last few years he has preached from memorized bible versus. Joao is one of 18 blind patients who have received surgery so far. They team also attended to about 300 other patients. The DFL team of 3 doctors, 2 nurses and the support team will continue working in Cuito Cuanavale for 4 days and then move on to Mavinga for another 4 days of work.
DFL is attending the SAMA conference
20111015 Doctors For Life
Doctors For Life is attending the 2011 South African Medical Association conference at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria, South Africa. The conference starts on Thursday 15 until Saturday 17 September. Members, friends and interested parties can visit our stand in the exhibition hall.
DFL medical team returns from Malawi after 121 surgeries
20110727 Aid to Africa
Doctors for Life’s team of eye specialists, doctors and volunteers have returned home after a successful eye surgery and medical outreach to Bengula, Malawi. Nick Ashton, a volunteer from the UK, was responsible for fundraising and organising the outreach. The trachoma and cataract eye surgeries were done in Nsanje hospital in compliance with the department of health of Malawi. Iris ministries helped with the logistics and preparations for the outreach and were the base from which DFL worked. This is DFL’s third eye surgery outreach to Malawi in the past 2 years. The medical work included 121 trachoma, cataract and cancer surgery procedures. In addition we also handed out glasses for refractive errors and did general examinations for other diseases. Everything was done free of charge. We are thankful that everything went so well!
Land surveying at Doctors for Life Clinic at Zavora, Mozambique
20110725 Aid to Africa
A small team including a land surveyor and architect are currently doing volunteer work at DFL’s clinic in Zavora. The purpose of their visit is to develop detailed site plans and architectural drawings of possible additions to the clinic. The new buildings will include a laboratory, prenatal examination, vaccination, dental, and ultrasound rooms. Part of the development of the site will include plans for a theatre with 2 wards of 14 beds. DFL started developing plans for a theatre about 2 years ago. It will allow us to deliver much needed medical surgery like caesareans and eye surgery etc. Both the architect, Mr Harald Thiede, and the land surveyor, Mr Dirk Olivier, donated their time and expertise to help DFL with the plans and brought along all the equipment for the task.(More)
LifePlace visited by students from the University of the Free State
20110720 LifePlace
A group of thirteen theology students from the University of the Free State, accompanied by Professor Pieter Verster visited Doctors for Life’s, LifePlace care centre in May. They were on a mission trip and were interested in working with women in the Point and Morningside areas. The LifePlace team accompanied them on a street outreach to speak to women caught up in prostitution and it was quite an experience for them. We appreciate the visit and look forward to the next one.
Doctors for Life medical outreach in Malawi
20110718 Aid to Africa
An Aid to Africa medical team is currently visiting the remote villages of Bengula and Nsanje in the southern districts of Malawi. This will be our third outreach to these neglected areas in the past 2 years. Nicholas Ashton, a volunteer from the UK has organised this specific outreach. He is joined by an eye specialist team led by Dr Herman Roodt. (more…)
‘JOY’!
20110627 11th Hour Counseling
We recently visited a middle aged unmarried lady who had responded to our ‘Abortion Alternative’ newspaper advertisement. ‘Joy’ suspected that she was 3 weeks pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. She already has two children of her own and takes care of some others, so she felt that she was not ready for another child. After speaking with her for a few hours she began to show concern for her ‘baby’s’ health and wanted to go for a scan and have an HIV test. When 11th Hour met with her again about two weeks later, she told us that she was 5 weeks pregnant, and had decided to keep her baby!
The 11th Hour Pro-Life Project is Using a New Strategy
20110624 11th Hour Counseling
Since October 2009, 11th hour has used a new strategy to reach women and girls seeking an abortion. An advertisement is regularly placed in a local newspaper promoting an “Abortion Alternative” Helpline. A room is also available where the women can be counseled, enabling them to make an informed decision. 80 women were counseled during 2010 and most of them have kept their babies. We know of 30 women who have given birth to full-term babies. The first two babies born were twin girls and there are 11 boys and 20 girls’ altogether. The women are encouraged and supported through follow-up calls and sms’s during pregnancy and afterwards. Some baby clothing and other items have been donated and we endeavor to visit the ladies with a gift for the new baby, and perhaps something for the other siblings in the family. (More..)
Thanks to the Aleman`s from Canada
20110624 LifeChild
The Aleman`s from Canada recently spent a week with us in South Africa. They visited the Malelane, Mthaleni and Table Mountain orphan centers and evaluated the needs there. We are thankful for the gifts they bought for the children during their visit which include: school uniforms, jackets for 38 children, 17 blankets, a hosepipe and a copper fence. Thank you very much for your continued support and commitment to project LifeChild. (More..)
| Tweet Follow @DoctorsForLife |
