Into the Bush--Part I

I went out into the field today for the first time this week.  Actually, it was the bush, and I went not once, but twice.  Since the internet only works well when the students are not here taking up all the bandwidth on their phones, I have stayed at the Lodge during the day to post about the previous day.  As a result, I've not had the opportunity to see for myself the things I've been reporting on.

That all changed when I went out with the medical team this morning to a village buried in the heart of the bush country outside of Livingstone.  The road to get there kept narrowing and narrowing until it was literally two well-worn dirt tracks in the midst of the bush.  Every now and again huts would crop up alongside of the road until we came to an wider spot where there was an open air market on one side and a three-sided shelter on the other:  the clinic.

The village open-air market

There were about a dozen people sitting in the shade of the roof when we got there but word soon spread via the village grapevine, bringing more and more patients, two by two, in small groups, or solo.  The three doctors, along with the lab, set up inside the shelter.  The dental "clinic" set up at the end of the shelter, triage took place under the tree in front of the shelter, and the bus became the pharmacy.

The triage line (nurse in white at the end).

I spent a couple of hours observing the professionalism of all our medical/dental staff--from the the doctors, nurses, technicians, and interpreters down to the students.  Patience certainly was needed as the crowds could easily have gotten out of control.  Truth to tell, they did on occasion--especially with the children.  But calm was restored after a bit, and everyone

went on with the real business at hand:  healing.  It was inspiring to watch them all at work, each with a specific and vital job to fill.

By the time I left, the dozen had swelled to many more.  This was just supposed to be a half-day visit, though, so they finally had to shut down triage and send everyone away except the ones already in process of being cared for.

I left this village humbled and awed at what I had seen.  We take much for granted.

Triage under the tree with Mrs. Morada
(Oliver Morada's mother) and Rebeca

Medical and Construction equipment to do
dental work :)

The lady is an English teacher in town.
She brought her father, who lives in the
village, to our clinic.

Mrs. Maloon prays with some patients.

Rebeca takes temperatures in the
triage line.

Arlyn checks a patient's eyesight.

Dr. Muncy counsels with a patient alongside an
interpreter (right).

Mrs. Morada's brother dispenses medicine
from the bus

Eric checks a patient's weight

Mrs. Muncy and Haley hand out toothbrushes

Narce and Abigail demonstrate proper tooth care.

Haley uses a dinosaur to teach
tooth care.

Children are the same everywhere
when there is a camera!  "Copy me!"