Saturday, November 14, 2015

Unsung heroes - health workers are NOT immune from malaria - pt 2

The health brigade used the school and clinic funded by It Takes a Village to treat the local people who were very sick with malaria 
but....
what happens when your head nurse comes down with malaria?
 
more from Maritza



Once we reached Guiledje with its abundance of patients, we could see that there is a need to increase medical outreach, and to do that, we need to add a room for outpatients. Many came, some laid down, anywhere, too sick to walk, too sick to do anything.











I have seen people with malaria and I've had it myself but to see so, so many was heartbreaking. The clinic was used to its fullest extent that day and it saved many lives.





Raquel worked and worked but we didn't know how long we were going to be there. She was burning up with fever, she too had malaria, and was very sick.  After five hours she called it quits. She put her head down on the table. Her helpers gave her pills to bring the fever down along with a warning "this is for the fever!  Get to Quebo Monday, you have to see a doctor!" It was one of those heartbreaking moments, helping and reaching out to many yet unable to help them all.
Malaria is everywhere in The Guinea Bissau and affects everyone. Its associated problems take many lives annually, and the treatment and prevention of malaria are key issues. Multiple infections during the course of one's life is not uncommon, especially with children.



 Malarial attacks are characterized by bouts of fever alternating with asymp- tomatic periods.



 Symptoms of malaria are commonly described as flu-like: fever, shivering and chills, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, body aches and weakness, flushed dry skin, and bright eyes

Come back for pt 3 (conclusion)
what happens to the patients when the doctor is sick?

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