Originally when GUW staff spoke with the hospital leadership, there were going to be mobile clinics at several locations in Kayoro doing screening for HIV and tuberculosis. At some point that was changed to a wider screening clinic taking place at the clinic site, which we didn't know until the evening before. There were no plans and no supplies for treatment of maladies discovered; referrals would be made as necessary. Of course, people, hearing of a free clinic day, came with much higher expectations for actual assistance.
While the GUW group arrived at the clinic a little later than planned (8:50 instead of 8:30), the staff from the District Hospital were 1 1/2 hours late, meaning there was no meeting/planning time to organize for the day and those who had come for services had already been waiting for several hours before anything happened. NOT well set up (understatement of the day).
While we were waiting for the district staff to arrive and "take charge," I had the chance to wander through the clinic on my own. Having been involved with its development since the beginning, from hearing about the idea to seeing sketches and drawings and then final photographs, it was very exciting to be in the actual building and experience the reality. I stood in the hallway looking around with tears in my eyes. The theme of the clinic campaign was "Do one good thing," and as I stood in the middle of the completed structure, I could only conclude that this was indeed a very good thing.
St. John's Volunteers along with William, the leader of the Kayoro group, and Mary Frances, the head of the community health care workers.
Health Care Worker + Transport
Five of the Community Health Care Workers.
In front of the water collection tank.
For the clinic day I was assigned to Intake along with 3 other GUW volunteers. We each had an interpreter with us and were to get each person's name and a description of their medical concerns. I wasn't sure why we were doing this since their was no treatment being provided, only screening, but I did my job. The lines were very long as people stood in the sun (we workers were under the shade of the tree); we finally took the last registration about noon.
It became clear partway into the process that ours was a totally wasted effort. What we wrote down was not passed on to anyone and upon leaving us the individuals went to stand in one of several other lines in order to move on to access what was available. Putting the most positive spin I could on my efforts, I concluded that at least people were getting the opportunity to tell someone how bad they felt and have their medical needs taken seriously and written down. The registration process also provided some indication of how many people had shown up (in the range of 6 to 700) and that many came from quite a distance away. That is a good indication for the success of the clinic once it opens. While there was no cost today which obviously increases numbers, it appears that people are willing to come some distance so perhaps they will come, even if there is a small fee. Clearly the medical needs are extensive.
After closing the registration process I wandered around a bit and then sat in the tent GUW had provided to watch a bit of what was going on and eat a couple of protein bars for lunch. There were some services being provided in that some teeth were being pulled (sans pain relievers) and prescriptions being written based on the maladies presented. At that point Mary Steiner called Bob Horn (also from St. John's) and me to act as guards at the door of the clinic building. HIV testing was going on inside and the ear clinic (ears were being cleaned out, leading to a number of people hearing a lot better), and people were not waiting their turn, but almost storming the doors. So we stood there for several hours controlling access and calling numbers as indicated by the personnel inside. Mary did an amazing job of getting people's attention and calming them down; she led several stanzas of "This Little Light of Mine."
Patiently waiting
Mary working her magic
Cammie commiserating with a patient who's been carried in unable to walk. She felt he had probably had a stroke.The clinic day was closed down about 4 p.m. Took a while to get everything cleaned up and then we had to take the Hospital staff back to town so didn't get to "downtown" Tororo for the bank and internet cafe until after 5:30 p.m. Internet connection was incredibly, and painfully, slow. The group ate dinner at the TLT restaurant. Despite having ordered ahead, it took a very long time to get our food. It appears as if every dish is begun from scratch when ordered. I suppose, given the lack of refrigeration and modern cooking techniques, that makes sense. But it does slow things down a lot.
While the clinic day did not provide all of the help that people needed, a lot of good was done. 75 people were tested for HIV, and 74 of them got the message they were negative, thus easing any worries they might have had. A number of people had bad teeth pulled, alleviating pain and possibly preventing worse problems. Ear cleaning improved the hearing of quite a few who had thought they were going deaf. Not everyone who received a prescription for medicine could afford to have it filled, but some could and would -- improving their lives. Five badly malnourished babies were provided with needed medications and would be taken to a quality clinic for assessment/help on Monday -- using GUW funds.
The day certainly proved that the St. John's/Kayoro Clinic was needed by the community. It is hoped that equipment and staffing will be completed and the clinic opened by July, 2011.
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