Friends,
Yesterday afternoon, the seminar continued with anti-diarrhea techniques, including Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) and zinc therapy. As I wrote yesterday, diarrheal diseases account for most child deaths in Africa. ORS is a home-made rehydration and electrolyte replacement solution.
Zinc has recently been found to reduce deaths in such cases, too - so the team has provided each student with a supply for use.
The final part of the day started out with Carol talking about recordkeeping and the need to the growth of children. The students were given growth charts tuned for Africa and other means of assessing malnutrition through physical examination. During the discussion, a student asked about family planning. Within a few minutes, a spirited and sometimes angry discussion began about the acceptance of family planning within the villages and conflicts with Islamic teachings on the subject. While no one was convinced, the students were exposed to a number of ideas and reactions which might come from their fellow villagers.
In the evening, we showered, rested and then went to Dr. Bashir's apartment for dinner. Many
of our friends from the church mission were there, too and a lively evening was had by all. Of special note were Karen's ten minutes on a theraputic vibrating platform that resembled a stair climbing machine and Dr. Bashir's demonstration of the foot acupuncture mat - which only Janet could replicate. There was much hooting and laughing.
This morning, we arrived at the church for breakfast. The students were asked to create a skit covering many of the concepts taught during the week. The team returned to the rooms to finish packing and then returned for lunch with all of the luggage in the van - ready for the airport at midnight tonight. Lunch followed and then the student skit. Both accurate and funny at times, they portrayed the complaining villagers they were sure would challenge the ideas taught. Clearly, they were both well-informed by us and had no illusions of the work before them. Afterwards, they read a letter to us of deep thanks. Carol, Jane and Janet then awarded the certificates for completing this first of three parts of the overall training. Final thanks were exchanged and honors conferred to the adjournment at 3pm.
This evening, we will go to Kittie and Paul's home for dinner and then some will venture into Dakar to hear Senegalese music. We must be at the airport around midnight for our 3:30am flight to JFK.
This will be the last posting from Senegal. Thank you all for your prayers. The mission was a complete success and we look forward to future visits to continue training community health workers in this country.
-- Tom
Yesterday afternoon, the seminar continued with anti-diarrhea techniques, including Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) and zinc therapy. As I wrote yesterday, diarrheal diseases account for most child deaths in Africa. ORS is a home-made rehydration and electrolyte replacement solution.
Zinc has recently been found to reduce deaths in such cases, too - so the team has provided each student with a supply for use.The final part of the day started out with Carol talking about recordkeeping and the need to the growth of children. The students were given growth charts tuned for Africa and other means of assessing malnutrition through physical examination. During the discussion, a student asked about family planning. Within a few minutes, a spirited and sometimes angry discussion began about the acceptance of family planning within the villages and conflicts with Islamic teachings on the subject. While no one was convinced, the students were exposed to a number of ideas and reactions which might come from their fellow villagers.
In the evening, we showered, rested and then went to Dr. Bashir's apartment for dinner. Many
of our friends from the church mission were there, too and a lively evening was had by all. Of special note were Karen's ten minutes on a theraputic vibrating platform that resembled a stair climbing machine and Dr. Bashir's demonstration of the foot acupuncture mat - which only Janet could replicate. There was much hooting and laughing.This morning, we arrived at the church for breakfast. The students were asked to create a skit covering many of the concepts taught during the week. The team returned to the rooms to finish packing and then returned for lunch with all of the luggage in the van - ready for the airport at midnight tonight. Lunch followed and then the student skit. Both accurate and funny at times, they portrayed the complaining villagers they were sure would challenge the ideas taught. Clearly, they were both well-informed by us and had no illusions of the work before them. Afterwards, they read a letter to us of deep thanks. Carol, Jane and Janet then awarded the certificates for completing this first of three parts of the overall training. Final thanks were exchanged and honors conferred to the adjournment at 3pm.
This evening, we will go to Kittie and Paul's home for dinner and then some will venture into Dakar to hear Senegalese music. We must be at the airport around midnight for our 3:30am flight to JFK.This will be the last posting from Senegal. Thank you all for your prayers. The mission was a complete success and we look forward to future visits to continue training community health workers in this country.
-- Tom
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