Charity Work; What to do where there is no Doctor; Good Health Lesson 6

My beloved and well used book

I worked in outlying areas as a volunteer teenager. The ambulances were varied; a wheelbarrow for an elderly person, a donkey cart for a woman in childbirth. In one area, there was no hospital.

At the time, blessed as I had been to grow up in an area where there were a number of hospitals and clinics, it was a bit scary to realise that when someone could die, there was simply no hospital to turn to. 

In another outlying area, there was a hospital a few hours travel away.
Sometimes we would load an extremely ill person in the back of a family van, and bump over the potholed dirt roads - where there was a road in the midst of thorn trees and thick vegetation - hours and hours to get to a hospital.
On the journey we were stopped by a swollen stream; water roaring by, with no bridge. 
We eventually got over that, terrified the car would flood, only for the car to become stuck in deep sand, wheels spinning around and around. 
We pushed at the car with straining shoulders, while cries of agony and fear from the endangered sufferer came the back. 

And oh, the blessed relief to bring the sufferer into the warm welcoming light of the Hospital Casualty Department; welcomed by capable people with kindly and calm faces, white coats and quick action to save not one but two lives; the little one coming into the world saved by a miracle of dedication, knowledge and hard work. That is still a wonderful memory.

There are other memories over many years, though, not as happy. 
I have tramped through outlying areas and  been asked into in a hut or plastic liner home to find someone needing immediate attention; and there was no hospital in the area. 
There are times when the Charity worker is presented during the course of his or her voluntary work by this situation. 
The answer is to be prepared for it.

Tips to be prepared for health emergency;
1. As Charity worker, get a recognised qualification in health care prior to beginning your work. This will enable you to be properly equipped to give good care of a reputable standard
2. Update your qualification regularly, keeping up to date with all new developments 
3. Ensure that your qualification is recognised in the area in which you minister, and register your particulars and qualification with an appropriate group in the area
4. Ensure you have good resource books on field trip with you - often you will be out of range for mobile phones, there will be no telephones or telephone lines.
Sometimes there is flood, or drought, or conflict in the area. 
Electricity is not always available, and a computer is not usually available.
A good resource book or books can be most helpful in these situations

A great book which I have carried around with me for many years is
'Where There Is No Doctor
A Village Health Care Handbook for Africa'
by David Werner, with Carol Thuman, Jane Maxwell and Andrew Pearson
I purchased my book many years ago, and it has been a book I have carried everywhere with me, together with a few other treasured health resource books. 

At present there is a free book download of this wonderful book;  please find the link;
http://www.nicagazette.com/2011/07/free-ebook-download-doctor/
A donation can be made through a link on the above page to the publisher, Hesperian Foundation. 

According to the Editor of Health on the above webpage, this book is the most widely used health education book in tropical developing countries. The book is based on David Werner's experiences at his Project Piaxtla in western Mexico. It has sold over 1 million copies, and been translated into over 100 languages. 

The book covers all aspects of people's health ranging from diarrhoea to malaria and bone fractures and ringworm. 
The book explains to you what you can do yourself, and how to prevent, recognise and treat many common sicknesses. 
There is also a large section on giving first aid. It also shows you how to recognise problems you might be unable to cope with and need to refer to a health worker.

Watch the blog for further great health tips and books I have used as resource for years on my field trips - in later blog posts!

Good luck with your good work helping those most in need. May blessings be with you and yours.

*With grateful thanks to David Werner, Carol Thuman, Jane Maxwell, Andrew Pearson. Your book has helped save many lives