Yesterday was my first trip out onto a char to their satellite clinic. The way things work here: there are theoretically hospitals around but the closest one from here (besides the 10 bed hospital in Chilmari) is a University hospital that I will be visiting that is 75km away. So, on each char there is at least one woman, FCM (Friendship Community Medic) that makes her house available for people to come and be seen. She has a few medications such as paracetamol (tylenol). Then 1-2 times per month, the paramedics come out to her house and hold a clinic (=satellite clinic). Not to belittle or disrespect anyone here (these people work harder than we ever could imagine working), just to give you a good idea the houses are mostly built out of galvanized metal. The floor is dirt and there are usually 1 or 2 beds that the family shares. There is another building where they cook, another "bathroom", and usually another where the animals live (cows, ducks, chickens, pigeons, goats, lamb, etc). So, we set up a clinic in the bedroom portion by hanging a sheet in front of one of the beds to make an exam table and set up a pharmacy on a table. There is a blood pressure cuff and a scale. I think word got out that there was a pediatric doctor from America and the children came pouring in! Then, word got out that the doctor had candy, and they started coming out from everywhere!!
We saw lots of children! We even diagnosed ear infections with a cellphone flashlight!
It is pretty amazing to be welcomed into the homes of these families and get to really experience what it is like to live the way that they do.
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