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8 - Orono Weekly limes, Wednesday, February iq, 2000 ^ r Out of Africa ■ Part 4 It has been two months since Aubrey and Keren Kassiser left their home in Orono, for Africa. They continue continue to send us updates on their activities in that country. Saturday (Hockey Night) at Howard Weekends have a different feel around Howard. A more relaxed, more quiet feel. The population of 500 in the Howard compound consists consists mostly of nurses and their families; the hospital could not retain nursing staff if it did not provide shelter on site. Although nurses and nurse aids continue to work a skeleton staff, everyone else has leisure time. The children run around playing, many people tend garden plots, and the laundry gets handwashed. handwashed. After reviewing the hospital hospital patients, where the open- concept wards resemble a field hospital, the first task was to put into acceptable alignment a young girl's fracture. fracture. Typically, she had fallen out of a mango tree and broken broken both bones of her forearm. forearm. In Canada, she would be seen by an orthopaedic surgeon surgeon for repair in the operating operating room. In Zimbabwe, we gave her a dose of ketamine and corrected the alignment, then put her in a plaster cast. Ketamine is an old anaesthetic anaesthetic agent that has fallen out of favour in Canada because it causes hallucinations. This specific property has made it particularly popular in the North American club scene, dubbed "Special K". We use it as an excellent way of putting putting someone to sleep for a short time. In the out-patient department department (a catch-all walk-in clinic clinic and emergency department), department), I tracked down a translator translator and began tp admit patients to the hospital. On weekends, only the most serious serious problems are seen. So, if they managed to get to Howard and then past the triage nurse, they probably deserve to stay until Monday. One woman complained of vomiting after meals over the past week, but only if she remained sitting. She had NO other complaints. The nurse wondered if she was pregnant despite seemingly normal periods. When I examined her belly, it was larger than a nine-month pregnancy and felt solid. Ultrasound confirmed confirmed the presence of a solid mass, which had apparently been growing for a year. She stayed until we could operate and remove a fibroid uterus as large as a Christmas turkey. With her stomach no longer compressed, 1 imagine she will no longer have problems eating. A man of about forty years complained of general body malaise, not eating well, and trouble breathing. In Zimbabwe, complaining of general body malaise is practically practically like carrying a sign: "1 have AIDS". He looked like a corpse. I initiated treatment of his pneumonia and dehydration, dehydration, but he died less than four . hours later. This pattern has been repeated several times over the past few weeks. Sick people are brought in only when they are about to die. Those with curable conditions conditions often show up too late for effective treatment. A young man complained of trouble breathing since the previous night, and swelling of his thigh. I thought he had a blood clot, now lodged in his lungs, but we had absolutely no tests to verify this diagnosis. As for treatment, treatment, all we had in stock was aspirin as a blood thinner. Four hours later he died. When I found his wife wailing wailing in the ward, it was the first time I had seen a relative shocked and upset at a death. I felt the same. At home he probably would have lived. Even during weekdays, only the more complicated and ambiguous problems get to see the doctors. How else could one or two doctors service service the needs of 200,000 people? people? Nurses prescribe drugs based on a Zimbabwean book of common conditions and treatment: everything you need to know to practice medicine medicine in Zimbabwe. A special team of nurses does all the Pap smears and prenatal visits, visits, and another team drives around immunizing children. Otherwise, preventive health care entails mostly family planning (when the. opportunity opportunity arises) and school visits (puppet-shows and presentations) presentations) to prevent future AIDS orphans and the decimation of another generation. The maternity ward is enough to keep any one doctor doctor busy, but the mid wives deliver most babies. So far, I have become comfortable with vacuum deliveries when needed, and have done three Caesarian sections (with significant significant coaching). The babies that need resuscitation are in really bad shape. The frustrating frustrating thing is that the hospital runs out of oxygen on a regular regular basis. The shortages do not end there. Probably half of the children's ward is filled with malnourished kids no longer gaining weight, yet multivitamins multivitamins and vitamin A are currently currently out of stock. Syringes and gloves are rationed. Intravenous fluid is reserved mostly for kids, diabetics, or surgery. Treatment is frustrât- Newtonville Public news Principal's Message As many ■ of you. have heard, I will be retiring at the end of this month. My last day will be Tuesday, 29 February 2000. I would like to take this opportunity, to thank the people of Newtonville for their co-operation co-operation and support during both of my stays here. 1 would, like to share with you a most rewarding aspect of my career in education. , During my time at The Pine Sr. P.S., I had the opportunity to teach children who had been primary previously previously students while I was teaching at Newtonville and Kirby P.S. I was also in the unique position to see these then teenagers grow into young adults during their years across the driveway at Clarke H.S. During the past several years I have had opportunities to see young people grow and change and to have opportunities to reconnect with them that has been a most enjoyable aspect of my career. Please join the students and teachers in welcoming Mrs. Elizabeth MacLeod as your new principal. Mrs. MacLeod has asked that the following Introductory letter be shared with you. Dear Parents and Guardians, I am very pleased to be appointed principal at Newtonville P.S. as of 01 March 2000. The community support for the school and the amount of parent support support Is well known and much appreciated. You might wish to know something about me. I am ing, as valuable time is spent each day determining exactly what resources are still available. available. After seeing a child who was struck in the head by a hoe, causing a slice into his skull, 1 joined the three other Canadians, ; seven Zimbabweans, ten sticks, and a tennis ball on the tennis court for a game of ball hockey. hockey. Even at five thirty on a cloudy day, the air was thick and hot. Though they play no similar sports here, the kids picked up the concept very quickly. One girl, having changed into her Sunday dress for the game, was especially especially tough in the corners. With sadza for dinner, our day was complete. Love, Aubrey and Korea currently a vice principal at Dr. Ross Tilley P.S. in Bowmanville. I have taught in grades one to. eight and special education. As well, I have worked as a special education resource programmer programmer out of the Board Office. I have been fortunate to work In a variety of schools. Schools need to be places where students come to learn, to work and to take pride in what they can accomplish. Newtonville P.S. has an excellent reputation in this regard and I hope to assist the school in continuing continuing on in this tradition. I look forward to getting to know students, parents and community members. Please feel free to contact me after 01 March 2000 at 786-2550. Sincerely, Elizabeth MacLeod SKATING Students from the school will be skating at Orono Arena late In February. The first session is on Tuesday 24 February 2000 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. This session will be for Grade 2 to 6 students. The second session is on Thursday ?4 February 2000 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. This session will be for GR. JK, SK, 1 students. The students students will be asked to contribute contribute a toonie for each session session to cover the cost of the ice and busses. Parents are welcome to meet us at the arena and join In the activity. SWIMMING PROGRAM Swimming skills are necessary necessary life skills for students. The school is doing its part to further these skills by booking booking a 10 week program for primary grade (1-3) students. This program gives students early opportunities to develop swimming skills and gives them a basis to continue on with swimming lessons at an older age if they and their parents so choose. The swimming swimming sessions are scheduled to start on 04 April 2000 and continue on Tuesdays until early June. Registration forms will be sent Put at the beginning of March. The cost will be $40.00 per student with discounts for families with more than 1 child participating. participating. MR. PROULE'S RETIREMENT Please be aware that the students will be spying their good-bye's to Mr. Proule on Tuesday, 29th of February at approximately 2:00 p.m. We will be sharing some refreshments refreshments at that time. Parents are welcome to join us. COLLISION RIPAIB PROFESSIONALS Fred Devries Proprietor FRED'S AUTOBODY LTD. 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