Time and date Lagos, Nigeria

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Medical clinic

I have been working in the "medical clinic" on the campus of the seminary. They staff and nurse practitioner and an LPN. They normally see staff members and their families. When a mission team comes, a second nurse practitioner (who trained in Dallas) comes to Lagos to help direct them. The clinic is very small with 1 small exam room. With us here, there is the addition of a MD, a retired RN, a PT and a respiratory therapist. We are seeing patients from the staff who want to see an MD and frmo the community. Word travels fast and we have been extremely busy. We get shorter lunch breaks and go home much later at night than the rest of the team :(

The clinic supplies and resources are scarce. Most of what they have are things left over from prior teams and what we brought. If it weren't for the airlines restrictions on weight and amount of luggage, we could have brought so much more. They need drugs, diabetic supplies, over the counter drugs and first aid items. We can't change sheets between patients unless they are very infectious. Right now we are even out of alcohol wipes.

Medical care is much less regulated. Dr Smith can write a prescription on a scrap paper and they can take it to the pharmacy and get it filled as long as they can pay for it. No insurance, mind you. Here is an interesting story: We had a gentleman come in who had just graduated from the seminary. He had some general compliants and some symptoms of prostate problems. Dr Smith wanted him to get some lab work done. He stated he could not afford it. Further questioning led to finding out the man is from Sierra Leone, he came here for school and is stranded because he doesn't have money to get back home to his family. He ran out of funds because the church that had sent him here told him they had no more money to send him. He said he hadn't eaten in 2 days. So, we went to the founder of the school to see if he could help. They gave him money to get his prescriptions and tests. Later that evening we talked about it as a group after dinner. Within 2 minutes, we had over $800.00 to give to the man to get home. Knowing if we could just get him home, he has a job and can make money. By the way, out money goes much farther here than the "Naira." A young girl asked me to help her go to camp with her church next week. All she needed was 2000 Naira, which is about $13. FOR A WHOLE WEEK! The best part is, you know you are not being scammed because these are really honest people with incredible integrity. I had this girl's story backed up multiple times-her father, the founder, the ARNP all said her family is very poor and she is unbelievably intelligent. I am heppy to help her. It's so different in the US because you can easily be scammed by someone asking for money-they usually want drugs.......

Well, sign off for now!

4 comments:

  1. Cindy...sounds like an incredible opportunity! I loved reading your posts. I am continuting to pray for you. Love, Stacey

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  2. What's amazing is that as much as a gift as you are giving to these people with your presence and generosity, it sounds like you are getting just as much of a gift in return. Incredible! I look forward to hearing more. Heidi

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  3. Hey Cindy. Thank you for taking the time to write to let us know how people in the other half of the world live. I will hug my kids a little tighter tonight and say extra prayers for all that i am blessed with, you and your team and the people you are helping. Soak it all in and enjoy. God is so proud of you! Take care.
    Suzanne

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  4. Hey Cindy,
    Its so great to read your posts. Do you think I can help them out some way? Let me know if I can.

    Cheers, you are doing an awesome job. So so proud of you!!
    Mukul

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