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Report of Bangladesh Team 2 (13th December to 17th December 2008)
By Reeta Ramasamy
CRS sent a 6 member team to Bangladesh on the 12th of December 2008 to render medical aid to the villages who have been affected by long standing poverty conditions as well as from flood diseases that result from the annual cyclones that frequently batter the planes of Bangladesh. The secondary focus of the trip was to conduct fun activities for the children such as colouring pictures and playing musical instruments.
Pharmacist Loh Chin Siew headed the team and her vast knowledge of medicines was complimented by a good-natured yet effective leadership style. Daryl Tan, the assistant leader, could always be counted on for his enthusiasm while Kong May Teng, our spiritual leader, was a tower of quiet strength and was ever ready to literally and figuratively offer a helping hand to anyone who needed it. Treasurer Eileen Goh was on hand to offer a warm smile and useful suggestions and Dr. Jennifer Yeo's medical expertise was surpassed by her personal courage, compassion for others in need and irreverent sense of humour. She chose to honour her commitment to CRS and go on the trip even though her grandmother was critically ill after suffering from an extensive stroke at 93.
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Happy helpers
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The preparation work for the trip mostly consisted of getting and sorting out the necessary medical and craft supplies ready for the week long trip. The relevant documentation and finances were also discussed and finalized. The team also packed medication on a nightly basis to restock depleted medical supplies in anticipation of the patients who would arrive at the clinic the following day. The team also packed stationary on some of the nights to distribute to the children on the following day.
A typical day during the trip usually began with devotion at
7.30am, which was then followed by breakfast. This was normally
followed by either a 10-minute walk along a scenic route to
a nearby school where the team got to work by 9.30am. The team
normally started registering patients by 10 am and worked all
the way, only to take a quick lunch, and resume registering
and treating patients.
Several work stations were set up to allow for the smooth flow
of the large number of people which ranged between 100 to 300
depending on the day. There was a registration station where
patients had their ailments noted and had a number written on
their hands. They then proceeded to be examined by any one of
the three doctors who were present. They went on to a prayer
station where their spiritual needs was attended to before arriving
at the impromptu pharmacy to collect their medication.
The day usually ended at about 4.30pm as the sun began to set
at about 5pm. The team usually returned to the lodge and took
a brief assessment of the day before proceeding to pack the
necessary medication that was deemed to be required for the
next day. The day usually ended with a debriefing session where
everyone shared their thoughts and feeling about the day before
having dinner and turning in between 10.30 pm and 11 pm.
Click for bigger image:
The chaos of medicine - a nightly routine |
Elieen distributing gifts to the children |
Celebration at the end of the day |
The daily walk to the clinic |
Dr. Jennifer addressing a patient's medical concerns |
One of Team Leader Chin Siew's many new friends |
Dr. Jennifer changing the dressings of a burn victim
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The team with our gracious host
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The team was privileged enough to invited by Pastor Akish to
join about 250 widows and widowers from the surrounding villages
for Sunday lunch on the 14th of December. This generous act
is carried out once a month where the elderly folk are treated
to a feast of rice, vegetables, eggs, chicken and sweet rice
deserts. It was a humbling sight to watch wizened ladies and
gentlemen relish the food that was piled onto their plates,
evidently enjoying both the food and company.
The trip’s impact was noted when Daryl claimed to feel
happiness at being given the specific task of de-worming the
patients as he felt sense of accomplishment at the end of the
day while Eileen had mixed feelings of sadness at witnessing
the poor living conditions that the people have to endure on
a daily basis and yet also felt blessed in being given the opportunity
to contribute in any possible way.
However Dr Yeo was the consummate tireless professional who
did not hesitate to see patients at any time of the day be it
paying a home visit to a 93 year old missionary or a girl suffering
from a mouth ulcer who dropped by the lodge in the morning or
changing the dressing on a boy who suffered from third degree
burns on his arms and legs when he fell into an open fire.
The team started the 16th of December by taking a 1-hour boat
ride through the stunning delta to arrive at a remote village
to set up the clinic in an old school. Two classrooms were cleared
for the doctors and the pharmacy. The well-coordinated effort
of the team and the Pastor’s extended family members allowed
the team to register, treat and dispense medication to about
500 villagers. The team had to shut the clinic down at 3.15pm
due to the time that was needed for the boat ride back to the
camp and the early sunset. In all the team managed to treat
about 1200 patients over the week with the tremendous help and
generosity of Pastor Akish and his family members. |
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