Mountain Post

A "Post" is a scheduled 'clinic' in a mountain village. Yesterday we had scheduled a "prenatal, immunization, adult and child ill visits, dental, and feeding malnourished children" clinic. Our group included almost 30 health care workers, including 2 pediatricians, 2 dentists, one family practice doctor and myself. Except for the prenatal exams, everything was done outdoors.

The drive to the village took one and 1/2 hours over rocky, and sometimes steep mountain trails/roads. At times the 'road' was so narrow that it did not allow our vehicle to pass a person walking. Now that is N A R R O W !!

There was only one child so ill with severe respiratory problems that had to be brought back with us.

ALL the prenatal women seen were refugees from the PAP earthquake. The health care worker responsible for the area said that daily he is going house to house (some literally a mountain peak away), registering all the new people.

At the end of the day, the feeding program was done and, as you can see, "sharing" is the way it is done!

I also want to introduce you to "Berline" and "Berlinda"- boy and girl twins, of whom "Berlind" is on the way to recovery from a type of malnutrition in which the body can no longer utilize protein and begins to break down its own cells, causing severe edema often accompanied by infecton and heart/lung failure. Berline, sitting on his mother's lap, now seems to be improving every day. He still shows a little of the "puffy-ness" he had in his face, but he is back to real food and, so the mother hopes, they can soon leave and return to their home in the PAP area. As for his twin, Berlinda, she is a spunky little girl, not above getting into mischief on a daily basis. The whole family, including a younger brother and older sister, are living here at the Center of Hope during Berline's treatment.

Until next time, take care, God bless, and remember to pray for the poor throughout the world.

Mary Ann