Chapter 15: Camp #2 at Sirkot
Camp #2 - Day 2: When we arrived at the schoolhouse a large number of patients were waiting in line. We must start earlier tomorrow.
Messages written above classroom doorways:
“Thinking. Planning. But doing is the best of all.”
“If the student hasn’t learned, the teacher hasn’t taught.”
“Give advice to one who heeds and one who needs.”
“Change yourself first if you want to change the world."
By afternoon Donna felt even more claustrophobic. Children seemed to be pressing in, as well as some adults. Police guards were asked to help with crowd control. Kate thought the crowd control came a bit late, but once the bamboo poles, ropes, or simple string was it place, it was better.
“We found the reception area works better when patients are corralled and organized,“ Kate said. “It’s best to communicate with crowds and tell them what to expect. We had a few who kept asking for an appointment with the eye doctors despite having been told, 'Not yet' umpteen dozen times." Some had walked long distances and had not yet been seen. It was suggested the oldest and most stooped, and those with babies, be moved to the front and issued priority in line.
“Thinking. Planning. But doing is the best of all.”
“If the student hasn’t learned, the teacher hasn’t taught.”
“Give advice to one who heeds and one who needs.”
“Change yourself first if you want to change the world."
By afternoon Donna felt even more claustrophobic. Children seemed to be pressing in, as well as some adults. Police guards were asked to help with crowd control. Kate thought the crowd control came a bit late, but once the bamboo poles, ropes, or simple string was it place, it was better.
“We found the reception area works better when patients are corralled and organized,“ Kate said. “It’s best to communicate with crowds and tell them what to expect. We had a few who kept asking for an appointment with the eye doctors despite having been told, 'Not yet' umpteen dozen times." Some had walked long distances and had not yet been seen. It was suggested the oldest and most stooped, and those with babies, be moved to the front and issued priority in line.
While there were not as many children as anticipated, we saw infants carried in cloth slings on the back of mothers to free hands for working. These slings have been used for centuries before our U.S. version of backpack baby carriers started to become popular in the mid 1960s copying the centuries-old Asian mei-tai.
Overall, it was a smooth operation today. Amrit predicts even busier tomorrow - if rain stops. By 3:45 p.m. 270 patients had been seen. A total of 300 were registered. The 30 pre-registered were asked to return tomorrow.
A local volunteer wanted the team to continue taking patients till 5:30, but was told the camp ends at 5:00. Each doctor had already seen a vast number of patients that would be unheard of in the U.S.
Day 3 - Half day:
Breakfast at 7:30. Rice and lentils and a flatbread called roti. Another foggy, damp and chilly day. Jackets are needed. Clothes washed two days ago are still not dry. What’s new! Still, there are good spirits all around. Perhaps because we know it's the last day. It’s been rewarding, but hard work - physically, mentally and emotionally.
Doctors began seeing patients promptly at 8:30. One hour earlier than the day before since a large number of patients weren’t process yesterday afternoon. By 9 a.m. 200 patients had traveled on foot for miles and were standing in line. Those turned away yesterday, with pre-assigned numbers, were moved to the front of the line.
The heartbreak of turning away patients:
Unlike the last few days, today patients had to choose only one among the doctors to see. When some patients begged to see multiple doctors this became a judgment call for Kate. Did she send them to the back of line if they wanted to see a second doctor? "Yes, I did unless there was no queue/backlog for the dentists." Many who were in line had not yet been seen a first time.
By mid-day in the distance a group of villagers could be seen walking single file toward the camp. It grieved the doctors knowing this group would have to be turned away. Amrit said, “Not all who come can be seen. It bears repeating; even if we were here two weeks - a month - we probably would not be able to see all patients who travel great distances to see us.”
The team saw for themselves the need for medical care. This was a bittersweet moment justifying the hard work and hardship it took to get to this point. At the end of the last day approximately 150 had to be turned away. It was a difficult choice for the team because they wanted to see each patient. Amrit said, “We do what we can do with the time limits we have. Still it breaks our hearts to turn them away.”
That last morning our personal belongings were stuffed into backpacks, and deposited for safekeeping in Kate and Amrit’s room, so families could reclaim their living quarters. We plan to end the medical camp at noon. Eat lunch. Pack up medicines. Leave by 2 or 2:30 so we won’t be facing the four hour walk downhill in the dark. (The walk down was easier and completed in a little over three hours.)
As the website/journalist, Lin is using Dr. Del’s new iPad, but there is a sharp learning curve and the auto-correct spelling is driving her crazy. Still she is anxious to get medical camp notes sent to U.S. via email – just in case something happens to paper notes. Lin said, “While I don’t have a medical background I felt blessed to be allowed to sit in on patient consults, to get an overview, and document the medical camp with a few photos.
Overall, it was a smooth operation today. Amrit predicts even busier tomorrow - if rain stops. By 3:45 p.m. 270 patients had been seen. A total of 300 were registered. The 30 pre-registered were asked to return tomorrow.
A local volunteer wanted the team to continue taking patients till 5:30, but was told the camp ends at 5:00. Each doctor had already seen a vast number of patients that would be unheard of in the U.S.
Day 3 - Half day:
Breakfast at 7:30. Rice and lentils and a flatbread called roti. Another foggy, damp and chilly day. Jackets are needed. Clothes washed two days ago are still not dry. What’s new! Still, there are good spirits all around. Perhaps because we know it's the last day. It’s been rewarding, but hard work - physically, mentally and emotionally.
Doctors began seeing patients promptly at 8:30. One hour earlier than the day before since a large number of patients weren’t process yesterday afternoon. By 9 a.m. 200 patients had traveled on foot for miles and were standing in line. Those turned away yesterday, with pre-assigned numbers, were moved to the front of the line.
The heartbreak of turning away patients:
Unlike the last few days, today patients had to choose only one among the doctors to see. When some patients begged to see multiple doctors this became a judgment call for Kate. Did she send them to the back of line if they wanted to see a second doctor? "Yes, I did unless there was no queue/backlog for the dentists." Many who were in line had not yet been seen a first time.
By mid-day in the distance a group of villagers could be seen walking single file toward the camp. It grieved the doctors knowing this group would have to be turned away. Amrit said, “Not all who come can be seen. It bears repeating; even if we were here two weeks - a month - we probably would not be able to see all patients who travel great distances to see us.”
The team saw for themselves the need for medical care. This was a bittersweet moment justifying the hard work and hardship it took to get to this point. At the end of the last day approximately 150 had to be turned away. It was a difficult choice for the team because they wanted to see each patient. Amrit said, “We do what we can do with the time limits we have. Still it breaks our hearts to turn them away.”
That last morning our personal belongings were stuffed into backpacks, and deposited for safekeeping in Kate and Amrit’s room, so families could reclaim their living quarters. We plan to end the medical camp at noon. Eat lunch. Pack up medicines. Leave by 2 or 2:30 so we won’t be facing the four hour walk downhill in the dark. (The walk down was easier and completed in a little over three hours.)
As the website/journalist, Lin is using Dr. Del’s new iPad, but there is a sharp learning curve and the auto-correct spelling is driving her crazy. Still she is anxious to get medical camp notes sent to U.S. via email – just in case something happens to paper notes. Lin said, “While I don’t have a medical background I felt blessed to be allowed to sit in on patient consults, to get an overview, and document the medical camp with a few photos.