Scribe for Life: To Zion

First, I want myloyal readers to get in the same vibe as I am as I write this blog.

Listen to this song:

Delerium - Terra Firme

http://youtu.be/LKUxE8UE7S0

-or-

Deadmau5 - Sofi Needs a Ladder

http://youtu.be/gDndZn0YPdI

Welcome to my mind palace ;)

Our destination today was to a rural clinic , in the mountains.

Some background : http://ugandambale.help-international.org/blog/zion-medical-community-clinic

Interestingly , the co-directors for Help International in Uganda were actually staying in our same hotel/hostel.

So getting to clinic turns out to be quite a journey . In short, our driver could get us only so far into town and we'd have to walk/hike the rest of the way. So let's do this in pictures :

Car getting stuck, we get out to drop the weight.

Do not pass go. The car cannot go any further uphill.

So we begin .

Our goal is somewhere on that hill to the right .

After climbing uphill for a bit , burning some serious calories, some friendly neighbors told us we were going the wrong direction . We were actually going uphill as well. As such. We should go back downhill to the main path. Downhill = using trees / grass to grasp onto and rocks to anchor your feet so you don't slip.

Here's Courtney getting help from the locals.

We make it up to clinic after about 1.5 hours of hiking.

Now, you have to consider this in perspective . This clinic services a rural, mountain community. They don't have power or running water. The chlorinated water treatment areas may be empty. This clinic does antenatal, postnatal , pediatric and adult care. It is set up in stations so there is a triage area, counseling area, treatment area , dispensing area and lastly follow up/counseling area.

We are greeted by people who work at Zion and the local pastor/church members. This takes place in ..what's best described as a roomy treehouse

Up the steep stairs

We are warmly greeted and welcomed as guests and people whose help is appreciated. The community members were so grateful for our help . They also voiced their concerns with their community. Things like needing transportation for sick patients from off the mountain to the main hospital, teacher salaries, medications ( as they keep running out) and housing for staff who can't get off the mountain on certain days.

Here's a stretcher in my examination room .

A guide to treatment.

The view from my window

I saw a couple of pediatric patients : new diagnosis of malaria ( splenomegaly , pallor, jaundice , fevers ) , pneumonia , viral uri , blepharitis , contact dermatitis.

Now to head back , down the mountain.

Uh oh, gloomy skies. Don't want to be going downhill ...in rain... On a mountain