September 3, 2005
Aid to Africa: Eastern Cape Outreach
Compassion in Health Care …
Between 22 and 27 August 2005, Aid to Africa (A2A), the mobile clinic initiative from Doctors For Life International (DFL) went on another medical outreach. We joined hands with retired Dr. Gene Smith (MD) and his wife Arlene, who flew all the way from the USA to help these people.
The rest of the team consisted of a DFL representative, translator, and 4 volunteers from the USA who have been working at the Deemount Centre of DFL in Harding, Southern Natal. These Volunteers are dedicated to work with the orphans of DFL’s Harding Day Care Centre (Life Child Project) as well as Home Based Care in this community which has been rampaged by AIDS.
The work started in the surrounding areas of Mount Frere in the Eastern Cape (old Transkei) where a partnership was formed with the Eastern Cape’s Department of Health with 3 mobile clinics. Mrs Kulu, a nursing sister from the clinic Mangqamzeni, arranged mobile clinics in some of the most remote areas for us and joined us with a mobile clinic from the Government, of which one was not reached in the past. Mrs Matirise Lulama, assistant supervisor was leading their team.
After driving for almost an hour on bad roads we reached our fist clinic in the Umzimvuba Isa service area, Ngqumane.
Dr. Gene Smith started the clinics with a devotion in the morning, explaining why they came all they way from the USA to help these people, that is because of God’s love, giving each of the patients an opportunity to accept this and a change of life style and morals. Many of these people are still bound to their old beliefs and seek help from either their dead ancestors or witch doctors in order to find relief for their suffering (read DFL’s stance on traditional healing). However, instead of finding relief, we see thousands of patients with in pain, bitterness, poverty and ever progressing sicknesses while strings, animal skin and cuts made by witch doctors are found on their bruised bodies supposing to be a ‘cure’ for their illnesses.
The clinics usually continued throughout the day until approximately 18h00 as the sun went down. The Dept of Health would do the screening of patients as well as immunizations. This enabled us team to see an average of 80 patients a day excluding those who were helped by the EC Health Dept who were probably more than double. One of the clinics was at a church where the Mangqamzeni Clinic (Mrs Kulu and her team) helps with an AIDS Support Group. Approximately 18 AIDS patients who had enough strength to walk there (DFL fetched a few of them) came for help that day. Here the focus was clearly “care” and the result was our reward: As we left they asked if they can say something as a group and their sincere appreciation touched us all. In closing thay started singing a beautiful Xhosa hymns. As we said goodbye Dr. Gene Smith hugged each of them with compassion and as some of them hold holding on to him, we were once again made aware of a human beings desire for Godly love.
To become a medical doctor should not be taken lightly. It is a calling, and Dr. Gene was a witness to this fact. His compassion and love towards people was enough to heal beyond the perishable bodies of the sick. He is a example of what it truely means to take care of the sick, spiritually and physically. It is not about becoming rich or famous, but being able to communicate love and compassion to the patients. To make a difference in individuals' lives.
If you are a medical doctor and you have never experience the fulfillment of giving your time and resources to helping the poor and afflicted, then I would like to challenge you today: take your car, drive into one of the many rural areas in Southern Africa and experinece the joy of bringing relief to a few of the millions of people who do not know the difference between their left and right hand. But as the saying goes: "He cannot give of has not truely received..."
In total 5 clinics were held over 3 days where over 240 patients were seen and 670 prescription given. On 2 more days approximately 15 house visits to AIDS patients were made with the Home Based Care team from DFL. 57 Prescription were handed out during these 2 days.
On Saturday, 27 August, The week was ended with DFL’s monthly meeting with the trained Home Based Carers from this community. These meetings are held in order to encourage, share, and learning. Active DFL members, Dr. W. Vlok and Dr. T Nkuebe brought a team from McCords Hospital to speak to the over 20 Home Based Carers to teach new techniques as well as answer questions that arise out from their experiences..
We would like to thank all those who volunteered their time, prayed, contributed financially or by donating resources like medicines, making this outreach possible. Our special thanks to Dr. Gene and Arlene Smith for their unselfish sacrifice for coming out to South Africa to serve.
'Doctors for Life International' represents more than 1400 medical doctors and specialists, three-quarters of who practice in South Africa. Since 1991 DFL has been actively promoting health care that is safe and efficient for all South Africans. DFL was founded as a South African organization in 1991 and has spread across the globe. DFL is involved in several community projects including orphan care, the care of terminal AIDS patients, malaria prevention and the care of abused women.