June surgical and medical camp

The grandmother rescued the boy and moved to Enekorogha. With little money the child was hungry, harboured a chest infection, was filthy and had received no vaccinations.The child had to accompany his grandmother, a farmer to the fields daily, many times seven days a week.

This young mother attended with a malnourished child, severely underweight, febrile, with acute malaria. Using river water treated with alum to dilute her breast milk she had little understanding of infant nutrition and the child was treated with supplements, antimalarials, worming tablet, vitamins, iron, folate and antibiotics. With so many babies similarly malnourished nutritional teaching was held in the waiting area, something that has to be done again and again, and again...

Vaccinated and properly fed baby

A child lacerated by the native healer

This lady arrived by boat in obstructed labour (her ninth child). The surgical team were able to perform an emergency Caesarean section to deliver a healthy child. Both mother and child did well, and returned to their community after 48 hours. This photo was taken just before she left.

The surgical team undertook a range of surgery including hernias, gynaecological, and breast operations. A few patients were too complex to undergo surgery in such a remote setting and preparations are to be made to transport them to Warri for treatment. The Clinic can only cope with day cases.

Dr Emmanuel Akpo of Global Medical Missions

A hernia operation on a Palm tree tapper. This mans job entails climbing the Raffia palm tree 50-60 times daily to collect 25litres of sap to make Palm wine, a gut rotting local hooch. Hernia and injuries from falls are common

Diagnostic testing is very difficult in the bush and this year , with the help of Aid to Hospitals Worldwide and LabAid we have been able to set up a small laboratory to initially set up malaria testing. Rod Lynn from Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge has been very helpful with advice and suggestions. Neil Bentley from the Microbiology Dept has also helped us in the gathering of stool samples from a number of patients to help diagnose common pathogens from which we can set up a treatment algorithm for the treatment of diarrhoea. Empirical treatment leads to resistance and the needless exposure to potential side effects from wrongly prescribed medication, besides the financial waste.

Preparing a thin malarial film and to the right, Oscar, a senior Health Care Worker learning how to identify parasites via microscopy.

A climbing frame was constructed this camp beside the clinic, the bamboo cut from the bush, and an instant hit with the children, who so often have such little to do.

Patience, Rose and Bala - Health Care Workers with hearts for service

'When we first came to Enekorogha in 2007 the community council was hostile (the preceding foreigner having been a hostage). Alcohol (the dreaded Palm 'wine') fuelled all debate and decision making that we witnessed. This time the Community leader accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ, quietly and sincerely. The atmosphere of the community is peaceful and though the misery of poverty, poor infrastructure and fragile health persist, we can see that The love of Christ has indeed been shed abroad in the community. Anecdoctally the child mortality has fallen, an observation made by many, and there is a spirit of partnership and co-ownership that is now replacing dependency, for which we give God all the Glory.'