Amoebas Be Gone!

I am feeling so much better today. Once I was tested and we discovered the amoebas, we were able to get the medicine I needed from the market since we didn't have it at the clinic. I asked Dennis how much to take and he said there is only one dose. I was suspicious. Just one dose? Is this a wonder drug? How long until I feel better? His answer: three days. I was so worried three days would pass and I wouldn't feel better. Maybe I should take one dose for the next three days. Fortunately, I listed to him and took it as he prescribed. For the next two days I was in a lot of pain on and off throughout the day and night. The medicine I took to help reduce the pain was no longer in stock in the market or in our clinic so I just had to deal with it. By day three, I noticed a huge improvement and today I am almost pain free. It's incredible what damage such tiny microbes can do. I am still blown away by our lab capabilities. Accurate diagnosis is important and will help with quick recoveries. We don't have to go to Nairobi to test for these things anymore. It's hard to describe how HUGE this is especially for me since I seem to easily pick up stomach bugs (in the US as well as here.). I suffered for two months in May and June until I went to the doctor in Nairobi. Now, I don't have to wait. Praise God for the funds which allowed us to get the lab. I am overjoyed.

This morning we had a training on taking medical history. It was very helpful. We went through the body's organization and discussed the different systems. Then Dennis taught us the correct procedure to taking the patient's history:

1. Particulars
2. Chief Complaint
3. History of presenting illness
4. Review of other systems
5. Personal social/economic history
6. Family History

We discussed each one in detail and were given a format on how to present the information to the doctors and nurses. This will help us a lot. When we only have one doctor, he may take all day to see 150 patients on his own. If we can take the patient's history for him, he will be able to go faster and the patients won't have to wait as long. I didn't know a lot of this and now feel equipped to help out in that way.

Here are some of the model students...



(Me and Margaret)



(Stephanie and Pritty)