FEBRUARY 3RD UPDATE, DR. ALIZA WEINMAN

February 3rd update, story and photos by Dr Aliza Weinman:

Today, we headed out by truck to MESAN, another small village tucked deep into the jungle. With the coastal areas wiped out, it is impossible for communities such as this one to get their wares to the larger cities like CALANG. Thus, they have no way of supporting themselves and it is next to impossible for them to obtain outside goods either. So far, they have received no aid or medical care. The drive to Mesan on rugged terrain took over an hour. On arrival, our medical team, working with two doctors from OB, set up clinic. The villagers were eager to be seen and lined up quickly. Again, we saw many skin diseases and respiratory infections as well as intestinal worms, anemia, and one or two cases of malaria. We also found a boy aged 16 with a congenital tumor on his face. This tumour possibly a meningocele as per the surgeon on the team, is slowly enlarging and is beginning to compromise his vision. Ideally, he should be taken to BANDA ACEH for a CT scan and surgical repair, but a sponsor is needed.

One old man originally from MESRAN lived in PATEK until the fateful day or the tsunami. He recounted how he was engulfed by the waves. Submerged and surrounded by debris that hit him in the head and chest, this seventy-year old held his breath and tried to regain his footing. By the time he was able to stand up, he was 2.5 kilometres away. While his wounds have mostly healed (he still has some chest wall tenderness, possibly from broken ribs), his psychological wounds are still deep. He lost several family members that day, in addition to his home and belongings. He and other refugees now rely entirely on their extended families in villages like MESRAN. (Estimated 300 IRDs in MESRAN - Rick) Another man told his story: he had just left PATEK and was driving up the hill when the earthquake struck. A short time later, he saw people running away from the coast. They said that the water was “going down” and the older townspeople said that when that happens “you must run”. He continued to watch and saw the big waves come in. There was nothing he could do but watch in horror as the sea claimed PATEK. His home is gone and many members of his family perished. After seeing most of the sick in the village, we finally had to close the clinic, and began the journey back to PATEK. Our boat and crew were waiting with some anticipation for our return (we were several hours late). It was another rewarding and fruitful day. As an update to our clinic in BABADUA on February 1st, OB received the results from the Meulaboh laboratory that the infant with bloody diarrhoea has shigella, and the patient with malaria-symptoms had p. vivax. Appropriate treatments have been sent to the village.