Issue no 2, 2000 -- English edition -- home
Page: -- Contents -- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, (6), 7, 8
After 36 years of civil war in Guatemala, the government and the guerrilla came to a peace agreement just over three years ago. The legacy of that long civil war imprints Guatemalan society. The infrastructure is shattered. Hurricane Mitch added to the chaos. People died. Many became refugees in their own country. Thousands live in primitive shantytowns. Many women and children lack food. There is no clean water. Child mortality is high.
The "Hope Clinic", created with funds from Second Hand in Falköping, Sweden, the Eric's Help, and others, works in the middle of a slum area here. Dr Anders Otterland, from Falköping, worked at this clinic as Doctor Bank doctor.
In an article published in several newspapers, Dr Otterland describes his work there. Here an excerpt:
"Very few visitors to Guatemala see the enormous destitution behind the scenes in this, one of the world's poorest nations. Our work is among the 200,000 who live in hovels in this ghetto area. The only way out of this misery is the belief in every person's worth, no matter how it looks at the moment."
"No tourists find their way to our reception in the slum, nor do any come out to the strange experience of meeting the ghetto inhabitants at morning mass in the chapel they have built themselves. A remarkable sight! In the middle of the slum, dressed-up people wander through the alleys. Packed with people! Proper and clean children and their proud parents. Older women in their best aprons. Their men in newly washed skirts (!). Teenagers in newly ironed shirts, trousers and dresses."For me it is completely unbelievable how they have been able to come out of what often is a henhouse-like hovel and manage to look so beautiful, confident and dressed-up, with faces full of trust and harmony.
"There is a dawn in Guatemala," says Dr Otterland. "The rain season's cooling purification bath has figuratively already come to many homes in the slum. The triumph of good is on its way. The work at our clinic goes on all day long. Many patients come. Ignorance is great - lessons in hygiene and sanitation go on all the time. Together we share a strong vision in the dawn: a Guatemala without ghettos, street children or illiteracy."
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Christer Gundewall here shows a money-box labelled Water for Life. |
Kungsbacka Rotary Club decided to raise 30,000 Crowns from members, businesses and public for a Water for Life well. Paediatrician Christer Gundewall here shows a money-box labelled Water for Life. Several such 50 cm tall, round, leather-covered collection-boxes are put in different places, reports Gustav Lagergren in a local Kungsbacka newspaper.
The Doctor Bank Poverty Fund was created so that also the poorest, often lacking any cash, can receive medical care and medicines. During 1999, 226,000 Crowns was used for this very important purpose.
"Since 1993, when I first had the privilege to work for the Doctor Bank in Yemen, I've received the same liberating feeling of trust, self-worth and appreciation as I did 40 years ago. What a strong experience it is as retired yet vital doctor to see this world of suffering. In Sweden, one is as we know finished at 65, according to parliamentary decision, when like I do, one works in private practice as specialist doctor. As Rotary Doctor, one is once again respected, perhaps in part due to seniority. This means one has a long life's experience and knowledge to offer."
So writes Dr Per-Åke Örsten, from Saltsjö-Duvnäs in Sweden. He recently worked as jeep-doctor at Lake Magadi, Kenya. He continues:
"In 'Doctor School' we learned, apart from all the basic things, also what has today come to be seen as less important in the technocratic development, in other words the value of exhaustive case history (anamnesis) and physical examination, i.e. the use of stethoscope, simple lab tests, visual inspection, smell and hearing. We are well-equipped for the primary diagnostic methods, and we have a number of modern medicines to give. Can we provide medical care in any more effective way? Of course this includes the important part of preventive care, vaccinations and examinations."
Dr Örsten concludes:
"As doctor, I wish to thank Lars Braw for this ingenious organization. I will gladly return to Africa."
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SEK 120,000 handed over in the form of a large check. |
The Doctor Bank has under all the years since its start received much support from Värnamo in Sweden, not least thanks to the great enthusiast Dr Bertil Söderberg. All of 120,000 Crowns was the gift to the Doctor Bank this year. This was handed over in the form of a large check at the club meeting on 6 April. From left, Dr Söderberg, DG Willhelm Lemchen, PDG Gunnar Fjellander (who received the check), president Eston Jönsson, PDG Börje Samuelson, and Ove Danås who was responsible for the traditional New year concert.
The Irish surgeon and hospital head Dr Marion Dolan, at the hospital in Mutomo, Kenya, was recently hurt along with an Irish nun in a car accident. The doctor suffered fractures in the jaw and had to stay at the hospital in Nairobi where she was admitted.
The Mutomo Hospital administrator Tony Woods sent an emergency appeal to the Doctor Bank Coordinator in Kenya, Görel Day-Wilson, who forwarded it to Benny Assarsson, the Doctor Bank Coordinator in Sweden. After three days, a new surgeon, Dr Pieter Scheele from the Netherlands, was on location and operating.
"It was great to be able to give such a rapid response," says Benny Assarsson. "Through the Dutch Doctor Bank I got into contact with Dr Scheele, who had previously worked in Mutomo. He had just retired, and decided on the spot to fly to Amsterdam. The next day he was fully at work in Mutomo."