News from the Rotary Doctor Bank

Issue no 3, 2000 -- English edition -- home

Page: -- Contents -- 1, (2), 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

• Why we were not there -- editorial
• Mosquito nets could have saved them
• Those who most need care receive none

Why we were not there

The Doctor Bank does not send its Rotary Doctors to catastrophes. We know that the organizations that do send help get extensive publicity in the press, radio and TV. Why don’t we take the chance to be mentioned? The explanation may be found in a few statements in the latest World Disasters Report by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, here quoted from the Swedish news agency TT’s review:

“The report is strongly critical of the emergency response in Kosovo during 1999. In late summer, 200 international organizations were involved in healthcare work in Pristina -- three times more than what was needed. The efforts obstructed every attempt to build up local competence. Despite WHO guidelines, large amounts of expired and inappropriate medicines were received, which disrupted the local medical care system.”

The report details much else of interest:

• Last year, 160 times more people died from infectious diseases than from natural disasters.

• Infectious diseases take 13 million lives around the world annually.

• Most of these deaths could have been prevented at a cost of US$ 5 per person.

• Unlike the sudden natural disasters that attract attention and the flow of donor money, infectious diseases create silent disasters where far more people die, unrecognized and unreported.

THIS IS WHY THE DOCTOR BANK DOES NOT SEND DOCTORS TO CATASTROPHES.

However, what we do:

WE COME TO THE PEOPLE WHO SUFFER IN SILENCE, people who cannot make their voice heard. This is neither dramatic nor exciting, in short nothing that fits into today’s often hysterical TV reports from developing countries. The doctors don’t however come to be seen, but to accomplish something for the poor and sick, without fanfare and self-promotion, helping people whom few if any care about.

It’s that simple.

- LARS BRAW -

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“Scandalous that 700,000 children died!”

Mosquito nets could have saved them

“It is scandalous that 700,000 children died last year from malaria when bednets could have saved them.” David Alnwick, chief of health for UNICEF, says this in the May 6, 2000 issue of the British Medical Journal.

The Doctor Bank early got involved in protecting primarily children from malaria by providing impregnated mosquito nets. Jeep-doctors and their assistants distribute the nets. In addition, the Doctor Bank has supplied several hospitals with mosquito nets for patient beds, or metal-screened windows.

Jeep-doctor Tania Laanterä, from Klaukkala, Finland, is enthusiastic about the concept of distributing mosquito nets:

“Our team at the Nandi Hills Line appreciated very much the 200 mosquito nets. We started a campaign at each outreach clinic, where we showed how to protect oneself with nets. Especially grateful were the poor families with many children.”

The mosquito nets handed out by the Doctor Bank doctors are made in Kenya. A net costs 60 Crowns. Donations to the Doctor Bank effort can be “earmarked” for mosquito nets.

Doctor Bank colleague Mr Benson Barsolai, a nurse who follows the jeep-doctors on the Nandi Hills Line, explains for a family how to protect against malaria by using the impregnated mosquito nets.

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“Developing countries’ developing country”

Those who most need care receive none

“The high patient fees in practice lock out those who most need care.” This serious statement is made by surgeon Gunnar Olofsson, from Gothenburg, Sweden, who like many doctors from the Doctor Bank works in the mission hospital in Gamboula, RCA. He continues:

“To find another way of funding the activities – trust funds, sponsoring, regular donations, etc. – should be a high priority task, and in particular for a church organization a Christian and divinely agreeable work.”

Dr Olofsson does however have much positive to say about the hospital:

“It certainly deserves to be supported. For many, it is the only place for miles around that can offer reasonably qualified medical care. The activities can be developed further, especially the surgical, since the hospital has a good and safe water supply.”

The health situation in this “developing countries’ developing country” is greatly affected by the poor living conditions; the “pathology of poverty”. Malaria, tuberculosis, and infections of the lungs, stomach and intestines take many lives each year.

Asked how he sees on the Doctor Bank jeep-doctor effort, Dr Olofsson answers:

“As for my opinion of the jeep relays, I really don’t count myself as one who believes that surgeons are the solution to the world’s health problems. A general practitioner with broad experience can likely do greater good, not to mention what can be accomplished with proper housing, mosquito nets, pure water and decent toilets. Those I saved in Gamboula were mainly children with malaria and other severe infections. Nonetheless, in future I hope to continue to contribute to the Doctor Bank with my experience, including the surgical.

(map resouces)

• Africa, political overview (pdf) (UN Cartographic Dept)
• CIA World Factbook: Africa map, CAR
• ReliefWeb: RCA (Republic of Central Africa), aka CAR
• A nice collection of map links at University of Florida