Issue no 2, 1999 -- English edition -- home
Page: -- Contents -- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, (6), 7, 8
"One day there came to my hospital a 19-year old mother with an 18-month old boy. He had been sick for a few days with cough and fever. During the night he had started to breath rapidly and vomit up anything he got. Thanks to the Doctor Bank Poverty Fund, his life could be saved."
Dr Ulla Evaldsson-Carlén, from Skövde, Sweden, tells us more:
"They had travelled by buss some 60 km in 32C heat. The boy was dehydrated and suffered major pneumonia. I wanted to admit him for immediate treatment, but the mother declined. She had no money, only enough for the trip home, and maybe a little medicine. If she returned home, relatives could perhaps help her with money."It took a while to convince her that the treatment had to start immediately. Another day would be too late. The Doctor Bank Poverty Fund was the solution. The boy was admitted, treated, and could cured go home after a few days."
Doctor Bank doctors receive 3000 Swedish Crowns when they go out, money to use for those patients they see who cannot pay for treatment. Although the doctors work for free, the hospitals demand patient fees.
"This hospital, Mutomo in Kenya, is like most entirely dependent on patients paying," continues Dr Evaldsson-Carlén. "Hospital finances are overall poor. They receive no state subsidies and depend completely on donations and patient fees."
| Caesarean |
Dr Markus Roos, from Oulo, Finland, worked for the third time at Ilembula Hospital in South-West Tanzania. He was on call all weekends and performed 60 major operations and 60 minor ones. In addition, he taught younger African colleagues. On the picture, a baby arrives to this world by way of a Caesarean. During this time, two of the ordinary doctors at the hospital could take some much-longed-for time off.
An evening in front of the TV in Nairobi, when suddenly, a well-known couple appears on the news: Carl-Axel and Monica Ekman. They have just arrived by air in Garissa and are received as heroes by the Mayor, representatives from the hospital, aid organizations and the local population. Carl-Axel has returned for the 17th time, Monica for her 12th.
All wanted to thank them for the efforts made by the Rotary Doctor Bank and the Rotary Foundation. Rotary doctors are practically the only surgeons in a region with one million people. It is also stressed how important it is that this effort continues, because it is very difficult to recruit doctors to the region. The climate is demanding and salaries low. The education that the Doctor Bank provides is also received with great gratitude.
"To begin with, I was the only doctor. The need for surgery and teaching was so great that I often felt inadequate," notes Carl-Axel Ekman in his report.
As dentist, Monica Ekman also had long days. As before, she needed to focus on schoolgirls and hospital staff, who all in addition were for example taught about dental hygiene.
Yet another great contribution is received from the always-timely sales of Rotary towels from Pelle Vävare through the Marks Rotary Club: SEK 165,000 to the Doctor Bank in March! Responsible for sales is as always Mr Curt Tilly, former prosecutor and great Doctor Bank enthusiast. It is now also rumoured that there will be a Jazz concert in Kinna this autumn, something that is usually very rewarding for the audience, and especially so for the Doctor Bank.
A medical coordinator has long been wanted, especially by the Doctor Bank jeep-doctors. This year it becomes a reality with Dr Pia Appelgren, from Stockholm, Sweden. She relieves Erik Hoel, who has worked in 3-month periods, with one month in Sweden between each. The next medical coordinator will be Dr Karl-Göran Ljunggren, from Jönköping, recently serving as jeep-doctor, and with 16 years experience as doctor in Africa.
Pictures:
| Pia Appelgren |
| Karl-Göran Ljunggren |
Two million people die each year in malaria, and 100 million are infected. Each day, our doctors on the jeep lines and in the hospitals treat patients with this terrible disease, which once also raged in the Nordic countries. Will there at last be a vaccine against malaria, as there is against many other diseases?
Dr Maria Troye-Blomberg at the Wenner-Green Institute in Stockholm, says to TT, the Swedish news agency:
"After many years of tests, malaria research is now on the verge of producing vaccines that can protect."
| Water for Life mini-well |
Värnamo Apladalen RC in Sweden invests in Water for Life. Here we see a "mini-well" in front of the club president, Carl-Olof Nilsson, the Rotary Doctor Bank Secretary, Gunnar Fjellander, and the Doctor Bank veteran Dr Gunnar Söderberg. At each meeting, the members are encouraged to make donations.