Issue no 4, 1999 -- English edition -- home
Page: -- Contents -- 1, 2, (3), 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
"Home again after the fifth assignment for the Doctor Bank, and the second as jeep-doctor. The work is very stimulating and interesting. What fascinates most is the contact with and closeness to the people, who have a completely different life experience and life rhythm than we do. One learns to see life from another perspective, and to make other priorities."
Dr Ulla Iversen from Ängelholm, Sweden, shares her experiences after a time as jeep-doctor among the Masai. She was based in Mashuru.
"In Africa, community is important, not individual efforts. People live in the present and take each day as it comes. Time is given to participate in what happens. There is not this constant striving to change one's situation and surroundings. This is sometimes difficult for us to understand when things break. If I can't do anything about it myself, I can only choose to get upset about it, or do like the Masai-sit down and wait, and take the chance to live in the meantime. I chose the latter and was very comfortable with it…"
Dr Iversen did not sit around much, however. As jeep-doctor, she had to go out five days a week to people suffering from the virus diseases that were prevalent among the Masai.
"In many, these infections led to pneumonia and ear inflammations. Anaemia and enlarged spleens indicated that malaria was common, despite it being the dry season with a lack of water. The long drought led to children being undernourished."
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The soda-water Lake Magadi in Kenya, one of the world's hottest regions, is populated by the Masai, and in this harsh place the Doctor Bank has two jeep-doctor relays. |
| "Healthy people are more productive, more inclined to invest in their future, to educate themselves, and to save -- important for economic growth. In Africa, the poor health of the population has been an obstacle." |
| David E Bloom, Professor of Population and Health Economics at Harvard University in USA. Advisor to e.g. the World Bank. |
The Doctor Bank efforts to protect against malaria by using mosquito nets are much appreciated. For example, jeep-doctor Klaus Karlsen, from Stugun, Sweden, has positive experiences from the work among the Masai on the Magadi Line.
"We distributed 120 'Manyatta adapted' nets. These were a great success. These nets addressed only a small part of the real need, so I hope for continued donations of nets, an effective way to reduce malaria attacks."
A net costs 50 Crowns (less than USD 6), and is enough for one child, perhaps two. A donation giro form is on the last page.
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The Doctor Bank distributes mosquito nets to the population around Lake Magadi, where malaria is a scourge. Here we see a mother with child protected by such a net. |