Healthcare in a Third World Country

In my last article about the National Police Aid Convoys’ trip to Zambia I wrote about our visit to Nyimba and the different conditions faced by the schools there. Nyimba District Hospital is the major state hospital for the region, yet it only has two surgeons resident. General anaesthetics are available, but only for short-duration operations due to a lack of expertise. The acting clinical director and the newly qualified junior surgeon both felt that they could do a better job if they had equipment that hadn’t broken down. When we visited, the main steriliser which served the operating theatres did not work, so the instruments they used were transported around the hospital to find a working autoclave on one of the wards. The clinicians had no idea if a technician would ever be sent to repair the non-functioning, essential medical equipment. The most basic supplies were missing. The hospital had run out of dressings, so wounds often resulted in amputations, and of course there are no wheelchairs or crutches or artificial limbs available for discharged patients.

We were able to leave surgical instruments, text books, lung function monitors, baby development indices, blankets, knitted toys, toothbrushes and toothpaste. This was just what we had with us at the time, so we hope to be able to send more soon. They need laboratory equipment, IV antibiotics, dressings, hand sanitizer, mobility aids, baby bundles including blankets, nappies, toys, and ideally an anaesthetist to show them how to use the equipment they do have!

We were fortunate enough to then spend a lot of time driving through the bush, but that situation has inherent dangers. Every time we left our camp we had a guide with a gun to make sure we were safe. One day our guide was called Geoffrey, and he had lived along the banks of the Luangwa River all his life. He took us to the schools we wanted to visit, and showed us around the game scout school where he studied. He was generally a tremendously knowledgeable and interesting man, so we got to talking. He asked why we were there and I explained about my father’s connection with Zambia. When he heard about Dad’s profession his face lit up. It turned out he had a terrible toothache which had stopped him working for a week and he asked if Dad could help. Of course Dad could help! He performed a couple of emergency extractions with the anaesthetic and instruments he had brought with him. Geoffrey was delighted and told us that he didn’t know anyone else who had been treated by a dentist. We hope to make Geoffrey’s case a rare one. We hope to make sure everyone has access to medical help when they need it, and with your help it’s a very achievable goal.

Southwell dentist, John Peterson, is working with NPAC to set up a dental clinic at the Makeni Trust in the centre of Lusaka. The Trust currently provides primary medical care for the local population at minimal cost. NPAC have provided support for the last seven years, but this clinic is something new. So far there is a dental chair, a filing cabinet, four cupboards and a sink – there is much still to be done!

If you think you can help by donating your time, equipment or expertise, get in touch with NPAC on 0115 9390 999 or by email at enqs@npac.org.uk.

First published in Southwell Life, October 2015.