We are so lucky to have Dr. James Wal back with us! He sees outpatients that really need more expertise than our clinical officers can provide. Here is an example: A lovely three year old little girl came in with one eye bulging while Jill was overseas. Our program has a long history of caring for cataracts, trachoma and other eye problems that no other organization deals with in our area. Dr. Wal took pictures and sent Jill ALL the details: a proper case presentation. The girl and dad jumped on a returning cargo flight that landed in Juba. Our logistics man in Juba, Emmanuel, knows staff at the government eye clinic that sends medical people to us for the cataract surgeries. After one look, they contacted Christian Blind Mission.
They got the child to an eye hospital established by none other than Dr. Keith, who ran our eye clinic one month each year unil he retired to Uganda at age 80! The child has had surgery and is gettng medication now.
These networks are so important for our program. She is only one child, but she is part of the larger community. People know that, if possible, we will look for a way to get help for these extraordinary patient needs. That knowledge builds such trust. In truth, it also builds expectations too high. But isn’t some form of heath care equity really what we strive for?
We are also lucky to have Peter Riek back as a newly minted clinical officer (think nurse practioner). Peter spent years as a community health worker in Old Fangak. After his SSMR funded education in Uganda was interrupted by COVID based school closures, he is finally back. Although his first responsibility is to the TB clinic, he also sees outpatients. His internship with the Government of South Sudan gave him many useful connections. But, most importantly, he has built strong community connections around Old Fangak since he started working here in 2005. Nothing like home-grown talent!