We have spent two mornings
doing outreach this week and each occasion has made me realise just how
magnificent yet vulnerable these villages are. In the western world it is just
that much easier to get to a clinic or hospital to get the vital vaccinations
for your bundle of joy. On the last two occasions we went into two different villages.
The one village was about 20 minutes drive away from the clinic in Lifuwu…not
too far away, but the other one was 34km away which took us an hour on the
rough road which is REALLY FAR for these Mamas if they need to get to the
clinic to see a doctor.
At these villages, we
were approached with about 25 to 40 children from a few months old to under 5
years. As it holidays the medical assistants are slim so the assistant manager
and I found ourselves weighing the kiddies and jotting down the figures
ourselves.
It was absolute mahem
only because you need to work so quickly. Once the scale was attached to the
tree I had a long line of Mamas with their little ones on their backs being
swung around and handed to me within seconds at a time. And just as quickly as
I received the babies I had to quickly hook them onto the scale, hoping that wouldn’t
squirm like worms so I could read the weight, and hand them back into their
Mamas hands. There was this one toddler that screeched, in what I assumed was
fear, and was not happy being hooked from inside a little hammock (closest idea
I can come to). I could not for the life of me read the weight because the
needle was jumping all over the show…epic fail so we had to wait for the
toddler to calm down before second attempt. There were a few of those and as
much as I tried to calm them down and hush hush them, it was quite the
challenge.
That wasn’t even the
worst/best of it…There were three “little bags” I was handed during the hour it
took to weigh the kiddies. I couldn’t believe how light these babies were and
it broke my heart. I remember weighing one little baby and it came to a whole
2.8 kg! I thought the baby had to have been born the day before or something
because he was so TINY to say the least. There were about 3 babies between 2.8kg
and 3.8kg and in those moments I felt so helpless. A baby is already so vulnerable
in the early months and now underweight too…but what could any of us do? It was
really sad to see to be honest and I can only hope and pray that those little
people gain weight quickly and be blessed with incredibly strong health.
Once I was finished
weighing I walked over to the vaccination area and you can only imagine how
these little babies are crying in agony as the injection pokes their soft,
gentle skin. It really is heart breaking and obviously necessary but you just
want to take their pain away. Vaccinations are not fun AT ALL!!! After one of
the little “bags” had his vaccination he was crying so much and when I looked
at his Mama she gave me the gesture to take him which I did…and just hushed and
rocked him to sleep. It was so beautiful just watching this little person calm
down and fall into a peaceful sleep…I was in my element…I got a little baby to
sleep!! I was so happy holding him that I was a bit reluctant to give him back…I
just wanted a few more minutes to hold this wonderful gift of life.
In saying that it has
been amazing to be involved in this system that is setup here and help where I
can. It really is something else! I believe that the more medical awareness and
need that is drawn on these outskirt rural areas and the priority placed on
them health wise…it wont be long until there is more support and help given to
them. These little people are the next generation and their health is crucial
in every respect. This part of the voluntary program has been an eye opener of
note and I recommend any medical expert, nurse or assistant to consider
becoming a part of this …even if it is only for a week.
Every hand makes a
contribution and that is something we need to always remember.
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