In May, I had the opportunity to take a break from my intensive Spanish classes, and was privileged to take my first trip to Santa Clotilde Mission (SCM) in the Peruvian Amazon with 3 short term volunteers from the Chicago suburbs: Dr. Toni, a veteran volunteer to SCM since 2011 who speaks fluent Spanish along with her 2 chief residents, Drs. Annie and Carolina. Charlie, age 8, and Maya, age 6 were very fortunate to be with their mom, Dr. Toni, on their 3rd trip to SCM.
Enjoying Mother's Day celebration at the school organized by
SCM combined with Labor Day festivities for the staff and their families.
Toni was our fearless leader who showed us the ropes on getting around Iquitos and upriver to SCM. We were warmly welcomed by the friendly people, especially Dr. Toni and her kids - the staff both in the Vicariate and in SCM were very delighted to see them back, and marveled at how big and beautiful they had grown, and other kids were very fascinated by them.
It was just so amazing to see the fruits of the labor of love built by missionaries over 70 years at SCM in this remote, rural Amazon outpost, referred to simply as "The Jungle" by the big city dwellers of Lima.
It was just so amazing to see the fruits of the labor of love built by missionaries over 70 years at SCM in this remote, rural Amazon outpost, referred to simply as "The Jungle" by the big city dwellers of Lima.
The hospital ambulance that picked us up from the new boat dock on a light drizzly afternoon.
For those who are interested in the short history of SCM, what better introduction than the one here -
Santa Clotilde Mission, Peru: HISTORY - Blogger by Drs. Toni and Brian, long term veterans of MDA.
As a small remote rural hospital accessible by boat only, I was very impressed by what Frs. Drs. Moe and Jack had established over their 30 years of service to the people of God, with the wide range of basic services that were available, e.g., basic labs, X-rays, ultrasounds, pharmacy, well child clinics, ER, OR (nonfunctional since no anaesthetist was available), and a hospital kitchen that provided food for the inpatients!
The work day routine started with morning prayer at 7 a.m. led by the CEO, Gabi, a Polish volunteer, who speaks excellent Spanish. This was followed by rounds in the wards with the doctors, nursing and lab staff. There was a wide variety of clinical cases both in the pediatric and adult wards. Besides infectious diseases, e.g, TB, HIV, dengue, pneumonia, pyelonephritis, abscesses, there were also fractures, burns, asthma, suspected metastatic spinal cancer, diabetes complications, maternity patients and malnourished kids.
There was a newborn with cleft lip and palate who needed a special nipple to suck on expressed breast milk, that came from the Iquitos General Hospital, 5 hours away by boat. The parents who lived 3 hours away by boat, were very grateful that their 3rd baby was put on the list to be seen by volunteer surgeons from Operation SMILE that visited Iquitos twice a year. They were encouraged by the online before-and-after pictures of kids with similar condition.
I also saw my very first case of a baby with congenital syndromic pansynostosis. After rounds, there were busy outpatient clinics. There was an incredible amount of paper work involved since this was a government sponsored facility, that made us appreciate electronic medical records more in the USA. We also had the opportunity to do health outreach visits to 2 outlying villages on the Tambo and Napo Rivers.
What struck me the most in my 3 weeks at SC mission besides the paperwork?
As a small remote rural hospital accessible by boat only, I was very impressed by what Frs. Drs. Moe and Jack had established over their 30 years of service to the people of God, with the wide range of basic services that were available, e.g., basic labs, X-rays, ultrasounds, pharmacy, well child clinics, ER, OR (nonfunctional since no anaesthetist was available), and a hospital kitchen that provided food for the inpatients!
The work day routine started with morning prayer at 7 a.m. led by the CEO, Gabi, a Polish volunteer, who speaks excellent Spanish. This was followed by rounds in the wards with the doctors, nursing and lab staff. There was a wide variety of clinical cases both in the pediatric and adult wards. Besides infectious diseases, e.g, TB, HIV, dengue, pneumonia, pyelonephritis, abscesses, there were also fractures, burns, asthma, suspected metastatic spinal cancer, diabetes complications, maternity patients and malnourished kids.
There was a newborn with cleft lip and palate who needed a special nipple to suck on expressed breast milk, that came from the Iquitos General Hospital, 5 hours away by boat. The parents who lived 3 hours away by boat, were very grateful that their 3rd baby was put on the list to be seen by volunteer surgeons from Operation SMILE that visited Iquitos twice a year. They were encouraged by the online before-and-after pictures of kids with similar condition.
I also saw my very first case of a baby with congenital syndromic pansynostosis. After rounds, there were busy outpatient clinics. There was an incredible amount of paper work involved since this was a government sponsored facility, that made us appreciate electronic medical records more in the USA. We also had the opportunity to do health outreach visits to 2 outlying villages on the Tambo and Napo Rivers.
What struck me the most in my 3 weeks at SC mission besides the paperwork?
First, was the stark contrast in temperatures between Lima (low 60's in winter) and the torrid humidity here (middle of the heavy rainy season, however, thick cloud cover did drop temperatures for a few days, thus requiring sweaters at night and in the morning- see photo #3).
Morning rounds with clinical staff. Notice majority in sweaters.
On far left is Dr. Norberto, CMO and volunteer Ob-Gyn from Spain.
Third, the abundance of clean, filtered rain water in the cisterns installed by an NGO, Water Mission, in 2018, with 2 washing machines in the volunteers' house. What a pleasant surprise!
Fourth, the incredibly loud, blasting music that reverberated late into the wee morning hours during festivities, especially on our first weekend for combined Labor and Mother's Day. Fifth, the roosters that crowed at odd hours, plus pack of dogs that barked what seemed to be all night long sometimes...ear plugs were absolutely useless. I could certainly adapt to the really slow 2G internet and the daily scheduled electricity rationing.
All in all it was truly a great experience and exposure to the lovely people, culture, environment of SCM and the vast Amazon. I am looking forward to coming here after 2 more months of intensive Spanish classes in Lima.
"The blessing of the Lord is our greatest wealth. All our work adds nothing to it." Prov. 10:22
