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Published: August 19th 2009
On Saturday I returned to Cajamarca having spent 5 days in a mountain community called Cadmalca near Chota. The bus journey the previous Sunday lasted 7 hours and we survived a rather perilous, 1-hour taxi ride up into the mountains before arriving finally at the Blue Poncho Lodge where we were welcomed by Celia, our wonderful provider for the week!
The medical experience I gained was priceless! Having heard somewhat underwhelming reports from students who had already completed their stint in the remote mountain clinic my initial high expectations had been sadly lowered. After a quiet first day, during which I settled into the routine tasks of weighing and measuring babies and practising my Spanish numbers by filing away patient records(!), the village seemed to go crazy overnight and on the second day I dealt with two patients, both of whom required stitches! Despite my lack of real experience in this particular procedure I grasped the opportunity with both hands and much confidence! I then followed "my patients" up throughout the rest of the week which felt like a real privelege as I got to know them and they showed their appreciation for my handy-work! A man with a gun-shot
Mi paciente primero
This wee guy had been pushed over in the playground at school and needed to have a single stitch in his forehead just above his eye... that was a test of my nerve!wound (albeit a surface wound) also presented which was exciting and on Thursday afternoon we took water to the local school to teach the kids how to wash their hands... Rumour has it that there had been a few cases of D&V of late!!
The scenery in Cadmalca was beautiful and the weather was on the whole splendid! So we enjoyed the early evenings, sitting on the balcony at the lodge, reading and chatting before dinner which was both delicious and plentiful ever night, thanks to Celia! Being in such a remote location gave us the chance to socialise in some pretty old school ways... card games and board games! It was such a peaceful location though and I really enjoyed just relaxing without the constant temptation to check my emails, update the blog or send a text message.
We woke at 5am on Saturday morning in order to take a "taxi" to Chota from where our bus left at 7am. Both journies that day were pretty thrilling for different reasons... The sun was rising over the mountains as we travelled down into Chota on the back of a 4x4 pick-up, the local-way, and it was blazing to
Embracing local practise
My Dad wouldn´t´ve approve... show us the very narrow way through the Andes back to Cajamarca.
I really am so pleased that my week in Cadmalca surpassed my expectations and those 5 days will definately stick out in my memory as some of the most beneficial and enjoyable times of my time in South America this summer.
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wendy kerr
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your continuing adventures
Hi Richard ! Good to catch up with your adventures in Peru. What an amazing time you're having ! Such diversity of experience, and unforgettable. I loved your pictures - except for the tonsils which put me off my tea. My Canadian trip went really well, apart from an awful dental abcess which made my jaw swell to massive proportions and caused lots of pain! Must be something about us Scots and our mouths, abroad. Hope it all continues to go well for you. Did you hear that Peter Dunn is leaving QP to be Director of World Missions for BMS ? A huge gain for them and a great loss for us. Speak to you soon. Wendy x