Mobile Healthcare

Here in Mozambique, community outreach is a huge factor in delivering needed services.  A very popular position in the hospital is to be an “activista” an activist – one who goes out to your neighborhood and consults with you on your health condition. I took the opportunity to walk with them and experience the “mobile health care services” to a neighborhood about 45 minute walk from the hospital.

The techs had a list and contacted the patients to confirm the visits.  It was an interesting eye opener to people’s awareness of diseases and their practicing a healthy life style. 

We sat with a young 16 year old who was scheduled to get a HIV test.  He was aware of the disease and knew somewhat of how it was transmitted and boosted that he and his girlfriend were monogamous for the past 3 years.  Monogamy here in the village was brought with Christianity, the traditional customs are still followed, therefore a man can have as many wives as he can provide for, 2-3 is very common, and it also is one of the reasons why a higher percentage of women have HIV then men. 

Abstinence is promoted in discussions more to young females (10-14 yrs old) to motivate them towards education before bearing children. When it comes to reducing HIV the use of condoms and testing is emphasized for older individuals (15+).

At the second household we found 3 children with acute dermatitis and malnutrition.  They had recently been abandoned by their mother and moved in with their dad and step mother.  After our visit the dad was informed to bring the kids to the hospital and enroll them into a nutrition program where the family is given a protein supplement – peanut butter packages and get medicine for the dermatitis. Because of lack of records the children were also tested for HIV- thankfully it came out negative. (The following day the dad did come to the hospital).

We then stopped at a man’s house whose in his 70’s and has Tuberculosis; he was very welcoming to the negative HIV results, but still needs to follow through on the TB.

This is one of my favorite activities, the walk is long and the temperature is high, but so necessary; people get informed, receive services, and are encouraged to come to the hospital for additional treatment.

At the end of the day these walks into the bush I am reminded how these families can survive with so little and smile without one grudge. 

It is a dose of gratuity for me.

 @bloggingabroad