Bansang Hospital Appeal
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The Patients: Page 4
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Malnutrition patients
Malnutrition is an extremely common condition and if not treated correctly will lead to certain death. Many patients admitted onto the wards are in a very advanced state of malnutrition due to the general lack of understanding of the condition and the lack of urgency in seeking medical treatment. Basic health care education would alert families in the recognition of this condition and how to respond to it.
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The following two children were photographed on the same day
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7 hours old
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3 years old
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General injury patients
Muctarr Jallow ~ Who, without help would die.
Muctarr fell out of a tree and broke his arm some many weeks before this photograph was taken. The forearm is heavily infected with bone clearly visible. Unfortunately, as is the tradition in Africa, he attended his local village medicine man for a cure. The recommended treatment was for the injury to be bound with twigs and leaves and the results of this tragic procedure are very clear to see.
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During the weeks that the arm took to deteriorate into this condition Muctarr did not receive any medical treatment, pain killers or antibiotics. He was, eventually, taken to Bansang Hospital but unfortunately as there was not a resident orthopaedic surgeon in the Gambia the injury remained untreated and his condition continued to deteriorate.
It was during one of my regular visits that I met Muktarr and I immediately intervened and arranged for him to travel to the UK to receive urgent medical treatment. Unfortunately his arm was beyond saving and had to be amputated but fortunately, his life was saved! Normally an amputee would be an out cast in The Gambia but thanks to financial support from a UK family he was able to continue with his life and resume his education.
He has matured into a tall, impressive and very confident young man who is a credit to himself and his family. Each time I return to The Gambia I always visit Muctarr and his family.
Life in this case could have been so very different if basic health education had been available. The medicine man would have been avoided, the correct course of treatment would have been diagnosed and Muctarr would have retained his arm!
Snake bite victims
Venomous snake bites are a constant threat to those walking and playing in scrubland. Without immediate medical treatment these bites will rapidly develop into serious conditions. In many cases such bites lead to fatal consequences even before reaching the hospital.
Yet again basic health education would have a significant impact on snake bite victims enabling them to take the correct course of action and to seek immediate medical attention.
This boy's foot was amputated.
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This boy made a complete recovery
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Serious skin condition
Rare skin conditions are fortunately very rare on the wards. However when they do arrive the lack of specialist equipment means that diagnosis of such conditions can be an extremely long and tedious procedure.
(The Patients: Page 4)
Bansang Hospital Appeal a UK registered charity ~ 1064469