This is my 5th day as the solo doctor, and I’m thankful to find that the so far I’m keeping up. But I’ve had three patients die only since yesterday – die of disease that would have been easily treatable in Kansas City. The first was a 40-year man with “normal everyday” hepatitis. The second, a lady with malaria that involved her brain. And third – saddest of all – my little 4-year old Miguel from a skin infection that went into gangrene. I got up at 2AM this morning to come and see whether there was anything more I could do to help Miguel, but he died just as I arrived. So sad!!Today my thoughts revolve around the fact that these illnesses so common in poorer nations are not only treatable, but also preventable. For example, tuberculosis is extremely common here. Yesterday alone I saw a child with TB infection of his spine and another with abdominal tuberculosis! Since TB is unique to humans, it is theoretically eradicable. But no one is talking about this seriously. Are any of you up to taking on this challenge??