Departing Angola today I’m mostly impressed with the opportunities. CEML Hospital, and its affiliate Kalukembe Hospital, have years of solid experience providing care to the least of these. One bold step forward is to multiply the number of Angolans with similar vision and skills. Here’s where you can be a blessing. Seriously consider […]
Little Avelino arrived today with his father, who explained how this four-year old has coughed constantly for 2 weeks. They visited a health post and were prescribed a cocktail of antibiotics. But when no improvement resulted, the family took a minivan taxi some eight hours to CEML Hospital. On my exam, Avelino had retraction
Photoed here are some of the thirty-five nurse practitioners who staff the rural health centers surrounding Kalukembe Hospital. Twice each year they converge for two days of continuing education. I enjoyed the opportunity to lead eight hours of workshops on how to promote economic development and literacy, since these are so very essential to
Innovative and vulnerable – these are the children of Africa. Walking from home to clinic today, I met these boys touting their homemade airplanes. One is a King Air, followed by a Cessna Caravan – fine replicas of the aircraft that land on our dirt runway. The models include even spinning propellers and wheels.
By Angolan standards, he was blessed indeed. While still a young man, Antonio mastered English and graduated from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene. But rather than succumb to the allure of privilege, Antonio Salamão chose to serve out his career at Kalukembe Hospital. This rural medical center provides care for some
Annelise Olsen, CEML‘s youngest general surgeon, expresses an inspiring persona. She embraces style, whether in clothing, cooking or lively conversation. Annelise embodies medical excellence, devoting her judgment and procedures to our patient’s best welfare. And she advocates for the global health virtue of sustainability: giving our willing learners ample opportunity to develop their own
“Our child became ill 6 months ago. So, we visited the traditional healer. We lost our money and our child was no better, so we went to the closest clinic. They did tests and gave medicine, but he didn’t recover.” Thus, begins an account we hear frequently. It continues like this: “Next we went
Life span in Angola averages only thirty-eight – a fact painfully experienced by our patients and families. We at CEML Hospital are diligent to help people better these odds. But all life has limits. As I pondered this truth, Pastor Moses phoned again, asking me to prepare a mediation for chapel today. Pictured above
Caution: This is a graphic description. In my post on July 2, Aberrant Abscesses – Angola Day 2, I described the plight of a seven-year old boy with pockets of pus erupting in his leg, shoulder and hip. Let’s call him “Lobito.” After drainage of the hip abscess on that date Lobito’s fever and
CEML Hospital‘s home city, Lubango, is facing a shortage of gasoline and diesel fuel. With a population of one million and some five thousand autos, the society seems to have literally come to a stop. This photo is illustrative. A line of car fifty cars is parked leading into a gas station, and the