Our first full day of clinics at Popondetta. First stop at the Siroga clinic. In the quiet of the morning, in a small blue-walled room with light pouring in from the window, we set up together for a vaccination session by drawing up syringes, preparing blood collection equipment and laying out strips of gauze.

Elayne drawing up vaccines

Getting a little carried away

In another room down the hall, mum, Liz and Elayne consulted some patients with an extremely competent and experienced health professional named Olive. It was encouraging to see that the hospital had much better facilities than what we had seen at Itokama, although it was still limited.

Meanwhile, a lot of screaming was coming from the other end of the hall – children being given their injections.

HIDDEN FAT

Elayne reading the factsheet on the tropical disease "chikungunya"

We drove off the second clinic, and aid post in one of the worker’s compounds. The area is surrounded by palm trees, and the occasional smoke and putrid-smell-producing factory. Eagles roam the skies, a common sight in Popondetta.





Vaccinations were given in the front room, and patients were consulted by Liz, mum and the local health care worker managing the clinic in the privacy of the back room.

Mel recording patient details

Elayne and Liz giving Pentavalent vaccinations to babies

Mother and child enjoying a moment of peacefulness

Outside the clinic door, patients waited in the shade swatting flies while children hovered around their parents legs or played games with each other to pass the time. I snapped a few photos and watched Elayne personally walk around to give children their tablets: one for worming, one for Vitamin A.

Elayne distributing tablets

Playful children waiting outside

Hot and sticky, one fan to the side of the room. We were spoilt with a taste of fresh sugar cane which was hacked into pieces and skinned expertly with a knife. A coconut was smashed onto the a rock in the garden to crack open the juicy flesh.



Third clinic at another aid post set up in a compound that looked identical to the others – a series of brightly coloured wood huts, with a simple but sturdy build and design. Dirt roads, flowers growing in the garden shrubs, small electrical wires.

In the evening, we ran a short clinic in the guest compound for local workers and expat families living around the area. Toads emerged from their hiding places after dark. Walking on the wet grass, you see them hopping away frightening close to where you are or are about to put your foot.

The set up of the evening clinic

Liz collecting blood

Elayne and Mel at the data collection table