Splinting, Back Pain, and New Otoscopes

Dr. Susan teaching the students how to splint a broken bone with improvised splint.

Dr. McDowell teaching students about back pain, one of the most common complaints the students would see (and experience!) as barefoot doctors. The students learned signs and symptoms of back pain such as muscle ache and spasm and causative factors such as muscle strains, degenerated discs.  Importantly, she discussed how to prevent and treat patients with proper lifting techniques, stretching and anti-inflammatories.

OTOSCOPES

The Barefoot Doctors were recently provided otoscopes donated by a Christian couple at New Hope Christian Church, Manassas, Virginia, United States. 

Dr. McDowell explains how to use an otoscope to look into the ears to investigate ear symptoms using the assistance of a video from Dr. Nilson.

Ning Sai and her new otoscope.

Ying Sau, a barefoot doctor, checking Aung Kyaw Oo, one of his classmate's ears.

Nin Mang, a barefoot doctor, checking Abraham’s ears.

Learning More About Infant Care

Dr. Nilson instructing the students on suctioning the airway of a newborn. The students learned how to take care of a newborn during the “Golden Minute” after birth.

After the lecture on neonatal resuscitation, the students participated in a lab with newborn simulators. 

Dr. Bruce is facilitating one of the students as they perform the steps of drying, stimulating and eventually providing rescue breaths in a scenario where the baby is not breathing early after birth.

Thank you for your prayers for the barefoot doctors, Jung Dangshing

Pregnancy, Delivery, and Infant Care

Dr. Bruce Gross shared the following:

This was a big week for the students as they learned some very important skills.  This week we learned how to assess a pregnant lady’s risk factors, how to deliver the baby, and then how to care for the newborn baby and how to resuscitate it if needed. 

The students had lots of fun as they practiced on the OB and newborn mannequins.  These mannequins proved to be a valuable learning tool.  

As the course draws to an end, the students are committed to finishing strong and learning all they can in the remaining week.

Medical Demonstration

Dr. Bruce Gross demonstrating palpation techniques of the abdomen during physical examination class with Ying Sau, a barefoot doctor as patient.

Dr. Bjorn Nilson demonstrating auscultation of the lungs, heart, and bowel sounds in the abdomen.

Thank you for your prayers,

Jung Dangshing

Feature Student: Wan San Htina

Let me introduce you to another of my Burmese friends.  This is Wan San Htina.  We call him Tina for short.  

He is from the Rawang Tribe in Northern Myanmar.  His town is only 3 miles from the China border. He is the assistant pastor of a church of 70 people.  Their village consists of about 40 homes and 300 people.  

Wan San Htina is married and has a 5 year old boy.  His wife is expecting any day now and he hopes to get back home before she delivers.  A midwife in the community will help deliver the baby.

Tina is a quiet but confident person who stands straight and holds his head high.  He doesn’t talk a lot but you can tell that his thoughts are deep and his words are well chosen.  I had the opportunity to see him in action during the church service last week.  As suspected, he spoke deep and well-chosen words.

There are no doctors, clinics, or hospital in his village.  If someone is ill, they have to go to a hospital in China, where the Burmese are charged twice the rate of a Chinese citizen.  But to get the patient there, the patient has to be hand carried on a litter for 3 miles through the mountains to the China Border.  From there they can hire a taxi.  The roads are very rough and it takes 7-8 hours for the taxi to go from the border to the hospital.

A Barefoot Doctor is urgently needed in his town.  He is anxious to get back and start giving medical care to his village.  

Pray for Tina as he provides care and shares the Gospel of Christ.  Pray also that his wife does not go into labor before he returns home from the Barefoot Doctor program.

Dr. Bruce: Case Presentation on himself!

Dr. Bruce Gross presenting a case of himself during a Case Presentation session.  

He used his accident on the mountain the day before as a teaching moment. He had dislocated two of his fingers. They had to be put back in place.

One of the lessons he shared was that God is good and His hand of protection proved to be strong.

New Pictures from the Chiang Mai Zoo/Aquarium

You already know that the students had a special trip to the Chiang Mai Zoo recently. I was happy to receive a few more photos from that special day. 

Jung commented: 

The Barefoot Doctors have never been to an aquarium before and they loved the trip!

We wanted Nan Kee to try with a real crocodile but he wouldn’t taste good :)

Students and instructors taking a break from the classroom.  Fun day at the Chiang Mai Zoo.

Thank you for your prayers,

Jung Dangshing
Frontier Labourers for Christ