Boris Nwachukwu, is a 2013 WMF Scholarship recipient from Nigeria. Boris is a student of the University of Port Harcourt and is studying within the department of Medicine and Surgery. He would like to share a summary of his latest outreach activities with supporters of the Wells Mountain Foundation.
The Fine Acts of a Fine Volunteer: Boris C. Nwachukwu
In as much as it is required of me by the WMF board to submit details of my volunteer acts, it is also a necessity which I think should be fulfilled by me for the sake of humanity and for the love of my country-Nigeria.
2013 had been a very eventful year. It presented 6 months of academic activities and an equal 6 months of an avoidable strike by the university lecturers. During the six months of strike, I took part actively in the Elimini medical outreach organized by the University chapter of the Federation of Catholic medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS).
The outreach was slated for 10th October 2013 but had to be postponed to the 24th October owing to some logistics and financial reasons. We got the needed finances from our alumni and the Royal Father of the Elimini community. In fact, the community were very supportive.
FECAMDS participants saying our prayers enroute to Elimini, Nigeria
We left the university campus (Unipark), Choba at about 7:30 am and arrived at the Elimini community some minutes before 9am. On getting there, members of the community had already assembled in their numbers. Some delegates visited the royal father’s (king’s) palace to inform him of our arrival and get his royal blessings. This he gave generously and without reservation.
Meanwhile, those of us who didn’t make the delegates list got down to business arranging the tables and chairs for the various ‘departments’ of the outreach. There were protocols, pharmacy, urinalysis, blood pressure and Body Mass Index ‘departments’. These departments were manned by us students under the overseeing supervision of our alumni who are now medical doctors. Two of our alumni came with us. For the sake of honour and appreciation, they are Drs Henry Onyegbule and Innocent Onyekwelu. They are indeed nice and amiable fellows.
The queue at the outreach begins to form
Prior to the whole departmental activities, there was a 20 minute talk on hand washing, Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT), exclusive breastfeeding and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Various questions were raised and tackled appropriately by our doctors. I was assigned to the Body Mass Index departments where I had the privilege of working with my colleagues and other paramedical students. This department entailed correlating the weight of an individual to the height-squared. It is a useful parameter in determining if an individual is obese, overweight, normal or underweight. There we encountered various people who were obese, overweight, underweight and advised them accordingly. We also directed them to check their blood pressure and blood sugar levels. These individuals have a great tendency of being hypertensive and/or diabetic (Type II).
Dear madam Nicole, I do hope you check yours regularly: I am always happy whenever my mail meets you in good health. Mine is normal- 19.2kg/m2. It is on a just a narrow escape from being underweight. **Blame it on my parents’ genes(jocular)**
Anyway, we worked assiduously and unrelentingly to make sure we finished on-time. By 3pm, more people were still flocking in but we regretfully and politely had to turn them down since most of us were exhausted and our alumni had left earlier. Most of them understood our situation and some tried to make us promise we would come sometime later next year (2014). No promise was made but reassurances were given.
During the course of the outreach, I was also drafted to the urinalysis department when the queue got much. There we examined the urine samples trying to detect any abnormality present in it. The composition of urine gives a premise for diagnosis. Diabetics with uncontrolled sugar level will have sugar and ketone bodies in their urine. Those with jaundice may present with bilirubin etc. On detection, we advised them on safe health habits and prevention. Those whose presentations were somehow complicated were referred to the doctors present.
Working in the pharmacy section
We finally left at about 4pm and got to school around 6:30pm owing to traffic jam. When we arrived, we were all tired and hungry. Some had to leave for their hostels while others stayed behind to carry the medical equipment and drugs back to the secretariat. We all were satisfied with our little bur most noble efforts.
Our outreach team!
Moreso, various personal acts aside from this outreach were performed by me. I would share it with you in my next mail if you don’t mind. Another outreach will come up in March this year. I will definitely write you then!
Till then,
UDO DILI GHI (Peace be unto your household- Ibo language).
Your proud scholar,
Boris Nwachukwu
University of Port-Harcourt, Nigeria
Great job, Boris.