Live in the jungle and need colostomy bags?

A continuous supply of colostomy bags is what this resident of a Rupununi village requires to live a normal and productive life.  David (not his real name) received at least a few years worth thanks to the kind generosity of Raeleen Wilson PA and Dr Kathryn Duevel. 

Both RAM volunteers who have served repeatedly in Guyana, Raeleen and Kathryn are part of a world wide network of contacts that contribute specialized care and support for remote and isolated clients. 

David is part of the SPAN (Specialized Patient Action Network) program that is designed to overcome the geographic, economic, logistical challenges of accessing medical care from remote communities. 

David was happy to give consent to publish his photograph to detail the work of the organization through SPAN and the Ministry of Health.  Client confidentiality and security of medical records is of chief concern for Remote Area Medical Guyana. 

Night HIV testing at Rodeo street party.

Special thanks to GT&T, the Takutu Hotel, and all the volunteers for supporting this year's Rodeo VCT promotion.
Congratulations to John Pedro for being drawn as the lucky winner of an internet-ready smart phone from GT+T. His number was pulled randomly from among many dozens of participants who came out to know their status and take steps to reduce their vulnerability to HIV. The drawing was held on stage at the Rupununi Rodeo beauty pageant at the Takutu hotel Friday night in Lethem in front of a massive crowd.

Pictured here are the RAM mobile clinic tents - all three of which were continuously occupied with clients and councilors right up to the drawing time. These horses were tied up by the local cowboys or 'vaqueros' who rode in to celebrate at the annual festival which draws visitors from across Guyana and abroad.

During the three-day promotion, two new HIV positive clients were diagnosed. RAM councilors go beyond their conventional mandate and are working with all positive clients to adjust to living with the virus and to help access the clinical and treatment services that do reach the remote areas through the Ministry of Health.

Rodeo promotion with GT&T launched.

Get, Talk & Take:

GT&T is promoting health in the Rupununi by giving away an internet-ready cell phone this Rodeo in partnership with RAM Guyana Inc. For three days only get your HIV test at a RAM mobile site near you for a chance to win big.  See poster for details.

News & Pics from a raucous concert.

Stand by for photos from the 'Talent on Fire' show to benefit RAM Guyana.

In other news: RAM Guyana participates in the annual wildlife festival with an event-wide health education session and HIV counceling and testing in the North Rupununi.

RPH update: RAM was invited to and attended a national level HIV meeting at the National AIDS Programme Secretariate (NAPS) hosted by Dr Shanti Singh and Nazim Husain. The meeting was focused on HIV prevention and condom distribution in the interior of Guyana and attended by many familiar partners including GGMC, MoAA, GRCS, GFC, YCG, PCG among others.  RAM Guyana launched and supports 29 new condom distribution sites in Region 9 alone in 2011

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'Talent on Fire' concert this Friday.

A high energy concert and talent show will entertain the crowds this Friday evening at the Lethem Community Center. The event is organized by volunteers and artists from the locality to benefit Remote Area Medical (RAM) Guyana. In an event that has 21 scheduled acts, all proceeds from tickets and refreshments will support the RAM vision and SPAN programs.

The organization is seeking support to ship in donated reading glasses and equipment which are distributed to under-served communities.  Get your tickets today at the RAM office or from a RAM volunteer near you!

Flying a roof into the jungle.

Agriculture update: the next step of the collaborative livestock (sheep) project at Masakanari village is complete. Using their own funds, the village council was able to purchase six 12 foot sections of corrugated zinc roofing. Cut in half, the metal sheets just fit into the Cessna.

The goal of the village is to establish the first sustainable livestock initiative in the area. Once the pen and sheep shelter is completed by the village (metal is used to deter vampire bats), the next flight should be with a load of live female animals donated by Dadanawa Ranch. The Ministry of Agriculture should be providing the ram's of a different breed.

Maintenance, Maintenance.

Given the rough conditions that the vehicles and equipment endure, regular and repeated maintenance is a must. Pictured here is Philbert Malcolm hard at work repairing the rear differential on the Polaris Ranger.

Volunteer of the Month.

Contratulations to our Volunteer of the Month Karen Hawes who recently volunteered with RAM through our base in Lethem Guyana.  Her contribution as a non-medical volunteer stands out in an action packed month for the organization.  Karen worked many quiet hours at the office setting up IT systems that will be the platform for the organizations website, email, VOI, and much more.  She pulled all sorts of favors from her many web host and designer friends to get the components of the framework uploaded (since our internet connection is generally miserable). 

She also joined the women's health team visiting a number or remote communities to address the issue of cervical cancer.  Karen visited us as part of a hemisphere-wide tour promoting responsible waste management and raising awareness about all things related to trash, recycling, garbage, and junk......check her out at http://www.karenhawes.com/ and http://www.trashtrip.com/  She has volunteered with the RAM organization all over the world for over seven years - including a previous trip to Guyana in 2004.

World Health Day 2011, Lethem Guyana.

The Ministry of Health and RAM teamed up for a health fair and the launching of the new VIA program at Lethem Hospital.

See our new facebook page for more photos:

Emergency stuck in the mud.

This unconcious infant and her mother from Simooni village had some serious challenges just getting to the nearest airstrip. A vehicle happened to be in the area and was able to respond after the child's condition had deteriorated. The vehicle made it about halve way to Katoka village airstrip and could go no further. A motorbike was able to rescue them some hours later for the flight to Lethem.

That airstrip developed through a joint Katoka / RAM project a few years ago and the leaders in Simooni have spoken to the organization about building their own for just these situations.

How to make tools in the jungle.

These ingenious tools were observed on a recent field trip to the Wai Wai in extreme southern Guyana.

Medical Outreach Flight.

Once again the Ministry of Health staff were able to reach an extremely remote village in partnership with RAM. Pictured here left to right: Dentex Nicolei Poon (extractions, dental exams), Wallace Rodrigues (Malaria supervisor, microscopist), Michelle Kenyon (RAM HIV educator - VCT), Janet Yamochi (CHW, Vaccines), and Medex Jude Isaacs (General medicine). The team, medications, vaccines and equipment all arrived at Gunns strip in the aircraft for a one day outreach program last week after a flight from Aishalton.

Stow Away.

As you can see from the altimeter, this lively chap decided to jump out of hiding after we had nearly reached cruising altitude.

Isolated 13 year old gets his first chance at hearing.

Meshach was born deaf.  This morning he had his first chance to see an  ear  doctor (ENT) following an initial appointment and CT scan on Friday.  According to the phycian Dr  Sharma,  a surgery to open his ear canal could improve his hearing on that side to  reach near-normal levels.  He was identified through the SPAN program last year during a RAM  mobile outreach.  It required two long flights, numerous emails and phone calls  with Dr Quaicoe's office, and a separate screening visit to Lethem to get  to this point. Special thanks to Dr Chan of the Lethem Hospital who  personally walked the client through the numerous appointments within and  around the Public Hospital compound on his day off.

RAM Cervical Cancer team in North Pakaraimas of Region 8.

Medex Williams and Nurse Saigo of Paramakatoi village organized the residents to join the discussion and take action on a deadly but preventable disease.

Traction splint in action.

A femur fracture and a broken clavicle at Sawariwau village.