Sticks and Stones may....

.... Keep the RAM air-ambulance busy. Thanks to all our volunteers and supporters who generously give to keep this emergency aircraft flying. We could not do it without your input.

This picture features a young man with a femur fracture, and a four year old girl with both her arm bones fractured from a fall. They will both require surgical intervention to begin to mend.

Rupununi Partnerships for Health (RPH) Truck in Action

Sylvania, Ryan, Natasha and Apollo are pictured here boarding the Bedford 'Bush Truck' for a multi-discipline outreach mission to the North Rupununi. These young Guyanese health professionals are the next generation of providers who deliver the critical services to some of the most isolated communities in the country.

The truck well stocked with mobile clinic supplies including tents, generator, edutainment and sound system, and folding furniture is set up to hold a clinic and esducation sessions just about anywhere - including the Karupukari crossing and the busy logging camps.

The RPH project is designed to deliver HIV prevention and testing in partnerships with a full range of other health services. After picking up a team from the Annai Health Centre, the crew will include: A physician, a Dental technician, a Tuberculosis technician, pharmacy assistant, eye specialist, HIV councilor and tester, driver, and volunteers to conduct the health education.

One flight, four orthopedic surgery cases.

A single emergency flight stretched your generous donor dollars to the max. Although the RAM aircraft is routinely called out to airlift a single emergency patient, this one was different.

- One dislocated hip
- a fractured neck of the humorous.
- a fractured hip.
- a dislcated and fractured collar bone.

It's always a plus when the ambulance is available and on time at Ogle. Thanks guys.

Gunns Rainstorm

A medical outreach flight on Friday with staff from the Ministry of Health and RAM once again visited the village of Masakenari (near Gunns strip).

Services provided were vaccines, dental care including fillings, eye care, spectacles, and general medical by a physician. Due to the relatively small population and quick access with the aircraft, all potential clients were seen in time for the afternoon flight home. Transportation to this particular village without the benefit of aviation is of course measured in days and weeks depending on water levels, trail conditions, equipment reliability and perhaps the hospitality of the local wildlife.

These wai wai children and the rest of the team were caught in a typically torrential rain storm on the hike back to the airstrip. Lesson learned a few trips ago: always bring some extra plastic bags to save the camera, gps etc from the inevitable. Life in the jungle.

Stay tuned for an update on the Masakenari village/RAM livestock initiative involving ewes and rams.

Rodeo Campaign Launched - Digicel Blackberry up for grabs.

Every person tested for HIV by RAM before the Rupununi Rodeo grand drawing on Saturday night is instantly eligible to win a Blackberry smart phone courtesy of Digicel.

The target group this year is vehicle drivers and the health promotion is coupled with messages on road safety as well. Minibus, van, truck drivers and 4x4 enthusiasts have been identified as a high-risk and bridging population for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections as the Rupununi sees increased traffic and development putting vulnerable communities at risk.

"Strap Up Harry, Don't be Sorry" is the original new slogan promoting seat belt usage on the dangerous roads of the interior. For our readers not familiar with contemporary Guyanese slang, it'll take some explaining; but for those who live here, there's none required. If you want to read a condom message in there as well - you get extra credit.

So if you're driving in to Rodeo next week please strap up and travel safe. Come in today to win your chance at the best phone we've given away yet - dinner at Pegasus also up for grabs.

Remember to 'like' us on facebook to stay in touch, win stuff and share your thoughts.

SPAN update: Leprosy in Guyana

Pictured here are the feet of a man from the Pakaraimas suffering from Hanson's disease. After a medical flight yesterday from his village he has a chance to see the specialist now available in Georgetown. His wife has been feeling some possible early symptoms as well.

SPAN: Specialized Patient Action Network is a system to get care and support to those isolated clients who suffer with disease and disability that is not easily treated in remote villages.

It's Teachers vs. Students today at St Ignatius

To mark world TB day coming up this week, RAM is hosting a seriously competative health quiz at the secondary school. Who do you think knows more about some of the critical health issues of our day? Let us know.

In partnership with the Regional Health Department, a panel of three impartial judges will decide who takes home the trophy for what could become an annual and fun-filled contest. Talk about March madness; stay tuned for results.

Feels like Christmas - because it is.

Even if it's many weeks late. Four hundred pounds worth of crayons, toys, books, treats and educational puzzles were delivered to some surprised and excited children in the remote upper Mazaruni.

Each child in the isolated village received an age appropriate care package letting them know that they are special and that somebody far aways cares about them. As part of the 'Samaritans Chest' project, the hand-packed shoe boxes were donated by individuals who want to brighten the season of a disadvantaged child.

The RAM flight also delivered two recovered patients home to their village of Chinoweing and evacuated an emergency medical case as well. RAM continues to partner with all agencies conducting humanitarian work including faith based organizations from a wide spectrum who serve the general public without conditions.

Thank you for supporting RAM in reaching those most isolated. We cannot do it without folks like you.

Foreign body removed from baby's nose.

A young girl from Chinoweing was having trouble breathing and had to be air-lifted to the district hospital where Medex Willie had the tools, patience, and skill to have it removed.

The grandmother and a nurse were required to hold down the child and as a result, an emergency trip to the capital city was averted. The exhausted baby was flown home the same afternoon to her home village.