All night battle to save phone lines.

A small group of community volunteers has been up all night battling the ever rising waters. The levels have shattered previous high marks and appears to know no stopping.

Here the Regional Chairman himself bails as he has for hours at one of the doorways to the surrounded building. Additional vollunteers have been called out of bed to assist.

Flood waters shut down Lethem power

Volunteers are currently bailing feverishly to preserve GT+T phone communications as we speak early Sunday Morning.

Massara village among many battling flood waters

Remote Area Medical is assisting the Region 9 authorities in gathering data on flooded communities. Pictured here is Massara village reduced to a series of shrinking islands observed on a recent medevac flight.

Reports are coming in (via HF radio) from multiple communities throughout the Rupununi of flooded houses leading collapsed mud walls, and many farms, roads and bridges severely affected.

The organization's aircraft remains the only available link to an increasing number of poor isolated villages due to deteriorating conditions exacerbated by the severe rainy season.

Lethem swamped, scores relocating to Shelters.

Pictured here are vehicles stranded outside of Lethem by the flooded Tabatinga creek this afternoon. RAM is in action once again with assessment, coordination and direct relief efforts.

The Lethem airstrip is being used as a street, dozens of houses are swamped and many roads and bridges are submerged and unusable.

The main road to Georgetown is also cut off due to bridges and sections of the road having been washed away.

RAM is responding with your support and in close collaboration with the local authorities. The organization has committed all available human resources plus vehicular and aviation assets to the effort to provide immediate relief in relocating affected families, collecting and managing data, and also communicating with outlying communities on behalf of the regional disaster committee.

The outpouring of volunteer support within the community has been very impressive. A 24 hour hotline has been set up by the organization to take direct requests for assistance.

The aircraft is being used today to fly in fuel, critical spare parts, and empty sand bags as the waters continue to rise.

Smoking could make you impotent, then kill you.

Multiple studies have shown that nicotine, the addictive drug found in cigarettes, is directly linked to erectile dysfunction.  See this link for a good article on the issue.  It is also well documented that smoking and other tobacco products can kill you or accelerate disease in just about every system and organ of the human body.

May 31 is declared as World No Tobacco Day with the theme "The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control".  The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, is a treaty created through the World Health Organization in 2005. It has 170-member nations who helps each other in preparing a solution to tobacco control.  Here are some key facts on the effects of tobacco use on health:

• Tobacco kills up to half of its users. 
• The tobacco epidemic kills nearly six million people per year. 
• Without urgent action, the death toll could rise to more than eight million by 2030.
•  More than 80 per cent of the world's one billion smokers live in low- and middle-income countries such as Guyana. 
• Total consumption of tobacco products is increasing globally, though it is decreasing in some high-income and upper middle-income countries

In Guyana all health facilities are smoke free zones while 70 corporate entities have also pledged to observe the no smoking policy.

The Ministry of Education has also declared all schools as ‘smoke free zones’. A campaign was launched in September 2007 which ensures Guyanese students, teachers as well as parents are aware of the dangers of smoking. 

Tobacco is the second leading cause of death globally, resulting in nearly five million deaths a year. (GINA)

Too busy for blogging.

It seems funny that every time things really get crazy, there is really no time to update supporters and volunteers like you in real time. For the last week, for example, every day has been so action packed that activities really don't get recorded as they should. Pictured here is one out of three emergency patients airlifted for the day today.

Waters rise, snakes on the prowl.

This young man from Fairview village had to be air-lifted to Lethem after what he said was a Labaria attack. The poison had spread throughout his system to the extent that his gums were bleeding profusely.

Region 9 Flood Update.

An emergency meeting was called yesterday afternoon by the Regional Chairman, Mr Lucas, to discuss the rising water situation and to take appropriate action.

Primary areas of concern for the immediate area were the town water pumps, power generation plant, and telecommunications, as well as public health and sanitation among others. Other vulnerable communities within the Rupununi region and the issues of food security and transportation of critical supplies and services were also highlighted.

Numerous indigent villages are currently cut off completely to ground transportation and many others have had their normally difficult access routes further restricted due to swollen creeks and eroded trails.

RAM Guyana representatives were invited to join in the discussions at the local government board room. Both the Chairman and the attending Health Officer expressed the Region's reliance on RAM aviation assets over the years and the increased demand during periods of tribulation such as these.

This picture show's the Tabatinga creek well beyond it's banks late yesterday afternoon during a subsequent medevac flight. A second image shows the St Ignatious bridge with wading pedestrians.

Community volunteers went house to house this morning in the affected areas using the RAM vehicle to conduct a needs assessment for presentation at a follow up meeting today. The team had received training from the Red Cross two years ago to conduct related activities. At least one household reportedly required immediate assistance.

Although the water levels have stabilized and receded some, the rainy season is still young and the peak floods would typically hit the area in the months of June and July.

Only with your support can these humanitarian services continue to be available to remote and isolated communities in Guyana. Thank you in advance for your prayers and generosity.

Takutu flood waters rising rapidly.

Residents in the Lethem area of central Rupununi are watching anxiously as flood waters continue to rise. Many properties including some latrines and wells are already affected meaning environmental health will be a chief concern.

The main road and bridge linking St. Ignatious village has been closed to vehicles and roadways in both Culvert City and Tabatinga are also affected.

As rain continues to fall heavily at times this morning, RAM is monitoring the situation closely and stands ready to assist in any way necessary. Collaborating actively and effectively with partner agencies including government ministries is critical in times of disaster.

The organization has experience in recent years supporting needs assessments, community planning, relocating displaced persons, shelter management, and distribution of materials such as hygiene kits and clean water interventions.

First batch of sheep flown in by aircraft.

The villagers at Masakenari, located deep in the southern rainforest of Guyana, took delivery of their first installment of live ewes yesterday afternoon.

The animals are the part of a village led initiative to begin diversifying their agriculture and livestock activities. They have recognized the need to consume less carnivorous fish based on a recent study by CIDA and contacted RAM over a year ago to work with them on the project.

A second load of animals is soon to be repositioned using the Cessna 206 bush plane that is regularly called into action for medical purposes. The male sheep of a different breed are still on the coast and have been donated by the Min. of Agriculture, while the females were donated by the Dadanawa Ranch.

Special thanks to Duane de Freitas and his team for also de-worming, spraying, and securing the animals. The sheep had to initially be transported by boat to depart from Wichabai airstrip due to high flooding of the Rupununi river. Additional flooding of the upper Essequibo meant that the final approach to the village from Gunn's strip was by doug-out canoe.

A tarpaulin was used to protect the interior of the plane and the young animals were leg-tied then transported in rice bags for security. While they did manage to shift positions in the aircraft initially, the animals appeared to settle down at cruising altitude.

See an April 12 blog entry for other details.

Groundbreaking trial results confirm HIV treatment prevents transmission of HIV.

GENEVA, May 2011-Results announced today by the United States National Institutes of Health show that if an HIV-positive person adheres to an effective antiretroviral therapy regimen, the risk of transmitting the virus to their uninfected sexual partner can be reduced by 96%.

"This breakthrough is a serious game changer and will drive the prevention revolution forward. It makes HIV treatment a new priority prevention option," said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
"Now we need to make sure that couples have the option to choose Treatment for Prevention and have access to it."

The trial, conducted by the HIV Prevention Trials Network, enrolled more than 1 700 sero-discordant couples(one partner who is HIV-positive and one who is HIV-negative) from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the United States of America.

Only people living with HIV with a CD4 cell count of between 350 and 550, thus not yet eligible for treatment for their own health according to latest WHO guidelines, were enrolled in the study. The reduction of sexual transmission of HIV was so significant that the trial was stopped 3-4 years ahead of schedule.

"This is a crucial development, because we know that sexual transmission accounts for about 80% of all new infections," said Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General.

"The findings from this study will further strengthen and support the new guidance that WHO is releasing in July to help people living with HIV protect their partners."The availability of Treatment for Prevention will not only empower people to get tested for HIV, but also to disclose their HIV status, discuss HIV prevention options with their partners and access essential HIV services. It will also significantly contribute toreducing the stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV.

"People living with HIV can now, with dignity and confidence, take additional steps to protect their loved ones from HIV," said Mr Sidibé.It is currently estimated that only about half of the 33 million people living with HIV know their HIV status. An increase in the uptake of testing for HIV would have a significant impact on the AIDS response, particularly if more people gain access to treatment in light of the new findings. ....

RAM Guyana continues to conduct the only fixed and mobile HIV testing and counseling service in Region 9. Pictured here is Dr A. Abdullah and colleague at Aishalton with RAM to provide HIV and other treatment services.

Rupununi Nurses Celebrate their week.

Medex Bercina Humphrey, a member of the RAM Guyana board, delivered her address as the special guest on May 12 at the Kanuku Suite in Lethem. The event was attended by nurses, staff and administrators from around Region 9 to celebrate International Nurses Day 2011. Region nine now has a majority of nurses that were born in and belong to the district.

Metal object stuck in baby's throat.

Can you imagine having a foreign object lodged half way down your throat?  This 19 month old baby boy from the North Rupununi swallowed a sharp metal object that became lodged in his esophagus.  He was rushed from his home village to the Boa Vista hospital where ENT specialists were unable to remove to object due to bleeding and the high risks involved in surgery.  It is very unusual for such a case to be refused by the advanced Brazilian medical facilities.

The RAM aircraft was called into action once more to rush the child and his mother to Georgetown.  Since he was unable to swallow food, a feeding tube had to be inserted through his nose by the doctors at Lethem Hospital. The x-ray above was taken in flight and clearly shows the challenge that faced the physicians at Georgtown Public Hospital (GPHC).   

Immediately upon arrival he was taken to the operating theater where it took more than an hour under general anesthesia for the team to eventually remove the foreign body.   Because of his associated injuries the child was kept in the Intensive Care Unit for the days following until he had stabilized fully.  Congratulations are due to the brave and skillful team at Georgetown Public Hospital.

 

West Indies vs. Pakistan from the air.

Pictured here is Darren Sammy taking another wicket from an unusually toothless Pakistani line up.  If we had something better than a phone camera at 2000' and 135 mph, you might be able to see some actual detail.  A rare international cricket match in Guyana was captured on a recent medical emergency flight - we know about the Sammy moment as we were following the play-by-play on AM radio from the aircraft.   The ODI (One Day International) at the Providence Stadium just outside of Georgetown was convincingly won by the West Indies team without a single of wickets falling although Pakistan has easily won the series.

Not pictured here is the 19 month old baby and his mother on board being evacuated to Georgetown with a sharp metal object lodged in his esophagus. This foreign body was eventually removed under general anesthesia by specialists at the GPHC and the child is recovering in the high dependency unit.  He is from Ruperty village and was sent back from Boa Vista Hospital in Brazil due to the complexity and risk of the case.

Also not pictured is the female patient from Kwattata village on board suffering from a rattle snake bite. They were accompanied by a flying physician from the Ministry of Health.

Thank you NASA.

This satellite picture off of the NASA web page is the only reliable weather image that covers the interior of Guyana. We are currently responding to a call from the Ministry of Health to another medical emergency in these marginal conditions. One can only hope that US federal budget cuts don't affect this department. All RAM medical flights in southern Guyana are conducted without any official weather information, without any radar (nation wide), and with no fuel or aircraft maintenance facilities.

This type of technical information is actually a great piece of US foreign policy as operators throughout the Caribbean and Northern S. America can and do access these satellite images where nothing else is available.

Any readers with contacts in that agency can pass on our appreciation. Check out the link here.

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.