Day Six - Tamshiyacu

The morning of day six we got up early, returned our rubber boots, and said goodbye to the Tahuayo Lodge.

The entire group. (Clockwise starting bottom left) Harri, Debby, Donna, Kendall, Shannon, Justin, Anthony, Luis, Betty, and Bruno

Before heading back to Iquitos we had one more stop, this time in a small town (Tamshiyacu) instead of a jungle village.

Our chariot awaits.

 

Our destination

Upon arriving in Tamshiyacu, we first checked into our hostel.

MotorKar to the hostel.

The hostel

After checking in, we walked to the center of town to set up our mobile clinic.

See the speakers on the right of the balcony? We were treated to music while we worked.

Our mobile clinic site.

While the rest of us started setting up, Harri, Anthony, and Bruno went searching for street dogs in need of treatment.

Harri, our fearless dog catcher.

Anthony

 In no time we were set up and ready to go!

Betty and Debby prepping a dog.

Every surgery patient received a pre-surgical injection that included a light sedative and analgesic (painkiller). During surgery every patient received an anti-inflammatory injection, an antibiotic injection, and an anti-parasitic injection, as well as a topical and oral parasite treatment after surgery .

A patient getting her pre-med before surgery.

Anthony discussing human parasite control.

Although all of the services were provided at no charge, donations were gladly accepted.

Debby and Donna applying topical parasite treatment to a patient after surgery.

Then it was back to the hostel to clean all the instruments.

Those tables may make it may look like a classroom, but believe me when I say things were far from serious.

Justin playing the pressure cooker lid.

Dr. B. Sharing music with Anthony and Betty.

Frisbee

Then we headed to dinner.

These wonderful women made sure we were well taken care of while we stayed in Tamshiyacu.

 Dinner was followed by a stroll through town down to the river.

Justin, Harri, and Anthony

Me making friends with a street dog we affectionately named Spot.

Luis taking a cue from some local children.

Day Five - Neuva Esperanza

Before heading to work Wednesday morning, Debby took a swing over the water. 

Headed to work.

 

Nueva Esperanza

Our clinic for the day, the village church.

People would wait in line for hours.

Debby and Harri prepping a dog.

Dr. B and Luis attempting to deworm a monkey.

At times we would be monitoring multiple patients at once.

Betty examining a dog.

The recovery area was often packed.

 After working all morning we headed to lunch.

After lunch we were treated to a tour of the village's hospital. The hospital provides services to 14 local villages.

Harri and Dr. B

The delivery room

The waiting room

 We had about an hour boat ride back to the lodge and as we were leaving Nueva Esperanza it started to rain. We covered the supplies and ourselves with tarps and continued to head home. 

Then the boat's motor died. Luckily we were near Buena Vista, the village we had worked in the previous day. After about fifteen minutes of waiting in the boat, Christian (our guide from the lodge) was able to borrow another motor.

Attempting to stay dry.

Back at the lodge it was once again time to clean all of the surgery packs.

Scrubbing drapes...

...and hanging them to dry.

 

Scrubbing instruments

Cutting cotton gauze squares.

Our "autoclave" to sterilize packs.

 After making all of the surgery packs for the next day, there was still some time to relax.

Our three doctors, Luis, Kendall, and Betty.

Our final dinner at the lodge.

Since it was our last night at the lodge our wonderful chef made us our very own dessert.

Flan with apple slices...unfortunately it does not photograph well.