First Day of Clinics

Peru Monday August 8, 2011

Got up a little bit early today and went for a walk around town. It is light by 6am. Only local and a few hearty souls out at that time. It was a bit chilly (but it is a “dry cold”!!) and the locals were bundled up in coats, scarves and hats. I had my scrubs and a flannel jacket on… very nice, crisp and cool. No effects of high altitude (thanks Coca Tea, medicine and following directions!) though I did get a little winded on the steeper streets.

It was nice to walk around and see everything in the early morning light. It is very beautiful here. The plazas have pretty fountains, statues and gorgeous gardens. Many stray dogs roaming around. I thought I had paid very close attention and knew where I was at all times, but I did get a bit disoriented. Finally recognized our plaza and made it back in time for breakfast!

We had a nice buffet breakfast including a local cereal made with quinoa, fresh juices (more like nectars) and made to order omelets. Then we met and were ready to head off for our first day of clinics! Our bus was to leave at 7:40… and we did… in “local” time, which is about 30 minutes later (sound a bit like “beach time”, doesn’t it?!). The driving here is quite an experience. If there are laws, they must be mere suggestions! Vehicles whip around here and there, honking “hello” or “get out of my way” or “I am biggest and I am going first!” (I am sure they know what each other is saying!). Our bus is big, so it usually got its way.

With many “detours” along the way we finally made it to our clinic site, just to find out that we could not use the building after all. So we were off to another site. Many of the volunteers were already cleaning up the new site that had a huge courtyard and big building. Got to work setting up “reception” and waiting area, induction and pre-surgical, tables for supplies and surgery and recovery areas. It worked out very well. It was a much better site than the original one.

We had local veterinary students and veterinarians there to help and observe. The volunteers were doing a great job. Over 60 animals were brought to the clinics, but only about 41 would allow surgery. This is the first time ever there has been any type of sterilization of animals and many people did not understand and would not have any part of it. Well, hopefully, the people that had had pets altered will spread the word about how good it is and future clinics will be busier. They need a lot of education to start to understand the importance of animal care.

In veterinary school, in the Central and South American countries, very little clinical work is done. They have to get experience outside of school. I had a local vet, Carmen, with me during the afternoon and she has only assisted in surgery. Some of the vet students have been lucky enough to get a little clinical experience. Another assistant with me was a third year vet student named Francisco. I am not used to having a surgical assistant so I would forget to have him help (he wanted to use gauze to clean away blood as I closed the surgery site.) I got better at letting him help. Carmen asked me to spay her dog tomorrow and repair an inguinal hernia. She will assist me. I also had a student observe. Juan is a local fellow, but his dad lives in LA, so Juan lives there now and attends a university there. He is pre-med. But he said he may change his mind after seeing what we do!

Michelle rocked at doing induction. She and Morgan (Dr Karen’s assistant) were placing catheters like champions and keeping us in surgical patients. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, she was helping in recovery and got bit in the nose for her efforts! Karen and a local vet and his wife (both fluent in Spanish and English) drove them to the hospital for care and stitches and post exposure rabies injections. There has not been a case of rabies in the area in many years, but it is not worth the risk. The visit to the emergency room, including exam, supplies and suturing the wounds came to 20S/ (the local currency is “nuevas soles”, $1 US is about 2.70S/). So her entire bill was about $7.40 US!! OMG!!! She has to go to a clinic tomorrow to have the first of the four post rabies exposure injections.

The group of us went out for a very nice dinner for some local food. It was very good and we had a good time. When we finally got back to the room, I wanted to work on the blog. It was already 11pm!! Sorry, had to hit the hay. That is why there is the delay. I hope to catch up tomorrow.
Hasta!!