Mission to Benin
Posted by Bill Molesworth
Bob and Ruth Keller presented a video and a talk on their trip. Their son is a medical student and a professor at his school has gone to Ghana and Benin 4 times so far, taking students and those parents that are interested to help out with their medical problems. They were only able to go on the Benin part of the trip and were gone for a week.
The focus is a school, clinic and orphanage compound that accommodates children up to 16 years. They sleep in wards, with bunk beds and there are 4 house mothers, a cook and other support as well as the pastors and their spouses who founded the place.
The doctor checks on the progress of the residents since the previous year. Pollution is a surprisingly real problem. Everything runs off diesel - the generators, trucks, etc. - and the result is terrible eye and skin problems. Hygiene is sorely lacking and even the smallest injury can become infested.
Ruth was able to do a lot of translating, as French is the main language there. A side benefit of bringing medicines from Canada is the bilingual labelling.
The Kellers were impressed by the use the locals are putting aid to - they are not subsisting in dependence but working with what their given and building on it. They are a beautiful, fun loving people who are active, though poor. They put their best face on everything.
The medications the Kellers took were provided by sales reps, doctors in the Clinic and the drug companies themselves.
Doug offered the thanks of the Club for the Kellers' time and report and thanked them for their commitment to caring for others.
The doctor checks on the progress of the residents since the previous year. Pollution is a surprisingly real problem. Everything runs off diesel - the generators, trucks, etc. - and the result is terrible eye and skin problems. Hygiene is sorely lacking and even the smallest injury can become infested.
Ruth was able to do a lot of translating, as French is the main language there. A side benefit of bringing medicines from Canada is the bilingual labelling.
The Kellers were impressed by the use the locals are putting aid to - they are not subsisting in dependence but working with what their given and building on it. They are a beautiful, fun loving people who are active, though poor. They put their best face on everything.
The medications the Kellers took were provided by sales reps, doctors in the Clinic and the drug companies themselves.
Doug offered the thanks of the Club for the Kellers' time and report and thanked them for their commitment to caring for others.