Gallery of Pictures

Steve has taken the lead in writing about our adventures (and is doing a phenomenal job), since I am doing the SITREPs (Situation Reports) for Project HOPE, but I will add what I can to keep you updated. I have found that posting pictures to the blog is very difficult due to the internet capacity, so I am adding pictures to my own gallery which you can all access. Please go to http://gallery.me.com/alla.marks to view the first set of pictures from our mission. I will be posting new pictures whenever I can and will describe the picture above a little later in my blog to create some suspense and anticipation.

Tomorrow is our last day in Solomon Islands and we will be sailing to Kiribati on Wednesday (your Tuesday). Our first island has presented several challenges and accomplishments. We definitely have had to adjust to the heat, which is much more intense than Samoa and Tonga. We drink several bottles of water during our MEDCAP and sweat it all out. I found out the hard way, through an allergic reaction, that sunscreen with DEET, is not compatible with my face. So far, the mosquitos have not been bad, but Solomon Islands has the greatest prevalence of malaria, so everyone is diligently taking their doxycycline or mefloquine.

In terms of accomplishments, Steve and I have been on site every day of each MEDCAP (while other departments get work/rest cycles). The days are long, hot and busy, but very rewarding. We have had the opportunity to counsel on albuterol use with a spacer, discuss antibiotic options with the physicians, and instruct medical students from England and members of the Australian Navy as to how to dispense and counsel. I was able to assist a medical student in administering ceftriaxone IM to a patient, since she had never given an injection to an actual patient. Immunization delivery certification definitely came in handy! The team work during this mission is simply amazing. We have physicians, nurse practitioners, dentists, dental technicians, optometrists, and pharmacy staff all working together in a collaborative manner. Physicians actually ask us for advice (and even follow our suggestions) as well as step in after they are finished with clinic to help us get prescriptions out so we can pack up and get back to the ship. Pharmacy, of course, is the last stop for both medical and dental patients. The islanders are so patient...they stand in long lines to get registered, then to see a physician, then to get a prescription. If they want to be seen for more than one service, they have to get back in line to be registered again. Sometimes, it is very difficult for us in pharmacy, since we have such a small formulary of medications and we are only treating acute diagnoses or relieving symptoms. Simply giving acetaminophen to help with pain to a patient with tuberculosis or breast cancer definitely tugs at my heart, knowing that it does not resolve the cause of the pain. A lot of patients have serious chronic conditions that cannot be addressed by the Pacific Partnership, so they are referred to the local hospital without a guarantee that they will actually follow through or get the level of care that we are blessed to receive in the US.

Adjusting to military life is interesting. I, who am not a morning person at all, have started to work out before breakfast (served at 7am), since so many people do. Meals and meetings define your day. There is no training or preparation for hazardous physical activities. For example, yesterday we had to use Jacob's Ladder to get on the ship (pictured above) since the waves were too high for the regular gangway (which itself is extremely long and difficult to maneuver, especially with your heavy backpack filled with 6 bottles of water and MRE for the day). You have to time jumping off the RHIB onto the ladder as the swell rises then grabbing with both hands and climbing up one rung at a time without looking down. I am sure you can all appreciate the death-defying feat that Steve and I both accomplished (without falling into the water).

Well, it is rounding midnight and we are mustering at 0730 to go to the MEDCAP. Stay tuned for more exciting escapades.