Quote:
|
Originally Posted by pulque
Planning a trip to Northern Laos in early February. Volunteering with a hospital medical mission for the first week (at least). I seek Pearls of Wisdom on a number of fronts from QPs...
1) Is Lao Language similar enough in vocabulary/grammer/tonality to Thai so that I can study Thai (Lao language CDs are hard to find).
2) What diseases and illnesses would likely be encountered at a hospital in Luang Prabang, or in more rural areas?
3) What items should be in the lay-person's kit?
4) Comments on immunizations / antibiotics / cultural differences
5) By any chance, know of any group in any neighboring country seeking unskilled tsunami relief volunteers?
Thanks in advance!
-pulque
|
Greetings Que-
Lao language is totally different from Thai-even between provinces. I have worked between provinces where the words for
Hot and
rain were literally reversed. Our native born translators even have (at times significant) problems between provinces.
Primary diseases: malnutrition, worms, malaria (falciprium and vivax), dengue fever (serotypes I, IV), fungal infections, boils and sores, nearsightedness, dental, underage pregnancy.
lay-persons kit: bug spray, antibacterial hand gel, motrin, tylenol, super glue, sam splint, cravats x 4, and-aids, water purification tabs, immodium, mebendazole (worm medicine), benedryl (allergy), pocket knife, lighter, 3 inch ACE wrap x 3, 4x4 dressings x 10, 1 in tape. Anti-fungal creams melt and attract dirt and grime.
There are 17 local vipers that will likely kill you if you receive a good bite. These include, but are not limited to:
green viper, white lipped viper, big eyed viper, banded krait, black spitting cobra, common cobra, eastern cobra, King cobra, russell's viper, mangrove viper, brown cobra, white spitting cobra, and others... We see 3-5 of these per 30 day mission on average. Closest anti-venin is in Thailand (Bangkok-Queen Savhonnabah Snake Bite Institute). Golden scorpions are also quite common and will down you for about 3 days if stung. They are small and like clothin piles. The only real "hospital" in the country is the Mahosot Hospital located in Vientiane. Photo attached. It is POOR, filthy, and recently painted.
If you are injured and require serious care, call International SOS Alarm center in Singapore 65-6338-9277. They will arrange your care. Ensure your insurance has a rider for internation evacuation and medical care. Their head is Dr. William Farrow, a personal friend of mine and a retired COL in the British Army. Jolly Good Chap, damn nice guy too.
Immunizations:
Japanese Encephalitis, Hep A, Hep B, Typhoid, Rabies, Tetanus, Flu at a minimum
Antibiotics:
Azithromycin (Zithromax), Cipro, Keflex, Penicillin, Tetracycline.
Malaria Prohylaxis:
Doxycycline 100 mg daily, start 2 days prior to entry in country, end 4 weeks after returning from country.
On return from country, ADD primaquine, 2 tabs daily x 2 weeks.
P. falciprium is resistant to mefloquine in Laos.
The most prevalent thing I can tell you regarding your trip-NEVER LOSE YOUR TEMPER IN FRONT OF THE LAO.
Worms are evil and posess the souls of ancestors. They are not to be played with or handled. The majority of the population is buddhist, the tops of their heads arer the most sacred part of their body. Do not pat them on the head or leapfrog over them (show your ass to their head). Men are very affectionate and will hand hold / hug / hang on you. Do not kill/destroy insects, show them to the Lao. Many of these they put in their local meals.
Wash your hands- A LOT. above all, drink clean (BOTTLED) water.
Good luck-
Let me know if you need more, I travel to and from as well as send teams in to Laos 5 times yearly.
Eagle