Atancama

Another dental visit, and a village that AIDIA has not visited in the last few years.  We were VERY busy with patients all day, and I had to work hard to keep putting the instruments through the autoclave so they’d be sterilised by the time they were needed again.  I was impressed by the fact we can sterilise, take x-rays, develop the photos... it's got me thinking again of what equipment I might need, and the success we had with the DelAgua water testing kit in Ecuador - both for practical testing purposes and for showing and teaching.  There are a couple of visits planned in April when I have been asked to come as a translator (we have a team coming from the USA) so I have also been listening to learn some more technical dental Spanish.

The autoclave and camping stove which I use for sterilising

Brendan developing an x-ray in the "dark-room"

 

The literacy and orality teams came too, and we had good times talking with all the people who were waiting for their appointments.  I took down their details which led to a few simple conversations in Quechua - it was a big encouragement to be able to manage this! 

Trying out the tongue-twisters!

Noemi and her bookshop!

Because we were so busy, I didn’t get to nose around looking at the different water infrastructure, but asked a few questions.  We will be visiting again in a couple of months so I can find out more then.  Community development work is largely about building a good relationship, so I am happy with this progress.   

View down from the plaza

On a practical note, I made the important discovery that long sleeves, and leggings tucked into socks are successful in preventing insect bites!  Apart from one very determined fly that bit me through my sock.