Working in the Kavresthali Health Clinic: A new experience

Words by: Willanka Kapelle
Working as a health volunteer for Public Health Program by VIN has been a great experience for me. Involving here has helped me to experience health care in other cultures.
Part of the program was volunteering at the health clinic in Kavresthali. The clinic has three rooms. The first one is used for registering the patients, examination of patients by the nurse and dressing of the wounds. The second one is the doctor’s office. Sterilization of materials is done here as well. The third room used for further examination of the patients and includes a bed. Medical supplies are stocked here.
The health clinic provides basic medical care. Our job was to provide help where help was needed. Mainly, I have been taking vitals, such as blood pressure and temperature. I have helped registering and questioning patients. Because of all the interns, there wasn’t always a lot to do, so I have also been observing a lot. I think it has been helpful for my development as a future doctor to learn what it is like to provide health care in an area where medication and materials are not always present. Also, I have seen patients with, for example, typhoid, which does not exist in The Netherlands.
Things I am able to experience here are the ones I would not have got the opportunity to experience back at my country. Interaction with the patients and all the treatment procedures we are following here is a whole new experience to me. There are a lot of improvement to be made for sure but with the project VIN has brought for the people in the community, it is quite helpful for the people to live a healthy life.