Welcome to our blog! Here's a little introduction to what we're aiming to do here....
Sam: A year ago I completed a 3 month course in Tropical Medicine at the London School with the aim of using it- with my GP knowledge- to work in the developing world. Aim: part altruism, part academic interest, but largely just a great way to immerse oneself in a foreign culture without having to open a beach bar.
Becs: Through a process of four degrees of separation (thanks Fania, Maradowa and Sarah) we found Guyana welcomed us with open arms. The combination of Latin American climate, Carribbean culture, English as the first language and the serendipity of the regional arts festival 'Carifesta' being hosted here this August made for an irresistible prospect.
Sam: Fast forward months of preparation and 10 days of intensive meeting and greeting here's where we're at: next week we will be flying out to Mabaruma, a settlement in the North West region. Though only 200km as the crow flies from Georgetown we are told it is very remote, with very limited transport (some journeys require all 3 of car, boat and foot). It is populated sparsely by Amerindian peoples.
Becs: What we'll be doing: Sam has been tasked by the charming Minister of Health (Dr Ramsammy) to spend his time working with local healthcare practitioners- called Medex's. He will spend his days as a roaming GP conducting outreach clinics in tandem with the local Medex and skill sharing. We're hoping his daily commute will be by dugout canoe, which will make a change from London cycling.
Sam: As for Becs, she will be working with local Amerindian groups to develop their own 'edutainment' pieces, the aim being to transmit public health issues to their local communities through theatre, dance and song. It's going to be a bit of an experiment in a something called Applied Theatre, and there are plenty of thorny socio-medical issues to base it around.
Becs: Before the hard work begins, though, we have been invited to visit a vast cattle ranch near Lethem on the Brazilian border. The scenery and wildlife are said to be spectacular, so we'll try and get some pictures up for all to see.
Bless up xx
Sam: A year ago I completed a 3 month course in Tropical Medicine at the London School with the aim of using it- with my GP knowledge- to work in the developing world. Aim: part altruism, part academic interest, but largely just a great way to immerse oneself in a foreign culture without having to open a beach bar.
Becs: Through a process of four degrees of separation (thanks Fania, Maradowa and Sarah) we found Guyana welcomed us with open arms. The combination of Latin American climate, Carribbean culture, English as the first language and the serendipity of the regional arts festival 'Carifesta' being hosted here this August made for an irresistible prospect.
Sam: Fast forward months of preparation and 10 days of intensive meeting and greeting here's where we're at: next week we will be flying out to Mabaruma, a settlement in the North West region. Though only 200km as the crow flies from Georgetown we are told it is very remote, with very limited transport (some journeys require all 3 of car, boat and foot). It is populated sparsely by Amerindian peoples.
Becs: What we'll be doing: Sam has been tasked by the charming Minister of Health (Dr Ramsammy) to spend his time working with local healthcare practitioners- called Medex's. He will spend his days as a roaming GP conducting outreach clinics in tandem with the local Medex and skill sharing. We're hoping his daily commute will be by dugout canoe, which will make a change from London cycling.
Sam: As for Becs, she will be working with local Amerindian groups to develop their own 'edutainment' pieces, the aim being to transmit public health issues to their local communities through theatre, dance and song. It's going to be a bit of an experiment in a something called Applied Theatre, and there are plenty of thorny socio-medical issues to base it around.
Becs: Before the hard work begins, though, we have been invited to visit a vast cattle ranch near Lethem on the Brazilian border. The scenery and wildlife are said to be spectacular, so we'll try and get some pictures up for all to see.
Bless up xx
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