The Diary Game || 30-10-26 || Visiting a Rural Medical Outreach Programme for Tooth Cleaning and Tests

It was another day to give God thanks for the gift of life as many out there aren't alive to witness a bright new day, but yes I am and there's this secular I got from my mum who's an HNS in Okobo LGA, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria. A certain group of students in medical field, pharmacists, biochemist and all other medical field came around to provide medical services to the less privilege in the rural areas.

According to report, they usually do this every year. They'll pick a particular village and render free services to residents and these medical services and supplies are provided by the federal government to facilitate the outreach. The students came in their numbers and tried to their best to provide the best hospitable service to these village residents.

But how did I even arrive there? Let's talk about it. I woke up as early as 5am and took some trades before going offline to doing chores. I didn't know watch any movie that morning because I already woke up late, compared to the time I usually go wake up. I prepared myself for the journey to Okobo for the outreach. I had my sleeves and trouser on before the sandflies welcome me in that village.

I boarded a bike with my brother and got to the pickup location where my friends and I planned on staying for departure. In stood there for a couple of minutes before the person who we expected to convey us to the village arrived. The village is Ammamong while the Local Government is Okobo.

_{going to the place.}

On our Way to the Village

We got into the vehicle as people going to Oron. They usually pack people like sardines, but we were very much comfortable in the car. We drove for nearly 45 minutes before getting to the hospital in that village. When I got there, I was expecting something different, but it was cool, compared to most government hospitals I've visited. I got inside the lobby area with my friends and settled in down until the students addressed us.

_{in a cab}

_{arriving the hospital.}

While waiting, I fed my eyes with a movie named, Talk to me. This movie is horror and it's about a girl who got involved with a psychic hand and this hand kept giving her visions of her late mom and making her do crazy things. She nearly killed all the people she loved because she was blinded. The hand made her see her friends as someone evil. It was scary as fuck though.

While still viewing the movie, I met my friends in the medical field. These are students I was once with in the hotel when I started school. They were in the same hotel and in the same room. I saw about 7 of them and was so happy that I reunited with them once again. They were all grown and so happy to see me. Unfortunately for me, I didn't take pictures with them because I was trying to get familiar with the environment.

Commencing the Outreach Programme

In no time, we were called to come to an open space where we would be addressed and registered to be eligible for the services. Canopies were erected and chairs provided for use by the villagers who came around. Everything in the place was just comical. You need to see the behaviour of old men and women. They struggled for chairs as if they were children. Even children won't struggle they way they did. I think most people in the village don't joke with free things compared to those in urban areas who take free things for granted.

_{picture of the outreach area.}

They struggled for the chairs till it got to a point they started a fight which was settled by other villagers . The head of Nurses came in and addressed the villagers in the language they could hear. After they got addressed by the head of Nurses, one of the students addressed them before names were called for registration.

When I heard my name, I stepped out to the registration unit and answered the questions I was asked. I filled in a form and was directed to the waiting unit. This is the form I was told to fill. After the registration unit, I went to the waiting unit and then to a room where vital signs were checked. The following vital signs were checked by another set of medical personnel.

	Form I filled
	Waiting unit

• Blood Pressure
• Pulse rate
• Height and Weight

	Vital signs unit

The medical student that attended to me took my sleeves up and tied the compression band around my arm. He then set his reader and held the pump, pumping it slowly and releasing it slowly as well. He then got the reading and use a timer to check the pulse rate while placing his fingers on my hand. After that, he calculated everything and wrote it down. I then moved to those checking weight and height. I got all of them checked.

	Checking my blood pressure
	Weight check
	Readings on the form

The next section was the counseling unit. We were expected to pass through this stage before seeing the doctor so they'll know if our problem is physical or spiritual. I got these books from those in the counselling department and then waited to see the doctor in another waiting room. Numbers were called and I got to a doctor who questioned me on some things.

	The books I collected

My Encounter with the Doctor

When I met the doctor, I explained how I was feeling for him and he asked other related questions which I answered. He then suggested I get a malaria test so I'll know if it's malaria that's in my blood or something else. I went straight to the test room and had my blood removed and placed on a malaria test strip. After waiting for the result, I was tested negative. The doctor sensed that since I had no malaria, my antibodies must be weak and needs antibiotics to boost my immunity.

	Undergoing the malaria test

	At the pharmacy unit

He prescribed drugs for me to get at the pharmacy. I got some antibiotics. After that, he referred me to the dentist for tooth cleaning. The dentist reviewed my form and prepared his tools to give me the necessary care for my tooth. I don't know the equipment he used, but it wasn't painful, though sensitive. After he cleanse my teeth, he told me to try the formula for 5 days to prevent implications.

_{picture of another patient with the dentist.}

I spent some time before leaving with my friends to our base. We boarded a taxi to Uyo and spent #1000 naira for the ride. When I got home, I was really tired and stressed, but had to cook because I didn't eat when leaving that morning. I then had a nap and went to a salon in the evening to cut my hair. Trading is always sweet at night. If you know, you know. That's how I slept till the next day.

_{picture of the salon}