According to our Bradt Travel Guide: “The Rupununi region is home to three of Guyana’s Amerindian tribes: the Wapishana, Makushi, and Wai Wai…They are mostly subsistence farmers, fishermen and hunters that often live without running water, electricity, medical care and modern forms of communication.” We experienced the effects of the latter two items first- hand today when one of the students fractured the 5th metatarsal of her right foot. Antoine and Nick brought the truck to find us finishing our scrumptious egg breakfast. We had some Tylenol for pain relief, and we created a makeshift splint out of a sock-covered wooden plank from the carpentry work area and triangular bandage.
We got a ride from the local forester, Imole, to Annai where we searched for one of the nurses to let us into the regional health centre. When we finally found the nurse, she informed us that the plaster of paris for proper splinting at the station had expired. The closest medical centre would be Lethem.
Our ride to Lethem gave us the opportunity to experience Southern Guyana with its egrets (cranes), manbirds (We’re not kidding. They’re huge birds with black heads and red necks), and vultures. There were several grass fires along the road; this natural ability of the savannah to maintain itself is re
ally interesting to see for any biologist.Fortunately, the hospital (see picture) was open and they had casting supplies, but no physicians. With cell phone reception in Lethem, we were able to call the student’s family. We ended up splinting our student’s foot and seeing another patient with right upper quadrant abdominal pain upon the nurses’ request. We started an intravenous line and gave the man some pain medication (the strongest that they had was diclofenac), advising him to see surgery for a cholecystectomy in Brazil – the earliest appointment would be tomorrow. Yes, our Sunday turned out to be a workday. Meanwhile, Nick and Antoine went to Rock View to enjoy the pool and ended up eating our lunch since we weren’t there!
On the 2-hour drive home, we crossed some very questionable wooden bridges including one that was in the process of being repaired (see picture). At one point, one wheel of the pick-up truck was essentially balancing on one wooden plank! As on several occasions during this trip, you really would rather not know all the details and let faith lead you. Perhaps, it’s best to gain some spiritual guidance from Guyana’s favourite Jamaican musician, Bob Marley: “Everything’s gonna be alright. Everything’s gonna be OK.”
