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[Medical Mission Center] The Worth of a man: What We Learned in Laos

  • Views 3945
  • Writer Medical Mission Center
  • Date 20.06.03
Prof. Leu Dae Hyeon(Plastic Surgery) is providing wound care to a patient with Hansen's disease in 'Somssaneuk' near Vang Vieng in Laos.
The Medical Mission Center visited Laos for five days from January 28, 2020, making a survey of the local medical infrastructure and conducting wound treatment for about 50 patients with Hansen’s disease. 

- A village for people with Hansen’s disease -
We made a small team of six people, including Professor Leu Dae Hyeon (plastic surgery), and visited a village for people with Hansen’s disease in ‘Somssaneuk’ near Vang Vieng in Laos. We provided them with wound care.

Most patients in this village had at least one or two wounds in their legs and feet. Since the wounds have not been taken care of, it seldom heals. There was no gauze, band-aid, ointment available for dressing or disinfection. The village community health center had one sloppy set of dressing and a desktop sterilizer, which seemed that the term ‘wound care’ was just a luxury. There was only one fluorescent lamp on the ceiling in the clinic, so all the windows were left open to get the enough natural light.   

- A man who humiliated efficiency -
Then a man stood out. He was quite different from other patients in this village. It was clear that his wound had been well-managed, and he was wearing special boots for wound care and prevention. We heard that a Japanese doctor makes a regular visit once every year. His only purpose of visit is to take care of this man. The special boots that he wore were custom made in Thailand for the wounds and protection. The doctor did not come from next village but all the way from Japan. He did not serve many but only one with all his heart; it was a fresh shock to me. As we listened to his story, we wondered the efficiency we pursue is an absolute value. Perhaps the word ‘man’ has an extraordinarily important meaning and weight for this Japanese doctor. We really want to meet him.

Note:
The Medical Mission Center carries out medical mission activities with a small team (5-10 people) with the aim of providing practical help and building a family-like relationship with locals by visiting one place repeatedly. The team will visit the village in Laos two or three times a year. 

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