Mark is a very talented surgeon and did some amazing work in Tello, with incredible life changing results for some patients. 

7/5/08

Tessa, Tony and I are back after spending 5 days on Baluta Island. We had big clinics where we were seeing 80-100 people a day.

Saw lots of Tb (Tuberculosis), malaria, and pregnant women. I induced one baby.

James and Christina stayed in Tello and had busy clinics with lots of sick people.

9/5/08

The power has been down and no service for phones at times.

We have been very busy holding clinics in south Tello and turning up lots of Tb and Malaria.

Tessa is enjoying her time here and Lydia has been helping with translating for us. Tony is keeping busy as are James and Christina.

I am thinking of spending more time at Baluta Island where there is a population of 2,500 people with no medical service available. 

For previous updates visit Derek's Journal Page. 

 

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TroppoDoc Helicopter  

 

 

 

Helicopter currently sits poised on the front courtyard of the Tello Police Station, awaiting authorisation from the DGAC (Director General of Air Communication) to grant flight approval for this dedicated humanitarian helicopter. We are hoping for flight approval to be granted very soon.

 

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We are always looking for people to come and help from any walk of life with any skills, medical or non-medical.  If you are interested in helping us in anyway please go to the “Volunteer Database” page. Can you please let Margaret (margaret@troppodoc.com) know when you are thinking of going and for how long. We need to book people in on our schedule. Derek has requested that we limit and stagger the volunteers if we can, so that there are not too many there at one time, due to transport difficulties and also ensuring each volunteer has a quality time. But in saying that, if people can only come at a certain time, we do not want to discourage them or turn them away.

 

If you would like to go and work with Dr. Derek Allen and TroppoDoc, here is some information.

 

TroppoDoc needs people with enthusiasm to help Dr. Derek in clinics, Public Health teaching in water harvesting projects….

 

The most economical way to Dr. Derek is to fly to Singapore with either Air New Zealand/ Qantas/ Emirates/ Singapore Airlines/ Brunei... shop around. From Singapore, either fly to Medan or Padang. Or, a cheaper option is to catch a ferry to Batam and then fly on less expensive domestic Indonesian flights to Medan or Padang. From there travel can be organized to Nias or Tello.

 

Derek is happy to come and meet people in Medan or Padang if needed. Although if possible, people finding their own way to Derek’s workplace will save Derek money and time, both of which relate to saving lives opportunities. Contact Margaret (margaret@troppodoc.com) for contact details to book your flights to Tello from Medan or Padang. That way you can fly to Medan and straight to Tello, or fly to Padang and straight to Tello, where Derek can meet you.

 

Indonesia, where Dr. Derek works, is full of Malaria, Dengue Fever and Tuberculosis. Bring a Pyrethrin impregnated mosquito net and plenty of insect repellant, and of course light summer clothes, as Tello is on the equator and temperatures night and day are 25 degrees C to 35 degrees C. You will be protected from TB by your basic good nutrition and good health.

 

For your health bring malaria prophylaxis meds, such as Doxycycline 100mg tablets daily, to be started 2 days prior to arrival, and to take for 4wks after departure, and of course every day in between. Hepatitis A and B vaccine might be useful, as also is being up to date on Tetanus and Polio.

 

Travel insurance is an option and of course Dr. Derek will look after your wellness needs in the same highly professional way he looks after the poor people he works amongst.

 

Dr. Derek works in many ways… different hats like, so he might be on island clinics at Pulau Pulau Batu, or in the Tello town, government health clinic (Puskesmas), or at Sorake Beach health clinic, or travelling to Amandraya to help Extremely Vulnerable Individuals from a population of 32,000 who are sick. Or he might be transporting sick children to P. Siantar for donated surgery. So if you want to see and help him, there might be some travel from worksite to worksite, inexpensive, but time-consuming none-the-less.

 

Food is excellent in Indonesia, as long as you enjoy rice or noodles, and Dr. Derek will take you to reputable eating-houses, or at least one's that are open.

 

If you can bring supplies with you, all is appreciated…. medicines, of course, medical equipment, school resources, clothes for the poor children etc, etc.… These people are very needy and very grateful for any gift.

 

Indonesia uses the Indonesia rupiah, around 10,000 to 1 US dollar. Meals are often 6,000 rupiah, accomodation is USD$2.50 a night for a twin bed room at the guesthouse in Tello.

 

Tourist visa is purchased on arrival in Indonesia, at a cost of USD$25.00 for a month, and bringing recent or good condition (unmarked or without blemish) USD$100 are the currency of choice for the money changers in Medan/ Padang/ Gunung Sitoli. Costs in the country are very low…. travel, food, accommodation and drinks.

 

Important: this is a warm country and once here one should expect and plan to drink 4 litres of water per day, clean water is easily available at many stores.