LAKE COUNTY — It is easy to ignore the hardships of others when those ill-fated destinies lay a world away. What if your family cast you aside simply because you suffer a medical condition not universally uncommon? Image the difference the proper medical treatment could make in your life.
A difference, that is exactly what Dr. Paula Dhanda, OBGYN and her missionary team intend to make in the lives of women in Tchad, Africa. The land-locked country, about the twice the size of Texas, is considered to be among the world”s poorest countries. Due to a lack of medical care, the women of Chad often suffer from various gynecological conditions some of which cause them to be ostracized from the families and communities.
“This is a place where nobody goes,” Dr. Dhanda said. “One of the huge problems is a lack of prenatal care. Many of these women will labor in the bushes for days. There is a high infant mortality rate so they will often come in with a dead baby.”
Dr. Dhanda and her team will be traveling to Adventist Health B?r? Hospital where they will provide surgery and treatment of gynecologic problems including the correction and prevention of fistulas. Vesicovaginal fistulas, which is an abnormal connection between the urinary tract and the vagina, is a widespread condition among African women. The condition causes incontinence and often leads to the ostracism of many women.
Dr. Dhanda has carefully selected a team to accompany her on this humanitarian mission. “I had a lot of response and had to narrow it down to just a few,” she said. “The people I chose, I thought this could make a difference in their lives and who could really contribute to the care they get in Chad.”
Among those Dhanda feels can make a real difference is Peggy Landini who is a licensed occupational therapist specializing in urinary incontinence. Landini has practiced in Lake County for the past 28 years. Two years ago she implemented a treatment program for urinary incontinence and pelvic floor weakness, which has reportedly been well-received by medical staff and patients in the community.
“I”m very passionate about women”s health in general,” Landini said. “It”s been very empowering for them to know that there are simple, conservative ways to approach these conditions. I”m very interested in helping women everywhere achieve optimum health and well being.”
Medical Assistant Carol Broughton will be contributing to the mission as well. Broughton is a single mother of four boys who has worked full time as a medical assistant while attending college to obtain her prerequisites for nursing school. She said doing means more than talking when it comes to raising her sons. “I want to give back in a way that is life changing and I want to set an example for my sons,” she said. “I believe everything happens for a reason and Dr. Dhanda has given me so many opportunities. She encourages me to do anything.”
Also joining the doctor on this mission will be her brother Shan Dhanda who recently graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. Dhanda is a pre-med student and aspires to be a general physician. “I”m looking forward to seeing surgery in a different setting than what I”m used to and I think the experience will give me a better appreciation for what goes on in the operating room,” he said. “I think this experience will definitely make me a more compassionate doctor in the long run.”
Dr. Dhanda, Landini and Broughton will be in Chad for two weeks while Shan Dhanda will be staying for two months. He said he is a bit nervous but also excited. “I don”t think it”s going to be easy but I”m prepared to meet the challenges of the mission,” he said.
While in Chad, Dr. Dhanda and her team will perform the duties of the entire surgical staff. “As a surgeon, when you go there you have to do everything. When we get to Chad, there will be no doctor there. We”ll have to do the anesthesia, surgery, the suturing, basically everything,” she said. “Right now the team is training to work beyond what they are allowed to do here.”
Another important aspect to the mission is education. “We will be spending two weeks doing surgery, which is important, but the bigger issue is teaching the midwives there how to prevent these problems and how to care for high-risk obstetrics,” Dr. Dhanda said. “I have a bigger mission to really adopt this hospital and go there on more missions. I feel like if everybody gives just a little bit we could accomplish so much.”
Dr. Dhanda and her team are seeking the support of the Lake County community to help make their mission possible and successful. A fund-raising event is scheduled to take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15 at Moore Family Winery, 11990 Bottle Rock Road in Kelseyville. The event will include a silent auction and hors d”oeuvres catered by the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro. A painting by renowned Lake County artist John Clarke has been donated to the cause and may possibly be presented through a live auction event.
The Mission to Chad is being conducted with the cooperation of Adventist Health Redbud Community Hospital, where Dr. Dhanda currently serves as Chief of Staff. The mission is supported by Adventist Health International.
For more information and/or ticket purchase contact Carol Broughton at 279-8733.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
