Medicine and Injections

Students practicing injections

Dr. Janet Warren and Anita Terry lead the teaching today. They covered many topics including medication use, when to use and not use medicine, natural remedies, injections, and the scientific method. Nine of the students have given injections over the last year. It is preferable for the students to prevent serious illness or use oral medication rather than injections but sometimes it is necessary to give an injection. One of the objectives this year is to deepen their understanding of medicine and make sure they are using medicine in the most appropriate manner. 

Anita Terry showing injections on watermelon rind. 

We collected the data from the student patient logbooks and will be reporting out on this as the class goes on. On the subject of medicine, it is interesting to know that collectively the 19 Barefoot Dr students used Paracetamol (Acetaminophen or Tylenol) the most with 529 doses and Mebendazole for worms as a close second at 457 times. The third most used medication was Amoxicillin with 398 doses used in the last year. This indicates the students treated a lot of serious infections and intestinal worms in addition to less serious ailments.

The scientific method is a difficult concept but important. This is the basis for all western science. It means knowing and proving something works verses using superstition to treat the sick. The students seem to understand this concept now, even though it is not something they commonly grow up with.

Thank you for following our reports,

Rick

Dr. Janet Warren teaching Barefoot Dr students.