Care in the Time of COVID

5,000 miles stretch from the UK to our colleagues and patients in Zambia. But we bridge the gap with our Telemedicine. We cannot do everything from where we are. But we can do something.

Jo Loveridge5 July 2021Comment

JUST DRUNK? THE HARMFUL USE OF ALCOHOL

Worldwide around 3 million deaths per year result from the harmful use of alcohol. The Clinical Officers in the Facilities we support in Sub-Saharan Africa face similar challenges: they often have to deal with conditions where alcohol is a causal or contributing factor.

Jo Loveridge21 February 2021Comment

ORGANOPHOSPHATE POISONING

Case fatality for self-poisoning in the developing world is around 10-20% according to some estimates; but for certain pesticides it may be several times higher. The Virtual Doctors team has consulted on a number of cases of deliberate self-poisoning with organophosphate containing pesticides; with a further three incidents in the last quarter alone.

Jo Loveridge21 October 2020Comment

A Virtual Doctor in the Field

Volunteer Doctor Ian Cross has been spending the past few month in Zambia on one of his regular rotations supporting Mfuwe Rural Health Centre in Mambwe district, Eastern Province, and enjoying being a user at "both ends" of our service!
He shares this anecdote from the field, interacting with Volunteer Doctor Caroline on a case at Kakumbi Rural Health Centre.

VDrs Authors28 September 2020Comment

Bells Palsy and TMJ Dislocation

Or THE HUMAN FACE of TELEMEDICINE

Much of the Art of Medicine relies upon direct Patient-Doctor interaction; Moving consultations to phone or screen might risk losing some of the vital benefits of real face-to-face interactions.

Jo Loveridge9 July 2020