Final Clinic day in Binh Phuoc

This is our second visit to Binh Phuoc province, last in 2015. If anyone who reads these blogs recalls, the final day in 2015 we treated 250 patients, most of who got bused in because they knew our work was successful and we would be leaving. I call the condition LDS (Last Day Syndrome). So having that history, I prepped our team for a very busy last day in Binh Phuoc. This year, as I was finishing my morning run at 5:45 am, there was already 30 patients waiting for the team to arrive at 7:00am. I knew from that moment, it would be similar to 2015, and I was correct. The sad thing is, it got to a point where the crowd of patients was hard to control. (Some literally begging to be seen). Because the care is so subpar here, and the availability is limited, patients do desperate things to be seen. For the team’s safety, we employed the assistance of the local authorities to regain order. Once order was once again restored, we were able to successfully treat most who waited. All 151 patients, even the rowdy most desperate ones, received the same hard working, compassionate care we treat everyone else. It is an example of blind compassion and understanding why it occurred makes it all worthwhile. The days in Binh Phuoc ended with a nice celebration, including a treat of traditional Vietnamese music and dance.