Volunteering in Zambia

 

Life In Luangwa , Zambia

“Doctor Emergency”! I had seen the blood spattered wheelbarrow parked on the veranda that served as the waiting room and now the sign of the shuffling flip flops told me I was about to meet its occupant. He entered the room uncertainly, supported between his two inebriated friends. The blood soaked tea towel adorning his head giving a big clue as to his presenting complaint. Removal revealed a 7inch gash across his forehead down to the skull. His helpful friends informed me it had been inflicted by an axe, two nights ago, in a fight and they excitedly asked me to examine his leg which had been stabbed by a spear.

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The Life-Line Clinic, Namibia | Job Oppurtunity

Namibia Medical volunteer
This challenging programme offers you a unique opportunity to work at a small, rural Bushman clinic in Africa and make a difference to the lives of those in most need.
N/a’an ku sê is a unique and special place in the heart of Namibia which is committed to conserving wildlife and improving the lives of the Bushman community. Live your African dream and help make a difference by volunteering at our Lifeline Clinic.

About N/a’an ku sê’s Lifeline Clinic
• Bushman are treated as third class citizens and live in extreme poverty
• Adult onset diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer are sharply increasing in Bushmen and alcoholism has become prevalent
• Many Bushman children suffer from malnutrition, disease, discrimination and abuse

The N/a’an ku sê Lifeline Clinic was set up in 2003 to address the needs of the rural indigenous communities in Epukiro, a remote part of Namibia. The demand for a basic but comprehensive health service became apparent to medical professionals working in the area when they witnessed the tragic and unnecessary death of a young child due to the failure of ambulance service and hospital staff, largely due to the fact that the child was a Bushman.   This vital service relies upon the time and dedication of volunteers and donations from supporters to continue to run and serve the communities in need.

Essential Healthcare in Ethiopia

Essential Healthcare Amid Dust and Desolation in Southeast Ethiopia
MSF doctor Anna Greenham describes work and life in the Somali region of Ethiopia

“Life in the Somali region of Ethiopia is tough. The rains have failed, food is running out and even the camels are dying of thirst. Add to this a complex armed conflict and you have a recipe for disaster. Nomadic people can’t find water or grazing for their livestock and are forced to travel huge distances to survive. Many have lost everything. Without a livelihood they move to the edge of towns where they live in squalid conditions in very basic shelters, unable to access clean water or food. It is in one of these small rural towns, Wardher, that MSF provides the only reliable health care for a dispersed population of about 40,000 people.

Sir Chris Bonnington speaks at Expedition and Wilderness Course

We are delighted to announce that Sir Chris Bonington will be delivering the Rupert Bennett Memorial lecture.

Our next Expedition and Wilderness Medicine training courses are in March and May 2010 and we are very excited to have booked the prestigious Plas y Brenin National Mountain Centre, North Wales for the course in May.

Expedition and Wilderness Medicine is chosen to provide backstop support for Pen Hadows latest expedition to the pole

The Catlin Arctic Survey

Pen Hadows latest expedition supported by HRH Prince of Wales is to be supported by the medical resources of Expedition and Wilderness Medicine.

 

The Catlin Arctic Survey Expedition is an international collaboration between polar explorers and some of the world’s foremost scientific bodies. It seeks to resolve one of the most important environmental questions of our time:

How long will the Arctic Ocean’s sea ice cover remain a permanent feature of our planet?

The team will be travelling on foot, hauling sledges from 80°N 140°W, across 1200-km of disintegrating and shifting sea ice, for around 100 days, in temperatures from 0ºC down to -50°C.

Essential data:

Despite the technological advances of the 20th century, we still only have estimates of the thickness of the sea ice cover on the Arctic Ocean. Travelling across the sea ice, the Catlin Arctic Survey team will take precise measurements of its thickness and density. This will enable the programme’s Science Partners to determine, with a greater degree of accuracy, how long the ice cap will remain. Currently, its predicted meltdown date is anywhere between four and a hundred years from now.

Global significance:

The melting of the sea ice will accelerate climate change, sea level rise and habitat loss on a global scale. Its loss is also a powerful indicator of the effects of human activity on our planet’s natural systems and processes. The Survey’s scientific findings will be taken to the national negotiating teams working to replace the Kyoto Protocol agreement at the UN Climate Change Conference of Parties in Copenhagen in December 2009.

Pioneering technology:

The Catlin Arctic Survey has developed and tested a portable, ice-penetrating radar. This will take continuous and detailed measurements of both the snow and ice layers along the 1200 km route.

Ground-breaking satellite communications equipment, developed specifically for this project, will allow the survey team to transmit their unfolding story directly from the ice to a global audience.

 

Expedition and Wilderness Medicine support for Commonwealth Championship for Mountain Running and Ultra Distance.

Expedition and Wilderness Medicine

Expedition & Wilderness Medicine  are to provide the medical cover for the Commonwealth Championship for Mountain Running and Ultra Distance. The events will run over four days in September 2009, and Keswick has been chosen as the venue.

Expedition & Wilderness Medicine Director, Dr Sean Hudson is acting as the Medical Director for the event and overseeing the medical care for the many international and local competitors who will be involved in a number high profile races. In conjunction with Across the Divide they will be managing the medical logistics and communication for the event.

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Expedition Medicines Christmas madness

Expedition Medicine Christmas eNews December 2008

Santa Church

 

EML’s Christmas Crackers

Christmas is nearly upon us and to help us all beat the credit crunch we have been working hard to secure you some fantastic and EXCLUSIVE discounts.

Not only are we offering discounts on some of our challenge events but we also have suppliers giving us some great offersWe hope you enjoy! Get your copy for Christmas

 

 

Looking for that special medic gift – look no further! 

‘An invaluable resource for anyone planning a trip in the outdoors, either as part of an expedition or a wilderness adventure’

The climber Andy Cave IFMGA mountain guide, mountaineer, author and conference speaker was even more effusive in his praise;

‘As I was reading this manual I found myself frequently exclaiming “God if only we’d have had this book back then!” I will be keeping it very close to hand on my next adventurous trip I can promise’

Buy or download your copy here.

 

 

 

DISCOUNTS FOR EML CUSTOMERS

Across the Divide is delighted to offer the following discounts on the events listed below. We hope to see you soon on an ATD challenge!

JUST WALK
We are offering £10 off the 60km walk and £5 off the 40km walk. Just Walk is a stunning walk over the South Downs allowing you to raise funds for the charity of your choice. There are four distances to choose from, 10km, 20km, 40km or 60km. Sign up now at

ADVENTURE RACES
We are offering £20 off the registration fees on the Namibia & NEW Spanish Ultra Marathons. These events are aimed at those wanting to push themselves to their limits, ideal if you want to raise funds for the charity of your choice and fancy a real challenge! Sign up now at http://www.adventure-racing.org/

OPEN EVENTS
It’s so easy to sign up, choose a challenge, choose a charity, register then start fundraising for the experience of a lifetime! We have an inspirational range of challenges and we are offering £20 off the registration fees for the following Open Events

Exhilarating India Bike Ride 7 – 16 March 2009

Three Cities Bike Ride – London – Brussels – Amsterdam 18 – 22 June 2009

London to Paris Bike Ride 24 – 28 June 2009

 

All offers end midnight 31st December 2008. Discount is taken off the registration fees and can only be used with online bookings.

 

Hi Ho Silver 15% discount Our neighbours at Hi Ho Silver are offering ATD customers a HUGE 15% saving at their online shop. A beautiful range of silver jewellery and gifts with the additional bonus of a gift chooser and gift wrap. Delve in, discover and buy from their fantastic range. Just enter the code UhwkGqj when at the checkout. T&Cs: Exclusively redeemable online at www.hihosilver.co.uk. Not valid on sale items, e-vouchers and in conjunction with any other offers. Offer ends on 24th December 2008 at midnight. Promoter: Hi Ho Silver, registered in England No. 5042138.

Montane in partnership with The Climber’s Shop 15% off We have been working with Montane for a number of years now and like us they are passionate about the outdoors. They have performance clothing for any activity from biking to hiking to climbing. They have negotiated for ATD customers a 15% discount with one of their top customers: The Climber’s Shop. To claim your discount visit the website and enter the code CHONOS at checkout. Offer ends midnight 20th December 2008.

Lonely Planet, Nomad Travel Store & Trek Hire UK…

 

20% off at Lonely Planet Booked your ATD next trip? Then you might want to grab a copy of the Lonely Planet. They are offering you a 20% discount* off all Lonely Planet guidebooks. So lose yourself in depths of Norway, find yourself trekking in India or unearth some hidden gems on your home turf.To redeem the offer, visit http://shop.lonelyplanet.com load up your basket and enter the promo code: ATDLP20 *This offer may not be used in conjunction with any other promotion and excludes theme packs, digital products, travel gear and delivery charges. Offer ends 31st March 2009. You must enter the promo code ATDLP20 to redeem the discount.

15% off at Nomad Travel Store Nomads have been kitting out travellers with clothing, equipment, books, maps, medical supplies and vaccinations for nearly 20 years. Prepare for your next ATD adventure with the 15% discount they are offering ATD customers. Visit their online store where you can shop for all your goods for your next ATD trip. The code you need is ATD1000. The discount does not apply to medical items or the shipping cost of the order (although orders over £75 after discount will have free delivery anyway).

up to 15% discount at Trek Hire UK If you don’t want to buy yourself new kit for your ATD adventure then why not hire? Trek Hire UK can offer you the latest gear at very competitive hire prices, and even better they are offering discounts to ATD customers. If you spend £50 or more you gain a 10% discount if you spend £200 or more you get a 15% discount (this is great if there is a few of you!). To redeem this offer just call them on 01306 886333, promotional code is ATDTH20.

 

Profeet & Cotswold Outdoor…..

Profeet is a new concept in custom fitted footwear such as running shoes and ski boots, providing the ultimate in fit, comfort and performance. Their unique 3D FIt System utilises biomechanical video gait analysis and foot scanning, the creation of custom insoles and the selection of appropriate footwear.They are offering ATD customers up to 25% off – email Julie for more details but hurry only a few vouchers left.   Cotswold Outdoor is an outdoor retailer which has been around for over 30 years. They have one of the most comprehensive ranges of outdoor clothing and equipment in the UK. They are offering ATD customers a 15% online discount, simply use the promotional code AF-ATDE-Y8 when the promotional code box appears in your basket. T&C’s: Exclusions include: Gift Vouchers, Rock Bottom goods (both shown online and carried in store), sale items, previously discounted goods (N D coded items), DVDs and specially ordered goods. (These items will be correctly priced at point of sale). In addition, this offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other affiliation, Cotswold offer or discount. Expires 31st December 2008. Only available online. Once you have added your goods to the shopping basket, please enter the Promotional Code AF-ATDE-Y8 in the promotional code box (not case sensitive but you need to use the hyphens.

Diving Medicine and training in Oman – Dr Lesley Thomson

Most of my diving has been in cold water. Not just the American definition of cold water, being anything less than 18ºC, but properly cold! UK winter diving of 5-6ºC for example, or Arctic Russia and Antarctic winter diving with sea temperature down to -1.8ºC, together with air temperature down to -20ºC.

Expedition Medicine launches a new course on Dartmoor

Our highly rated Expedition and Wilderness Medicine Training Course is heading south.

We are really excited about our new course – following the same schedule as our Lakeland course and with many of the same inspirational faculty we have linked up with Dartmoor’s premier training faculty, the Heatree Centre located near Newton Abbot to provide an additional course in May.

We are hoping that will make the travelling time shorter for some of you and reduce to carbon footprint of the courses, we will of course be working with the Woodland Trust as well to identify one of their projects close by which the proceeds of the course will help support.

Expedition and Wilderness Medicine Dartmoor Course

Expedition Medicine