Seven year's itch.... Scabies (schurft) in Transkei

Vandaag ontvingen we een naar bericht van dokter Eybe. De regio wordt geteisterd door een grote uitbraak van scabies (schurft). Baby's, zwangere vrouwen, tieners, opa's en oma's, niemand wordt gespaard. Een groot probleem met een relatief simpele en goedkope oplossing. Alhoewel niks simpel is in Transkei. Het middel dat Eybe nodig heeft is in de regio schaars en dus duur. Maar er is een goedkopere oplossing. Dat heeft Eybe al uitgezocht. Stichting Obonto helpt natuurlijk!

Bericht van Eybe op 14 juni 2016:

Dear Bruun and Jacob,

I am back at Ngcwanguba CHC and Mapuzi Clinic since April 2016. Currently I am busy to prepare for my specialisation in Paediatrics in Germany and I will sit the examination end of July ! I passed my HIV diploma here in South Africa last month.

There is a big scabies problem in Coffee and Ngcwanguba. Babies, pregnant women, teenager, grandfathers and grandmothers…… everyone has got it. I have got three kids with it at home. The only treatment available here is Benzyl benzoate (BB-Lotion), but it is very scarce here. I have spoken to the district pharmacist, who supplied us only with a few (60 bottles) of 100 ml each. A bottle is enough to treat 2 - 3 children. Usually you have to cream them only once.

I checked the web. BB-Lotion is safe, cheap and effective. Recommended by the WHO. I enquired by a pharmacy wholesaler in Pretoria, who charges 2.5 liter at 150 ZAR. That is cheap. It is like 25 bottles. Times 3 makes 75 children. Treat one child for 2 ZAR.

I thought to first see what is happening and to start ordering 20 bottles. 3000 ZAR.

Ons antwoord:

Molo Eybe

We are more than willing to help. The seven-year itch is not only very irritating, it is also contagious. We are interested to sponsor 10 bottles of BB-Lotion, so 25 litres.

Let us know your bankdetails as we don't know if the bankdetails we have are outdated or not.

Best Regards and sala kakuhle!

Jacob and Bruun