The Csango people go to a doctor
only when they have a big problem.
In the autumn of 2006 the MCSMSZ started screening tests and the point
of these tests were to draw attention to those illnesses that do not
"hurt". Such illnesses are for example high blood pressure
or diabetes.
High blood pressure is a sneaky illness. It does not cause pain or
discomfort, thereby its symptoms and serious complications manifest
themselves only several years later, when it is more difficult to
cure than at its outset.
There are two types of diabetes and we would like to focus on the
II. type, because the development of this one is a slow process. The
patient may go for months, years without complaints. Often it is revealed
only by a routine examination, a stubborn infection or general itching.
We listed and explained the risks and complications of these illnesses
at the tests. We emphasised the importance of the risks and the treatment
of high blood pressure, an illness that is also called the "silent
killer", because in many cases its first symptoms are stroke,
damaged vains, heart and kidneys. Besides we emphasised the danger
of high blood sugar developing in neglected circumstances, which can
damage all of the organs. For example the heart, the brain, the eyes,
the kidneys, the nervous system, the protection mechanism of the skin
can deteriorate, the healing of wounds becomes slower, there is less
immunity against infections, and the risk of heart attack and stroke
increases.
We started the tests in one of the biggest Csango village on 9 December.
This screening included the measurement of blood sugar, blood pressure
and weight and height (index).
We started our work early in the morning with the assistance of one
of the local GPs. We advertised the event in advance via the village
radio of Lujzikalagor. This time we did tests only in one part of
the village, since it is densely populated.
Those who were interested lined up in front of the consulting room
well in time. Then the local GP arrived. Everyone told their problems,
and several of the applicants asked the doctor for a referral to the
hospital to carry out further examinations. The people were in a good
mood and talked in Hungarian even when the doctor was in the room.
Many of them were interested in our programme and there was no time
to rest. They were all talking about their problems and we did not
even noticed how quickly time flew. There were 62 applicants and several
of them asked for help also in other issues apart from the tests.
We used the money we won in the social competition of Illyés Foundation
and the donations of private persons to buy a blood sugar machine
and rods, because we already had a blood pressure meter, a thermometer
and a scale. We can buy the cholesterol level meter from other resources.
Mária Solomon, person responsible
for social issues at MCSMSZ Pictures
General
medical screening amongst Moldovan children
With the support of the International
Children's Safety Service (www.gyermekmento.hu),
the Association recently organised medical screenings for 222 primary
school children. These were conducted on the 16th and 17th of May
2006 in Gyimesbükk.
On the 16th May, 112 primary school students of Lábnik village were
taken to the screenings in two chartered busses. By the agreed assembly
time of 8am the entire community was literally buzzing with excitement.
Parents have accompanied their children to the pick-up point, where
they were joined by the school director and both Romanian and Hungarian
speaking staff. It was a pleasant surprise that the rural doctor of
Lábnik also decided to join their ranks. He made records of all findings
and will closely monitor the welfare of children found to have health
problems.
The next day, we also left for the medical check-up with a large crowd,
as we gathered 52 children and their Hungarian teachers from the villages
Külsőrekecsin and Csík, and picked up 58 more along the way from schools
in Somoska, Klézse and Buda. They were welcomed at the parish of Gyimesbükk
by members of the medical team: Dr. Pálmafy Beatrix and Dr. Darvas
Melinda paediatricians, Dr. Marlok Ferenc orthopaedic specialist,
Dr. Udvarhelyi Beatrix otolaryngologist, Dr. Szalai Magdolna audiologist
and their assistant staff.
We are obliged to Palkó Augusztin deacon curate and to the director
of the local school, for the generous cooked lunch and for treating
us to stories relating the history of the village.
On a less cheerful note, the two-day screenings have brought to light
many unexpected results. The majority of the children turned out to
suffer from flat-footedness, as a result of which they are plagued
by severe back ache or by a sore waist. A number of them urgently
require instep raisers for their shoes. The doctors have found instances
of visual impairment, and there is a strikingly high occurrence of
bad posture, caused by excessive bending of the spinal column. Because
of the prevalent lack of dental hygiene, the children's teeth are
unkempt and neglected. There have also been a few students who suffer
from skin diseases, mostly scabies. Because of inadequate cleanliness,
many children had to have their ears washed out. The medical team
has also encountered very serious pathological conditions - heart
disease, weakness of the auditory and nervous system, and stricture
of the foreskin in the case of some boys.
painful
The International Children's Safety Service has sought contact with
specialists in a clinic in Csíkszereda, whom the most serious cases
have been referred to. It's been promised to us that those children
in need of complicated surgery, which cannot be carried out in Romania,
will be taken to Hungary for treatment. A little boy from Lábnik,
who was unfortunate enough to be born with a partially open spine,
urgently needs a passport, so he can be treated in a Hungarian hospital.
All in all, we can say that Moldovan children are no less healthy
than their Transylvanian peers, yet until now, little attention has
been given to essential healthcare in their region. Much emphasis
needs to be given to the importance of cleaning the face and ears
and brushing teeth on a daily basis. Flat feet can be corrected through
the practice of regular gymnastics - bending and stretching the feet.
Unfortunately, there is little health awareness in the villages as
of now, and most parents first try to cure any ailment domestically,
and only seek medical attention for their children when a lot of damage
is already done.
The Csángó Association tries to help in every case when families are
facing financial hardship or other obstacles that stop them from obtaining
visual aids or instep raisers, or hinder them in getting medical practitioners
to see their children.
We respectfully ask everyone, who can help in any way, to please support
our efforts to ensure adequate access to healthcare for Csángó families.
Translated from an article by Solomon
Mária, Association social rapporteur
From the year 2006 onwards, the Association
of Csángo-Hungarians will become increasingly involved with social welfare
issues.
Solomon Mária, the social rapporteur
of the Association is already actively engaged in this field.
The first initiative launched under
her supervision is our everyday hygiene awareness campaign. The village
of Lészped has been chosen as the first station of the campaign, where
the local teacher Miss Enache Viorica helped organise an information
event for grade three pupils.
Numerous questions, which children until
now devoted little attention to, have been raised and answered. At the
end of the session, all students received a small sanitary pack from
the Association, including basic utensils, such as a toothbrush, toothpaste,
a bar of soap and a comb.
We would like to continue this project
and extend it to other Csángó villages.
We hope to receive support from anyone
who could help the broader advance of the 'everyday hygiene' project.
