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Individual Stories

Hesperian receives countless letters describing the ways that individuals are using our manuals to address particular health problems in their communities.

From a Health Worker in a Somali Refugee Camp, Yemen:

I was very happy to get the books, especially A Book for Midwives. I want to tell you that you are not only helping me, but approximately 30,000 Somali refugees, (not only with health care information) but also as the books tell us how to use the few medicines we have. The people here are grateful to you and to me, because they know that I have 11 children and they say that I forget to look after my children and husband because of taking care of them.

From a Veterinary Assistant in Ghana:

I appreciate very much the favour done to me and my community by sending me this informative book, Where There Is No Doctor. Because of the nature of my work, after taking care of the animals I then give technical advice (to people) on health-related issues. For instance, an entire household was down with a cold; I told them to heat water and inhale the steam and they recovered. Another example is that after the day's work, a lot of people have back pains. I tell them to put a pillow or some clothes on the floor and lie on it backwards, and they feel better.

From a Health Worker in the Mountain Village of Hazara, Pakistan:

At one night, a village woman had labour pains started. The nearest health unit was 7 hours. We tried the methods and illustrations of the book Where Women Have No Doctor and she gave birth to a baby girl safely. It saved life of the woman which was otherwise in very bad condition.

From a Health Worker in Ghana:

I must say emphatically that the book was received with great pleasure and I am making a very good use of it. It has enabled me to educate my rural community on the correct use of medicines and correct doses, safe use of medicines and to educate the community on the combinations of causes of sicknesses and how to maintain a clean and disease-free environment. One area that the book has been of immense help is on the correction of traditional misconceptions on the use of some remedies to treat illness. A practical example is that some people tie a crab on a goiter in an effort to treat it. Again, we thank you very much for your kind gesture.

From a Missionary in the Ivory Coast:

I am a missionary serving in Cote d'Ivoire, West Africa among village people. I have been in country for a little over a month. Recently, I was able to help a young girl who had diarrhea using the book, Where There Is No Doctor. I was able to give the simple recipe for the rehydration drink and give further instructions from the book and the girl quickly got better. The family was afraid that the girl would die. They were so happy when, with the simple instructions I gave, the girl became well.

From a Primary School Teacher in Ghana:

I offically write to inform that I have recieved the books you sent to me in their correct order. thus:

one copy of Where There Is No Doctor
one copy of Where There Is No Dentist
one copy of HIV, Health and Your Community

The book prove very useful to me and my community during this raining season. With the help of the book, I was able to educate my people on prevention and the management of "cholera" to its best level. We could not suffer any casualty this time round.

Thanks very much for your help.

From a Buddhist Monk in Thailand:

I am a Canadian Buddhist monk living with a small community a few kilometers away from a mining village on the Thai-Burmese border. At our monastery we have an English edition of "Where There Is No Doctor."

Firstly, on behalf of my community and the Burmese/Thai people living here, I would like to express my very deep appreciation and gratitude to David Werner and all those involved in publishing the book. It has been of immense help to us and the nearby village on countless occasions and has possibly saved lives here over the past 10 years. It is informative, accessible and even inspiring.

The purpose of this letter is to inquire about acquiring more copies. We have 2 monasteries in very remote areas - one on the Burmese border and one on the Laotian border, so I would like to purchase 2 more English editions, 2 Thai editions and, if possible, I Burmese. [. . . .]

If it is possible, I would like if (the authors) could read this letter and know that the care that went into the book is appreciated as much as the content.

From a Health Technician, Disease Control Unit, Bawjiase Health Centre, Ghana

Thank you for the kindness you have shown to me when I requested Where There Is No Doctor, and you did not turn down my request and added another book, Helping Health Workers Learn. Those two books have helped me a lot especially on my local and outreach programmes on people's health needs delivery. Those books have also changed me from a dictatorship to creativity, as I share the ideas with my clients of any problems arising. The illustrations and the contents of the books are all good and practical for any layman. Please, I am pleading to you also to offer me another chance by sending me a copy of Where Women Have No Doctor to enable me to be more enlightened and solve frequent questions being asked by the women about their health.