Abstract
"Do not worry, she will survive; she has meningitis and is on treatment. You'll see it tomorrow when it is light.” William smiles confidently, sweeps his stethoscope round his neck, bends his back, and crawls out of the hut. I'm not convinced and examine the girl once more; I'm glad I brought my torch. She lies naked in the sand, obviously stiff necked, unconscious, and breathing superficially. The hut is pitch dark, and I can just see the shadows of some five relatives who cook and sleep in the same place. Except for nasogastric feeding, I have not much more to offer. I decide to follow the health worker and to re-examine the girl first thing next morning. William has received primary school education and upgraded himself to health assistant through “hands on” teaching for several years by our doctors. I feel proud but also a bit embarrassed at the ease with which he diagnoses severe illnesses so seldom seen in my home country, the Netherlands.
