Monday, January 16, 2012

Medical Update

As you might expect, a number of medical issues have arisen. The team doctor has had a steady clinic load with some minor ailments: an ingrown toenail, swimmer's ear, and a few aching muscles. (Surprise!)

The have been 2 other significant issues:

1. Sunburn. After an educational experience on the first day, the boys have learned the importance of covering ALL of their sun-exposed skin. There has been very little sunburn since. One team member managed to get burnt a second time, but his skin is on the mend. It provides a good lesson in the reapplication of sunscreen. It is difficult to buy sunscreen of the quality and in the quantity we would use at home, but we have managed. The team sunscreen works well.

2. Upset tummies. There is a virus making its way through the group. For most, it starts with a sore throat, and light-headedness, then an upset gut, either at the top end, or more commonly the other end. Despite a tradition for this sort of thing for Kiwi teams touring South Africa, we suspect we brought it with us. Basic hygiene and precautions are probably not enough to stop it going 'through' us all. The pools here are green and anything but crystal clear. The school pool where the adults are staying has rubbish floating in it. So the boys are swimming in an environment not conducive to good health. The good news is that many are much better within 24 hours, and most are over it in 48. Even better, nobody (touch wood) has gone down a second time.

More entertaining news: the boys are having a good time in the company of their peers, and that of their billets. They are taking responsibility for each other. Homesickness does not seem to be a significant issue, which means they are busy and feeling part of a squad "family". Toad and Ben have given them some challenging issues to think about. Your boys will come home better people and better players than they were.

Dr Jane and her assistant

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