Report on the Tropical Medicine course for nurses:
A bright sun.
Actually it was not a day to sit inside.

And just today, MWV organises another information and training day about tropical diseases for the benefit of nursing staff that, as volunteers, worked or are going to work in the Tropics, in order to expand their medical knowledge in African pathogenic micro flora and fauna.

On the agenda: “Gastro-intestinal infections in the Tropics”. While outside, the sun shines, twenty participants dive into the dark meanders of the duodenum, ileum and colon. An indigested perspective. A comprehensive subject matter that includes the risk that it does not go well with the stomach. Wrong assumption.

Dr Manu Bottieau of the I.T.G. did not only deliver a clear explanation but also managed to keep the audience's attention with his alternation between theory and practice.
More than his knowledge, it was enthusiasm for the matter that literally "infected" the audience.
For Dr Manu, the meanest bacteria and the grimmest worms almost belonged to his circle of friends.For him, Trichuris Trichiura and Entamoeba Histolytica were all honourable members, which he was allowed to call by their Christian names. You could have sworn that he went to have a pint with them on a regular basis.
Just before the sandwich break, totally unaware of the possible unwanted effect, he presented some colourful slides on the brownish puncture fluid originating from a live abscess and he was almost ecstatic about the well done pictures that illustrated the typical aspect of a rice water diarrhoea produced by cholera patients.
No one was disturbed by this. The sandwiches were delicious.

Thanks to all organisers of this day and to Mr Dr Bottieau who got it done so that nobody ever looked at their watch. The day went by quickly. And outside the sun was still shining.

Your reporter on the spot, WernerMathieu.