government of the Seychelles, asking if I would be available to go
there for six months to assist them in their build up to the Indian
Ocean Games (hosted by the Seychelles).
Due to work commitments, my family and I were unable to partake in
the six-month adventure, however, a two-month term was negotiated
and agreed upon.
We scurried to our maps and discovered that the Seychelles are some
one-hundred islands lying off the coast of Africa in the Indian
Ocean, 700 miles northeast of Madagascar. The main island (Mahe)
has a population of 60,000 with some 10,000 other people being
scattered among the other island groups. Pictures of Mahe showed
waving tropical palms, crystal clear waters, and beautiful beaches.
My family and I departed Australian shores on the 9th of July,
spent three days in Singapore (to break the travel for our small
children), then on to the Seychelles. Our arrival was quite
harrowing, with strong cross winds during landing.
Once our feet were safely on terra firma, we immediately
experienced the slower pace of the islands. This proved to be very
frustrating at first, until we realised that what wasn't done today
may be done some time in the future.
We settled into our hotel that was to be our home for the next two
months. The government certainly chose an ideal location for us: a
hotel perched on the hillside overlooking the coral reefs and
beautiful islands. It certainly made life easier waking up to that
view every day.
After two days of settling in, my work began. My role initially
was one of organising the medical team for the Seychelles'
contingent. Apart from myself, the medical team consisted of an
exercise physiologist from America, one medical doctor (from Cuba),
and an MD and orthopedic surgeon from the Seychelles. Our
responsibility was the Seychelles' personnel only. There were other
doctors, physiotherapists, trainers, etc., involved in the general
medical team whose responsibility it was to treat all other
visiting teams and handle emergencies (e.g., broken limbs) at the
time of competition.
A special clinic was organised every morning for the Seychelles'
contingent (sailing, windboarding, boxing, judo, athletics,
badminton, table tennis, weightlifting, swimming, football,
basketball, volleyball). During the afternoons, we visited each
individual sport at their various training venues. As the games
drew closer, the pace increased in the morning clinic, usually
resulting in a waiting room often full to bursting. My evenings
stretched through to midnight or later.
The games probed to be very successful both from a competitive and
chiropractic viewpoint. Chiropractic is now well accepted within
the Indian Ocean countries and all athletes benefitted by the
treatment given.
One of the interesting aspects for me personally, was being able to
assist in several arthroscopic examinations that were performed by
a visiting American orthopedic surgeon. We exchanged many
viewpoints, and observed each other at work. The surgeon received
chiropractic care, and we each benefitted, not only in friendship,
but in mutual respect and a furthering of the understanding of
chiropractic.
Stopover in Stuttgart
On the 9th of August, I left my family "languishing" in the
tropical waters of the islands and flew to Stuttgart to take part
in the 4th World Athletic Championships. Once again, I was
treating the athletes from Ghana and Botswana and it was great to
see old friends and make new ones. Life in the athletic village
was relaxed and interesting, although one was still surrounded by
barbed wire and high security measures. It would appear that the
majority of athletes have grown to accept the security measures at
these international events. Perhaps the 21st century will not
require us to strip naked and parade in front of cameras, but you
never know.
I returned to the Seychelles on the 21st of August and took part in
the Indian Ocean Games (Aug. 21-28). The number of chiropractic
treatments given during our time in the Seychelles was in excess of
600. Although records were kept at the clinic and in the afternoon
sessions, it was impossible to accurately record the many
treatments given on site during the competition.
As a family, we returned to Australia Aug. 29th and have since
taken several weeks to readjust back to Australian lifestyle and
pace. It was a rewarding time for myself and my family, and it was
one experience we will treasure for many years to come.
Howard W. O'Meara, DC
Mooloolaba, Queensland
Australia