DAY 5 +1: Padang Terap's special report on saturday night activity. (Screening for Malaria and Filariasis)

Cruising along with the health officers at 8.30p.m surely tremble the light hearts. Filariasis and malaria are common brought over by foreigners. Thus, screening for these diseases is commonly done at night. And today, we were on the verge of visiting a place beyond our imagination for a similar purpose.

Driving about 20km further into the already daunting routes and creepy silhouettes, anxiety companied us all the way. We were brought to a place that we’d last imagine or perhaps never had. Dark as ever with accelerated fear, none of us were ready for such a sight. The place was called Naka and is in the midst of well how to say… not to be rude… JUNGLE undeniably. A construction site was obvious at first sight, the thoroughfare fuddled with normal driving and all eyes surrounding were on us.
Upon reaching, we realized they are all foreigners, mainly from Bangladesh and many others. At reach, many ran away from us and invariably shocked us, but it was later that we’ve learnt that they were the illegal immigrants.

They set the gears to begin the procedure. Swiftly, the person in charge did the work. Making a thin smear and a thick smear on two slides was the entire task. As easy as it sounds, it was daunting when we got our turn. Somehow, some of us who’ve got the chance to do the smear used every opportunity. Our concern on infectious diseases did not broke the spirit on taking some blood. Our precision might have been compromised but I guess we did it functionally able.

The foreigners were cooperative and eased us as time goes on. However, a slight fright was inevitable. Somehow, we manage to get the glimpse of their living condition and apprehended our gift to able to end and begin our day in a very much better place.

The entire session ended about 11.20p.m. We stopped for small refreshment before continuing our journey back home that took not very long as always. The day was satisfactory and we were truly grateful to Jashithra’s parents for inviting us for dinner earlier. That gave us the energy not only to be physically able to survive the place but as well to be not vexed by the eerie place.