A message for my home.
Well,
that's that for another year. Now I have to assign certain projects to people
who have been so generous over the year and to whom I must give many thanks on
behalf of the children they have helped. Without their assistance, this would
not be possible and now it feels as though my work starts once more. Eyalama noi!
I shall
miss, most of all, the delightful children who cope with their disabilities
with the greatest of fortitude, their families, my friends and the hospital
staff who enable us to work as a team and who put up with my many
idiosyncrasies. I shall miss picking a fresh lemon from the tree for my tea,
eating roast cassava from the roadside, sharing meals in mud huts, playing with
the children, the camaraderie. I shall not miss the mosquitoes, the
cockroaches, the noise of the guinea fowl, the
potholes and little else! It's great to be home with the family nearer and a
new granddaughter to cuddle tomorrow! (My white Isabel
Grace!) Same time next year?
Tuesday
24 November 2009
It is
with great relief that I write my very last day of my 2009 diary. I shall be
brief but it was not a day of nothing to do. Alex and I set off for St
Stephen's Hospital for my meeting with the staff but, on the way, we called in
to Kampala School for the Disabled for us to arrange to collect Lawrance, my athetoid cerebral
palsy boy, to take him back north later that morning. The head master was none
too pleased as the Christmas party was to be tomorrow, the day before the children
were to be collected by parents and returned home for the holidays but this
meant great expense for Alex (and me!). He finally relented, Lawrance was delighted, and I paid one term's fees for next
year. The head master said he would like to start a school for the disabled
near Kumi as there are only two such schools in
Uganda and children come from far away. Maybe he will one day.
Then
off to St Stephen's past the slums and the markets teeming with people selling
fruit and vegetables and cattle rummaging in the waste greens. The vendors often sitting beneath their big umbrellas providing
shade and the customers crowding round looking for the best bargain.
St Stephen's staff have
been very active since my last visit in September and I will have much good
news to report to the Rope Trust on my return. I was reluctantly unable to
accept Prof Luboga's kind invitation to lunch as time
was limited but we parted with further invitations for me to return next year.
He is a very busy man with many connections and contacts.
We
returned to Matthias' home, coming via the school to collect Lawrance, his mattress and his few belongings and with his
wheelchair in the back and he in the seat behind me. Leaving him there, Alex
and I had an impromptu lunch provided by Maron,
Matthias' cook. Delicious soup and bread and cheese cooked after the generator
had been switched on.
I sat
on the veranda and wrote up my report for St Stephen's and enjoyed the
panoramic view from the hill top over Kampala city and Lake Victoria. The
family returned home, supper was eaten, my boarding pass was printed and Noah
and I sat down to play Monopoly (S African version). The game was so riveting
that I forgot all about the plane and finally we had to make a mad dash to have
any chance of arriving on time. I couldn't find my sandals and so I left
barefooted, the traffic was bad and my nails were all bitten to the quick.
Matthias made it with one minute to spare so more fond farewells and I was
through check in and my Ugandan days were behind me for another year. My lack
of shoes caused some amusement for the airport staff but I had more in my hand
baggage so, once I had my breath back, my feet were shod. I met Sergio in the
departure lounge. He is the husband of
No time
to sit down and straight on to the plane so I was pleased to have delayed my
departure but I wonder if the game of Monopoly ever ended.
Monday
23 November 2009
The day
of departure and I have to admit that it would be with relief when I waved good
bye! Eating my last fresh banana for a while with power still off, I saw
another visitor waiting outside in the dark. It was Moses, Adesso
head teacher, with letters of appreciation and promises to try to reform his
character.
Carole
and I finally left on time with Anna and her son, Andrew, 2 live chickens and
with Alex driving. I breathed a sigh of relief but, of course, I was very sad
to wave good bye to Angela, now alone in the Guest House, and leave. The drive
to
Sunday
22 November 2009
My last Sunday and could it be a day of rest? My bicycle had
to be returned to
Off to
church with Angela and Carole and today we had a visiting catechist who spoke
only in Ateso. The service started with hymn after
hymn sung with fervour and skill and I thought I was in for a treat but
everything changed when he started to preach and preach and preach. Angela
wrote her prayer diary, Carole moved to be near the fresh air and I fell into a
deep sleep. Finally I decided I couldn't stay any longer and, passing the children
and mothers in the bench, I walked out breathing a sigh of relief. The
remaining worshippers had to remain alert and attentive as he kept firing
questions randomly. Thank goodness that does not happen here!
I was
off to Soroti with Martha and Florence and I had
requested a hospital vehicle as it is cheaper if there are 3 or more
passengers...and a hundred times safer than public taxi. We set off with George
driving and we had a memorable day with
Saturday
21 November 2009
I'm
writing this sitting at home in
I'm
invited to Mgt Asio's for breakfast so it was out
with the bike and down the road to be warmly greeted as usual and fed with a
pancake and sweet potato cooked over her fuel-saving stove. She sat on the
floor whilst I sat in a chair as is the custom and once 'I was satisfied', then
I could share my food with her. I drank dry tea poured from the little tin
teapot and we reminisced over our past few weeks and chatted away as though we
were sitting at home at my kitchen table. Fond farewells said, I cycled back
home to find Brenda, another Brenda and Priscilla waiting for me so that they
could come to select their books from my newly formed Focus Foundation library.
They each chose their five senior school text books and left very happy and
hoping their success in the sciences would be facilitated by their new learning
tools.
Time
for a short rest before the compost judging competition for God's Grace Group.
I was to provide the drinks and the members were to arrange some food. What
appeared was not what I expected; the members were dressed in their finery of
grand gomaz(es?) and two tables were laid out
with plates of fruit and vegetables arranged as one would see in 5 star hotels.
The wood fires were burning with cauldrons of food bubbling away and I realised
I was in for far more than just a competition. The members arrived bearing
their pots or bags of compost and these were laid out with great pride in front
of the tables. A difficult task of judging lay in front of me and I was
considering making more than one winner so as not to disappoint too many. The
event was interspersed with songs, dances and poems. The Pastor read chapter
and verse from the bible about the role of women, my speech (unprepared but not
difficult) was given and it was time to eat the feast laid before us. Finally,
I could not delay the judging process and so, down on my knees, I studied the
consistency of each sample carefully filtering it through my fingers and trying
not to think about the contents of cow manure, kitchen waste, green and dry
matter. Some were too heavy with rain, others had small amounts of unrotted dry matter but many were as good as the John Innes
stuff we buy in bags, in fact all were totally acceptable but I was to be critical
and found a definite first, second and third winners. There was much joy from
the winners and disappointment from the losers, of course. A competition never
goes smoothly, I'm sure, and soon I had a problem. I had given third prize to
Anna and Rose wanted to know what I was going to do with the prize money as her
compost had come from the same heap so she should
rightly share the prize. You can see that human nature doesn't differ much
across the continents! I quickly said I didn't want to know this and that the
judge's decision is final and the rightful owner of the prize was Anna. Phew!
By this
time we were all tired and the final song and dance was performed with far less
energy and enthusiasm than the pre-meal entertainment. More final farewells and
promises to do better and I was back home for a quick shower and I was off to Stella’s
for supper. She is a member of GG group so we had decided that neither of us
was hungry so no meal required for either of us. I set off for her school
quarters in the dark wondering which way to go; either across the air field
(shortest but could have snakes), to the left or the right and I chose the left
which proved to be a bad decision. The sky was littered with billions of
shining stars and, although I was in the northern hemisphere, I'm sure the
Southern Cross was just above me. The moon wasn't round enough to help me see
my way and so the torch was my main guiding light. It was fine at first when I
knew my right and left turns but then the tracks bifurcated and I had to make
random choices. Walking past mud huts with their unseen residents going about
their evening lives and the crickets knocking their knees by the million, I
enjoyed the experience but then it went quieter and quieter and I realised that
I was now far from human habitation. Not to worry, it was impossible to get
seriously lost and then, out of the darkness, appeared a man rolling his bike.
"Where is the school?" I asked and he kindly offered to escort me
there even though he was on his way home in the opposite direction. Once I had
my bearings, I thanked him kindly and went on my way to get lost again as the
staff quarters houses were all in darkness. Here's where the mobile phone comes
in handy, no good when lost from afar as it's difficult to say where you are
but useful when you know you are feet away from your destination. Life was
going on at the rear of the house, food was being cooked for the rest of the
family and others and Stella and I entered the house with me relieved I hadn't
to endure another meal. But, according to the custom, the
visitor has to be given food and I was offered the usual omelette (made with 6
eggs which are local and so smaller than ours and with orange yolks) which I
managed to share with her two boys. The evning
over, she escorted me safely over the airfield and I managed to sink into bed
quite exhausted after a full day.
Friday 20 November 2009
I've had to take off the
final weekday of my stay to get on top of certain things. I started with my
farewell thanks to everyone at Morning Assembly and then went round the hospital
with more goodbyes as though it was the last day of term. "See you next
year!" Carol was having her baking training which I called in to see and I
found the oven lit and many workers wearing green gingham aprons and hats
making cake mix, with bread mix to follow. This is an exciting project as they
will be able to cook over 2000 bread buns a day once they get going! Also cakes
and large loaves! Then I cycled to Janet's where the grinder is. The top of my
head was burning seriously in spite of my very bushy hair. I found her walking
home with a basket of sweet potatoes on her head. She put them on the ground
and I tried but failed to lift them up as they were so heavy. She had been
experimenting with the grinder and we continued with slight modifications until
we were producing paste superior to that made by the electric machine in town. Another success story and one that will provide a better diet for
the children and also an income for the group. I cycled back as I hadn't
said good bye to Margaret Akol who has broken her
ankle and then all the way back and further to go to Okerenyang's
for lunch where a large meal was laid out. I was happy to see Francis' wife was
wearing her everyday clothes as I was in my working trousers but then she
changed into a smart gomaz and I felt rather
uncomfortable. I said I would have cycled home to change if the meal hadn't
been on the table but he said I could eat first and then go home to change
which wasn't what I had in mind. After lunch, I was shepherded across the road
to his son's home where I found about 100 people gathered for a group meeting
which I was not expecting. No wonder that I should have changed into a dress as
it is very bad manners to wear trousers but not if I am working. I was the
Guest of Honour, had to sit through an interesting drama and listen to local
songs, make a speech and accept 15 eggs to bring home.
I managed to leave after 4
pm as my next visit was then at Modesta's modest
home. I could relax as I sat in their small room which sleeps 12 and drink
Sprite and eat nuts. I love being with her children and the situation is
unique. Just outside her door, the local men are drinking strong stuff
especially at weekends and it's not quite the environment I would like for my
children. I left with fond farewells to shower and change to go to the Opolots for supper with Carol and Angela. We set off in the
dark unable to find their house but all ended well and we spent a pleasant
evening sitting outside on their veranda having a drink before going inside for
supper. The stars were up there in abundance and many were shooting across the
sky. How different from my next Friday evening! Dr O lent me the hospital modem
and hence this update. Quite a full day for me but all
worthwhile.
Thursday 19 November 2009
An early visitor, Francis Okerenyang, called with his proposal for the school cow
shelter which I was going to discuss with the Hospital Administrator. More
loose ends were tied and I was very pleased to see the stand for the grinder,
quite a masterpiece with its splayed legs for stability and tray for the bowl
to receive the paste. We tied it to the top of the Land Cruiser to deliver it
to The HIV women. The small wheelchair I bought is going to Justine as I
haven't managed to find the boy I had wanted it for but Justine is a very
worthy cause. so I am happy. My last day for Outreach
and it was off to Ngora to have a clinic with William
but, true to form, he failed to organise it. We dropped off the grinder, bought
chapattis in town and set off. I wasn't disappointed to have the programme
changed as I wanted to visit Moses Okenyekure, my TB
boy, and it was either today or I missed out this year. We found him in his
village, very happy with his new house, but sad because someone had stolen his
pregnant goat, slashed it and removed the 2 foetuses. He has 3 left and has
managed to get a cow which has calved so his status is improving. His bicycle
"business" is bringing him a small income and he continues with his
Primary schooling although he must be the oldest in the class. His grandmother
is much stronger and Moses helps a lot by fetching the water and digging the
garden in spite of his disabilities. He continues making fishing baskets and I
had to buy yet one more which I have given away already. No fear of having any
more littering our home in
We followed up a few more
of my past patients to find them doing well and then returned home as the
heavens opened and soon the roads were a torrent of water.
I found 2 letters from home
waiting for me which was a pleasant surprise after all these weeks with hardly
one.
Wednesday 18 November 2009
Everything seems to be
falling into place with only a few days left. Moses, the blind boy, has written
to Sheila in
I've hardly mentioned the
children with their disabilities, all of which are close to my heart. Their
endurance of pain and suffering must be seen to be believed and they bear their
disabilities with great fortitude. Little brain damaged children, some with
reduced mental abilities but others with a brain as normal as any other but who
have to spend their lives in a tortured body. Many are born with abnormalities;
too many fingers or toes, limbs missing or twisted; spina
bifida or hydrocephalus where the head is far too large and heavy for the body
to support, a tiny face looks at you from beneath the large forehead and often
with a most engaging smile and a hand comes up to greet you as is the custom
here; knock knees, bow legs, club feet, cleft palate, I could go on. But it's
the preventable and unnecessary conditions which are the most distressing,
those resulting mainly from malaria. TB, polio, infections,
they all take their toll as do epilepsy, burns and their resulting deformities
and disfigurements. It's humbling to see these children struggling to
walk with aids or push their wheelchairs or just to lie there waiting for what?
The staff here work tirelessly to improve the lives of
these families and children and are all part of the whole team from the cooks
to the cleaners to the professional staff. They are all to be congratulated as
they work tirelessly to improve their little lives. Never does it become the
norm to encounter a child suffering so intensely and there are so many here.
Back to the day and we are
off to Petete to help these children who arrived in
abundance. On our arrival, we saw a horde of people, literally hundreds,
sitting under anywhere with shade be it the eaves of the health clinic or the
branches of the trees. We wanted to run away but the task was to be tackled and
stay we must. Angela and I settled ourselves on a bench while Charles, renowned
for his verbosity, introduced the team and explained all the details of our
visit to the attentive crowd. Angela didn't believe me when I estimated a 20
minute speech and, after this time, we decided to start and leave him at it. An
hour later, I think he still had not got down to the nitty
gritty business of assessing the patients but maybe his words had great
relevance to our visit. I just know it was distracting and, as a different
language was spoken here, each sentence had to be translated by a local man.
Anyway, together with Gerald, the physio, we saw many
children, well over 100 by the end of the day, until the rain drops dripped
through the leaves of the tree, dampening our papers enough to prevent the ink appearing
on the papers. It got to a point when a mad dash to the vehicle was necessary
as the heavens opened and the rain was tipped out from above. Soon we were on
an island with the waters swishing past us with the people sheltering inside
the tiny clinic or under the eaves. A child shivered with cold as the mother
draped a maize bag over it and we stayed dry. When the storm abated, slowly the
people emerged first and then we settled down on chairs and tables carefully
dried by the clinic staff but sadly situated too near the latrines for comfort.
You soon get used to anything and we were well distracted by the remaining
patients. Thankfully, many had left for home as we would never have seen each
and everyone of them. The bench before us was empty but Michael still had a
long queue of elderly men and women waiting to have their eyes tested. We
estimated around 200 were there when we started and he just had to have a cut
off point. They will all be seen another day.
Tuesday
17 November 2009
To
my surprise, today turned out well! It started with a 7.30 am meeting with
Moses, Adesso head teacher, Chairman of the PTA and
former chairman. The cow situation had to be sorted out so I came forward with
my suggestion to promote the success of the cow project. We reached an
agreement and a subcommittee is to be formed and they are to be responsible for
the future plan and, if all goes as I hope it will, I should turn up next year
with the cow shelter refurbished, elephant grass growing, 2 cows + calves
settled into their new quarters and the children learning animal husbandry and
enjoying their millet porridge. If this is not the case, then the 2 million
shillings I am retaining will go to another school and I shall wash my hands of
Adesso. Moses is to try not to use the phrase
"The problem is....." whilst trying to make excuses and we are all to
make an effort to work on our human failings! Time will tell and, hopefully,
the lengthy prayer ending the meeting and said in Ateso
so I don't know what Francis was saying, will give the school guidance from
above.
Then
on to the CBR monthly meeting which lasted around 5 hours with mid morning and
lunch breaks. Much was discussed with harmony amongst the team and Charles in
the Chair. His English has to be heard to be believed and often I cannot keep a
straight face and I wonder how his brain formulates his sentences which,
perhaps on interpretation, do make sense as the discussions continue reasonably
well. They talked about tricycles, training and transport amongst other items
and, on the whole, the themes were not far from ours at home.
The
day would have been over but I still had one more duty to tie up a couple of
loose ends. Martin (CBR), Steven (Gabriel's brother) and I set off on 2 motor
bikes for me to see how Steven's cow is doing. Last year, Gabriel was given a
cow and, after he died, it was given to Steven. We traversed the tracks I had
followed on Sunday but how different they were today! Since Sunday, there has
been some heavy rain so the tracks were muddy and full of puddles to be
bypassed with care but it was a treat to sit side saddle and watch the world go
by while we sped along; women carrying anything imaginable on the tops of their
heads, small children herding the cows, men wobbling precariously on their
bicycles as they saw a strange muzungu speed by and,
of course, the ever-present goats and chickens. The crops have picked up
following the rain and they looked refreshed and more upright. Finally, we met
the herdsman who looked older than his allotted years and, having parked the
bicycles, we footed alongside him until we met up with the cow, a splendid
black beast in calf, a crossbreed and capable of producing many litres of milk
a day. I learnt how this system works, the herdsman
continues looking after the beast and will eventually be given one of her
calves. Steven had not met his animal before and so he was very happy to find
he owned such a splendid beast. I look forward to returning next year to find
there are two and maybe another on the way. Leaving the cow in good hands, we
set off for
Monday
16 November 2009
A
day within the hospital is always useful as there are many loose ends to finish
off. My table for the grinder is not suitable, so I am told, and thanks to my
impractical brain. It needs to be taller to prevent backache (surely I should
have thought of this). James from the garage is assisting me in mafter the cow and when it has several calves, one is given
to him. He can use the milk and spend the income on treatments for the cow.
Taking one 3 feet tall and with splayed metal legs for stability.
AMREF
was to fly in today with the urologist who had 50 old men to operate on but the
hours went by and no aeroplane appeared. Finally, the poor men were told that
there was to be no doctor arriving and that they would have to wait for the
next doctor arriving in December.
I
sorted out the records of some of my patients, finding their notes and ensuring
continuity in the programme. The day passed uneventfully and I decided to leave
early to avoid the storm as the black clouds were threatening rain. As soon as
I arrived back, the heavens opened and the thunder rumbled and it seems that
the rainy season is about to start just when the dry season is due. I was due
out at 6 for supper at
Sunday 15 November 2009
Here it is Sunday evening
and I am writing today's news! However, back to Friday, I didn't mention in my school
sports day report that the senior football team were very happy to play with a
Premier League football signed by Michael Owen but the junior team found it too
heavy.
Back to today: I had hardly
opened my eyes before the phone rang twice and two requests were completed
before I went for prayers. Eronu Cuthbert, a 13 year
old paraplegic caused by polio, was waiting to return home but, before he left,
I had the pleasure of giving him a tricycle, the last of my consignment. He had
a quick practise to demonstrate that he could get on and off and manoeuvre it
safely before he left in the hospital bus, a very happy boy. It is at times
like this that makes everything so worthwhile and makes me feel very humble and
privileged to be doing what I can. He can now get to school himself on wheels
instead of crawling which has been his only choice up till now and, being the
son of a peasant farmer, it may give him an opportunity to go far with his
education. Time will tell! I was, by now, very late for prayers, in fact,
2½ hours since the official start but I
managed the final minutes and I was pleased to see that the 2 statues have been
given homes on shelves behind the altar. As I cycled home, the bracket holding
the brake came off yet again so I had to walk back home only to find Silver, my
lift to Kodukol, was already waiting, 2.5 hours
early. I asked him to return later as Paul Ekellot
was calling to see me. We sat outside under a tree for shade and sorted out the
world before Silver returned and I was to sit on the back of the bicycle side
saddle. This has been a worry for me as my croggy
skills are far from good and would I be able to manage another year without a
disaster? I would not be happy to come home next week with a plaster of Paris
on me. It's far, it's very hot ( I had plastered
myself with Factor 25), there's nothing to rest the feet on, balancing skills
are required to prevent the bicycle toppling over and there's not much to hold
on to! I did take the precaution to put shoes and socks on as my feet have got
badly torn in previous years. One and a half hours later and after both of us
falling off only once, walking and riding (I think Silver found it more
difficult also), we reached Moses, the blind boy's home. I was greeted like a
long-lost relative and maybe I was the last visitor to have been invited since
last year. The children had fun with their balloons and one even mended a
broken one with a strip off another! Small but welcome gifts were distributed;
African tea (very sweet tea made with all milk) and groundnuts were taken
before lunch was served in Moses' hut. Beans and posho
and rice, quite delicious! Lots of conversation, photos and laughter before
another 2 cups of African tea and, with the shadows lengthening, it was time
for fond farewells and "same place next year!" The ride home was
easier than going and I am sure Silver found the return ride for him was simple
without my weight behind.
Power was on so I washed my
hair and soaked my feet. So far this evening, the phone has been ringing; Betty
from Marton, 2 invitations for tomorrow night, Mgt Akol has fractured her tibia and Dr Ekure
will operate tomorrow, my bicycle is repaired for 1,500/= (45p) and all is well
and still very quiet. I'm about to fall into bed and I shall be able to add this
to my diary when I next have a modem. Good night!
Saturday 14 November 2009
No one in the GH and all is
quiet except for the incessant buzz of the fridge which tells me that the power
is on, the cockerels shouting to each other over the top of the house and the
guinea fowl which are the worst with their terrible conversations. Angela and
Carole have gone for a break in Jinja and Dr Ruth
went to a wedding in
Nothing to do all morning,
my washing was up to date so I took the opportunity to start preparing to leave
as I know from past experience that departure day comes all too quickly and I
have many odds and ends to tidy up. However, visitors called as usual. Stephen,
Gabriel's brother, came to ask me about helping him to build his modest house
so he has a little money to start it off in a small way and, bit by bit, he
will, in a few years, hopefully have completed it. I always remember his care
for Gabriel and how he gave up his possible opportunity for education so maybe
he deserves some help.
I asked Ruth over but, not
unexpectedly, she didn't come. Charles, head teacher at Ngora
School for the Deaf phoned to inform me that he was coming so my morning was
not to be spent alone. He phoned again to say he had reached the GH but the
door was locked. No one was outside the wide open door so I walked round the
house to find him at the locked iron back door. Mobile phones are so useful! He
had brought the 2 chairs and table which they had made in the carpentry
department at the school. I need the table for the groundnut grinding machine
but I just liked the chairs and, at 7,000/= a piece (just over 2 pounds), I
can't go wrong. He collected the bag of things I had for Apulemera,
the deaf girl in his school; some exercise books and pens, old newspapers to
cover them and a few easy African readers.
The morning had passed and at 12 noon, Betty,
a teacher from Adesso, called with a pikipiki for us to leave to go to her village. I wore my
Nigerian dress again as, although not clean, I knew that after a bike ride it
would soon be filthy with dust from the passing traffic. Sitting side saddle
between the rider and Betty with the skirt hitched up and hopefully not showing
too much lily white leg, we set off for an hour's most uncomfortable ride. How
I wanted to change sides and look the other way but I have never seen anyone
riding that way round. We passed trading centre after trading centre until we
branched off to finally reach Betty's home, very rural and quiet! Her father
and stepmother greeted us warmly and we sat down under a tree and enjoyed a
glass of borehole water and groundnuts. Her father has 19 children; Betty is
one of 12 and her stepmother and her father had 7 more. He is a peasant farmer
and she is a teacher and all their children are educated so it can be done!
Betty is so proud of him and she recalled her happy childhood memories and the
stories he used to tell her. My reason for going was to meet a group of ladies
who want to better themselves so it was on with my lecturing cap and my
teaching cards and we discussed the formation of a group and their possible
objectives. The shadows started to lengthen so it was time to draw the meeting
to a close, visit some homes to see what they were doing and then return home
but, before we left, I found there was a meal to eat. So back inside the hut,
hands washed and the meal eaten (somehow they knew I ate no meat, fish nor
chicken), then photos and farewells and back on the bike with a large bag of
oranges and 5 newly laid eggs. We only stopped twice, once to avoid a large
truck which was blocking the road and then to investigate an abnormal noise but
all it was, was a small branch through the wheel. I think few white people pass
this way or maybe I was showing too much leg but we seemed to be attracting an
awful lot of attention! So the return journey was even more difficult and it
was fortuitous for me that Betty's stamina gave up before mine and I was
allowed a short break as we passed the house where Isabel number 2 lives so we
had an excuse to spend a few moments with Hellen, her
mother, in the tiny space behind their bar which was heaving with customers. Hellen is on treatment for malaria and her son, Dick, was
in the dispensary, also sick with malaria. Back on the bike and with not far to
go, the journey was safely concluded, the eggs were intact, there was power at
the GH, Dr O called with the modem and I could relax.
Friday 13 November 2009
My easiest day so far but
different so read on!
At Morning Assembly, Landheer, one of the hospital drivers, told us that,
driving from
I met Moses, the dentist,
and reiterated my request for an annual dental clinic report before I left in
10 days time, had a meeting with the Hospital Administrator, and then I cycled
back to the Guest House to take 4 crates of sodas and 2 boxes of water to the
school. Mission accomplished and I returned to the GH,
changed into my Nigerin dress and wrote up 2 reports
before setting off for the school at 11.00 am where the sports were to start at
10.00 am. I was still early and so I went to see the new desks and then the
children preparing the food behind the classrooms for after the sports. Tall
teenage boys were stirring a cauldron of posho
(sorghum flour and water) which was bubbling furiously up to the brim over the
wood fire. Stella, the teacher, was calling out "Motimot"
as they enthusiastically caused an overflow into the flames. The beans were
happily boiling without attention on another wood fire. Hopefully, the school
will send teachers for training in fuel saving stoves so that all this precious
wood is not depleted any more than necessary. Once Carole's baking oven project
is completed at the hospital, there will be intensive training for the
community in the use of methods of cooking using little fuel.
I settled myself down for the start of the
sports. Short speeches were made, the National Anthem was sung, football teams
huddled together presumably talking tactics, netball and volley ball players
were at the ready and then we started with the junior netball match. After a
shaky start, the players showed great talent as they sped from one end of the
pitch managing to score many goals. An excellent game by the senior team
equally agile followed. On to the volleyball pitch, with my chair carried by a
willing boy, I settled myself down to watch 3 matches and, with not fully
understanding the scoring , I failed to follow who was
winning. I had asked Leonard Omoding who works in the
hospital Records Office, had made a new volley ball net as the old one had
fallen apart. Then the senior and junior football matches completed the day and
the teams and pupils gathered round for the prize giving. The school is divided
into 5 houses (Peter, John, Richard, a bishop's name
beginning with "g" and Elspeth after me!) The captains and vice
captains each received a "gold" medal which I had bought from
Wilkinson's before I left. The football Man of the Match each received a
football key ring, the captain of the football team won the glass trophy and
the winning house captain won the shield. I was happy that Elspeth House was
the overall winner. The wind had got up as we gave out the prizes causing a
severe dust storm, the thunder rumbled around us and the skies darkened. Quite
suddenly, the wind direction changed, the sand all blew back from whence it had
come and these factors heralded an imminent rain storm so we all quickly
adjourned to the classrooms just before the heavens opened and the rain entered
through the unprotected windows. I'm not too sure how up to 180 children in
each class stay dry during lessons! We partook of a soda and a plate full of
beans and posho and then completed our speeches to a
very small audience as we had all entered different classrooms. Once the rain
ceased, we ventured out stepping gingerly over the vast puddles, said our
goodbyes. Frances Okerenyang escorted me back over
the airfield as dusk fell and here I was back home earlier than any other day,
all alone as Carol and Angela had left for Jinja for
the weekend. With the house to myself, I washed my hair only to be caught by
endless knocks on the door for one thing or another but finally I sat down to
start on my update when Dr and Mrs Opolot called and
stayed for the evening. It was nice to
have company and Consolata and I always seem to have
plenty to talk about. Then to my welcome bed with no sounds
to disturb me.....
Thursday 12 November 2009
Even if you have given up
on reading my daily diary, it's still useful for me to refer back to so I will
continue to the bitter end.
Today's content was as full
as ever but I can make it more brief. I started with a
meeting with the Hospital Administrator to discuss the care of the school cows
and also the matter of the cow which never was.
Michael now has his second
copy of his book which Bruce kindly typed and printed before I left to proof
read for further adjustments for the next addition. I'm working on the PDP
(Personal Development Plan) of one of the staff who cannot sort out a few
problems, an update on the girl with her new tricycle is very positive, plans
for the third tricycle are in action, the grinder is having its last practise
before I hand it out, Hellen's stall is making a nice
profit for her and all these things need checking as next week is my last and
now I know it will pass quickly.
Then it's off to Armuria which is further north in a region torn apart by
the LRA. Angela and I sat in the front while the back was filled with Martin
(CBR), Gerald (Physio) and lots of discharged
patients with their belongings and attendants. We stopped at the Soroti supermarket to stock up on soap, toilet rolls,
coffee and provisions for the day, yoghurt and banana cake for me, before the
long drive north through the bushiest of land which, in the past, provided a
perfect environment for the rebels and which is still sparsely inhabited made
obvious by the lack of the thatched huts and the few people walking along the
roads. On arrival at a primary school, we found many people sitting under a
tree and we wondered how we would manage but then, like a swarm of ants, a
seemingly endless stream of people emerged from a church (these look like
elongated mud huts with open sides). Panic set in, we wished we hadn't dawdled
in the supermarket and we set to to screen all the
children. It wasn't long before we realised that this was to be one of the less
interesting clinics. The conditions encountered repeated themselves over and
over again due to lack of local health clinics dealing with conditions such as
malaria and epilepsy. Hence a queue of epileptics and
children with gluteal fibrosis and post-injection
paralysis. The local inhabitants are asking the hospital to co-operate
in supporting them for better facilities. Surprisingly, the queue shortened
quickly and we didn't need to think where we would stay the night! Back in the
vehicle, we set off for home until we reached the home of the mobiliser who arranges the clinic for us. Here in the
middle of nowhere lived a small community in a seemingly idyllic setting. We
were invited into his mud hut where the table was laid with many local dishes.
With our hands washed by one of his two wives and grace said, we enjoyed a
convivial meal with the only light coming from the doorway through which we
could watch the sun set over the thatched huts. It's hard to put into words
what it is really like as it's a completely different world from home.
Comfortably replete, we embarked on the next stage of the journey, this time
accompanied by some of the women and children who had never been in a vehicle.
What an experience for them as they sped along the tracks and then the tarmac
road which leads to Sudan but we were going south to Soroti
where we stopped once more but this time to visit Martin's children, Joy and
Rhoda. I have watched these children grow up into two very polite little girls,
perfectly innocent and sweet. Off once more and with only one more port of call
which was to collect 5 crates of sodas for the sports day tomorrow. At around
8.30pm, we reached home tired and dirty but not hungry. We shared our day's
events with Carole who continues to be busy with her baking oven and who also
takes two steps forward and one back! As usual the routine is shower and bed.
Wednesday 11 November 2009
Am I ever going to have an easy
day? Each one seems to be packed with activity and very different from any
other and today was no different. I was still eating my pineapple, pawpaw and
passion fruit breakfast when Frances Okerenyang came
on time at 7.30am for my first meeting which was to discuss the issue of school
milk for the children. We waited for James, Chairman of Adesso
PTA who was late so we decided to cycle to the farm to inspect the school cows.
We found the two beasts looking well, healthy and in calf. Their first calves had
died. I am not happy with the present arrangement as the headmaster seems to be
taking advantage of the milk rather than the children benefiting. I think the
milk should be sold during the holidays to provide improved facilities for the
children and so I am working hard on the issue. Whether I get anywhere is
another matter but I will definitely make decisions and changes. If I don't get
satisfaction, then I shall find another school but
It was pleasant cycling
there whilst still cool but on our return the sun had risen somewhat and the
heat was becoming intense. We finished our meeting as Martin (CBR worker) arrived
on his pikipiki to whisk me off into the bush. On
with my helmet (it does nothing for the hair as underneath it becomes as hot as
an oven) and on to the back of the bike, down the south bound road to Mbale, turn right and we started along the tracks with
their bumps and potholes. The first child was one we had seen when Charles Viva
and his team were here. He lives with his mother in the poorest of
circumstances and we found him still with his ankles bound and naked inside his
hut and all alone. A pitiful sight and words cannot portray what we saw except
to say that Martin almost broke down saying it was the worst home he had ever
seen. The child held out his hand in hunger and thirst so we found a mug and
water in a jerry can and he gulped it down spilling more down his front than in
his mouth. Too much would not have helped without food so we were back on the
bike and off to market to remedy the situation. The market must have been
almost 10 minutes ride away and this is the distance required for all the local
people to walk there and back for food. It was a bustle of activity with
clothes and lengths of material hanging from wires, Second hand clothes by the
bale were strewn in mounds on the floor, all sorts of goods from inner tubes to
samosas could be bought and it was a place to do what
had to be done and then to leave. We bought shorts and tops, a dress for the
mother, food and soap. No more as I had
to transport these whilst riding side saddle! A friend of Carole's phoned from
On to 2 other families, the
second of which had been given assistance two years ago and the two goats given
were now a cow and a calf and they had managed to get a bull by selling crops.
They were doing well but they were still living in such difficult
circumstances. The child is severely disabled, the mother has a gynaecological
problem and their home is far from civilisation. So I begged Martin to return
to the hospital as my stamina was waning. There has been no rain in some areas
and the heat especially on the feet is intolerable as the earth is so dry and
dusty. I would have so liked to have continued to follow up more homes but I
was too tired. Even on the way home, I dropped off to sleep more than once for
a few moments as I sat this time astride the bike but thankfully not dropping
off literally! I obviously trust Martin's skills or my eyes would have been
opened wide and glued on the road ahead. Back home, time for a cup of tea and a
shower and 20 minutes later I was on my bike for my next meeting at the
women’s' HIV group. On arrival, I was ushered into Janet's hut where a feast
lay before me in spite of asking for only a cup of tea. The delicious meal
taken, I was eager to get on with the agenda which included the distribution of
the 16 goats which they had bought from Odello
Saturday market. They caused quite a stir buying so many and Margaret's
descriptive account in words and actions of the purchasing was most
entertaining. Three goats at a time were brought out and three names called
from the register until each woman was holding a goat with a locally made sisal
rope. There was much bleating from the goats whose ropes were getting tangled
together and ululating from the women on top of the many children laughing and
playing with their balloons. My goat which they have called Mommy is a sandy
brown with a donkey-like cross on its back, has two toggles dangling from its
neck, two tiny horns and, best of all, is bulging with babies (hopefully two)
but I think I will have left before the birth. By this time next year, there
should be loads of goats and perhaps cows. How happy the women were as, after
many photos and a prayer of thanks, they walked away with their goats which
belong, of course, to the group, trotting by their sides.
Now I could have left to go
to Kumi Hotel for the Wednesday Rotary Club meeting
but that is another world away and I was so much happier to sit with the family
and watch the sun drop down quickly behind the horizon. What hope and
enthusiasm these ladies now have. Following Janet's training day at the farm
last week, she is already preparing her compost and has a 6 month plan for
monthly training sessions in compost making, sack gardens, kitchen gardens etc for
the group. She has sown onion and cabbage seeds and I know she will be a
shining chairperson. More next year....
I cycled home before it was completely dark
and took advantage of an early night to lie under my mosquito net and reflect
on the day's highs and lows.
Tuesday 10 November 2009
An Outreach Clinic with
William and Lydia and I decided to make a go of it but had a back-up plan if
the clinic had failed as on the last three occasions with him. Something really
needs to be done with this man as he is a walking disaster! On the way, we
dropped Alex off at his home and I managed to have a cuddle with Isabel No 2
(my black Isabel granddaughter!) I have to wait a while more before I can
cuddle No. 1 white Isabel! As expected, he had failed and I was pleased to go
swiftly into plan 2. My first visit was to check up on a project I started last
year and which I had a suspicious feeling that all was not as it should be.
When I asked how the project was going, he told me that the mother had moved
away and that the cow had died etc etc. Finally, he
had little choice but to take me through a very roundabout route to her home
where she was sitting with her CP child and always had been since my first
visit. No evidence of a cow shelter, just the planks of wood, no evidence of a
cow and the mother said there never was one. I believed her but he swore blind
that it had been given.
The rest of the day was a delight! We visited
the old woman who had had her cleft palate repaired and found she and her
husband so happy. Then a child with a cleft palate repair and the girl with a
serious neck burn contracture now released. We took her a mattress as she had
been sleeping on the earth which wouldn't help her incision. All the families
were ecstatic with the results and we came home bearing sacks of maize, sweet
potatoes and oranges! On the way back, George spotted a group of young boys
mud-fishing. They grope around the thick, muddy, stinking water and try to
catch the squirming, ugly catfish and they manage somehow to get a considerable
catch to take home for supper. One boy showed me the back of his hand where a
worm had embedded its head into his skin. He pulled forcibly until the worm
gave up the fight.
But we weren't finished yet! I was to call
into Ngora School for the Deaf to pay school fees for
our new child, Akurut Apulumera,
who is a very bright 13 year old in Primary 3 and daughter of peasant farmers.
I went through her exercise books to find ticks galore and
"Excellent" on almost every page. She has been stone deaf since birth
and, if given a chance, I am sure she will get into Secondary School. It's so
quiet in the school, the sound of feet shuffling being the most prominent noise
around. Carrying on, we stopped to have lunch (at 4.30pm)at
the shack cafe with chickens on the table and probably not the most hygenic of kitchens but it is very local and friendly. I
had beans and posho and the other two had fish (from
the mud?) and atap.
An old man who had had leprosy joined us, very hungry and he was pleased
to be given
Monday 9 November 2009
We managed to finish in daylight but failed to
reach home until after dark. As I write, 2 chickens have just emerged through
the "kitchen door", pecking as they go and are conveniently exiting
through the front door. I spoke too soon, one has come
to say good morning to me!
Sunday 8 November 2009
I skipped prayers for the
second time because
Briefly, the return journey was as fine as it
can be in a public taxi and we returned home safely and in one piece.
Saturday 6 November 2009
The weekend and will it be a
relaxing time? With washing on the line and breakfast eaten (although I had
been informed that my day out was to start with breakfast) I was picked up by
Robert, a teacher from Mary MacAleese PS, and the two
of us rode to Kumi Town on his motorbike to the home
of Ann and Josh Olopot, a couple I have met
previously. Whilst waiting for them to take me on to the next stage, I watched
BBC World tv and I was
engrossed in a debate when we had to leave to go to their village. Driving
along bumpy tracks in a pick up I finally saw their home, truly the equivalent
of a country mansion noticeably surrounded by many large, old trees and an
assortment of mud huts with family residents. Now, at noon, we had our
breakfast of African tea and groundnuts followed by a tour of the grounds,
seeing the amazing orchards, the flocks(?) of turkeys; a most impressive sight.
Picking enormous oranges was such fun and I was pleased to see that Ann was
able to carry the basinful back on her head. We sat in the shade of a tree
eating juicy, sweet oranges (I couldn't manage a whole one and had to give half
to nearby children) before leaving for the next stage. I booked a room for a
weekend for next year! It is so relaxing! Back in the pick up and to
Friday 6 November 2009
I could write a book on
today but I will suffice with jotting down a few points. Who should be sitting
outside in the porch when I got up but Julian and I had thought I had finally
persuaded him that I didn't want to see him ever again! He announced that the
goat he had 'given' me was doing fine and could his daughter have some sugar. A
poor ploy but a good try! I told him that I would not give his daughter some
sugar but she could have my goat and closed the door. Some people will never
learn! A busy day lay ahead and we started by tying 2 tricycles to the roof of
the Land Cruiser, filling up inside with the CBR workers and some hospital
staff members to go for a day's training at Aliasit
Farm in Ngora. Time keeping was within acceptable if
not perfect parameters and we arrived to be welcomed by Jane Olopot who manages the farm which is associated with Send a
Cow. George and I left the team assembled in the training hall to visit
Leaving the school, George
and I went to Nyero to give a tricycle to the young
man I met last year. He is a post polio paralysis (PPP) paraplegic who sits on
the roadside mending shoes. I met him last year when his 18 year old died in
childbirth and now he earns a meagre living and looks after his year old
daughter. I took a photo of him and George told me later that a bystander was
using very bad language about these people who take photos to make money. He
walked away silently when he saw that we had come to give a tricycle to the man
who was eager to climb on to it and have a practise ride.
Next we returned to the
farm to join the others for lunch before continuing to deliver the second
tricycle. We found the girl who I hadn't met before only to realise that she
was not a suitable candidate as her arms were too weak. She is an athetoid cerebral palsy person who has 4 children to manage
and so she is misused by her husband who has 2 wives. A
dreadful situation for a human being to be in. We left her breast
feeding her youngest and sitting in her deformed posture with absolutely no
future or hope. A few more visits followed before we returned to the farm to
join the team to visit a farm which is included in the Aliasit
programme. A farmer had been given a cow and his life was transformed by his
training enabling him to start an orange orchard and to use the farming methods
taught to him. We learnt how to graft oranges so there will be a glut of fruit
in a few years and diversification will be required. The children were
remarkably healthy due to their improved status and diet. We attended an
evaluation of the day, said our farewells to Jane and returned home. I stopped
at the bank and I was pleased to find that my bank account which had been
suspended was once more able to supply me with more Ugandan shillings.
Thursday 5 November 2009
The day started with a
meeting with Janet and Margaret of the HIV group who wanted to get started with
their proposal and so we agreed that each member would have a goat which would
belong to the group. Even I am to own one as I have paid my registration fee! I
hope I have a pretty one with lots of spots! We then went through the process
of writing receipts and filling in the cash book as though we were playing
shops like children. All was finally in order and they left with 900,000/= in
their bags.
Arriving at the hospital,
the Chief Administrator asked me if I had slept in as I had missed Morning Assembly;
anything but, I'd been up since 4.30 preparing for the day while it was cool.
Gerald, George and I set
off for Kapajan which is not so far away as some
places which we visit. We collected Moses, the CBR worker, and set to assess
many children with disabilities. It was a satisfying clinic with many
interesting cases. TB spine, a progressive neuromuscular disease in a girl who
was walking with a completely broken walking frame held together with strips of
rubber, a deformed foot which I hope will be amputated, a baby with a heart
condition which we cannot help, 47 in all, and we returned at a reasonable time
bringing a mother and daughter who had been hit by her head teacher and she had
sustained eye damage. The mother wanted further reports presumably so that the
teacher would be fined but the child managed to open her injured eye with no
problem when no one was looking. So the western culture of suing has reached
the African bush! We stopped in Soroti for a meeting
or so they said. In fact we stopped at a pork joint (another name for a
roadside cafe) where a paella-type plate was filled to overflowing with chunks
of crispy pork fried over the wood fire. I managed to have some fried potatoes
which were very tasty and our meeting ended up as a very pleasant meal.
Back in
Wednesday 4 November 2009
The week is flying past and
today I have a day off to attend a Baptism at St Charles Borromeo
Orphanage in Akolony. Fr Charles was on his way at
7.30 am and was still on the way at 5 pm but I was picked up in a pick up, arrived
at St Charles to find my second breakfast waiting for me and waited until
around 12.00 for the 10 am Mass to commence. The orphans must have mistaken me
for a German benefactor as each of the 129 orphans greeted me with a thank you
and a hug, not just any old everyday hug but a squeeze seemingly from a child
yearning for some comfort and love. Father Charles brought these children from
Lira during the time of extreme rebel activity and so each and every one has
suffered sights and deeds which we will never have to endure. Their care in the
orphanage cannot be criticised but still, that unique family contact cannot be
replicated however much they are loved. The whole ceremony lasted about 5 hours
plus the extra hours waiting in the church. It seemed like hundreds of tiny
babies were well and truly baptised and 78 first communicants painfully made
their first confessions prior to receiving the host dipped in wine. The singing
and dancing together with frequent visits out into the fresh air made the whole
event a treat for me. Two little children aged about 18 months and 3 years sat
on the floor at my feet and shared a sweet. No sooner had it gone in one mouth
than a hand begged for a suck and this was repeated for the duration of the
entire sweet. Distractions are always there when ever I need a break between
naps! At last, at 5.30 pm, lunch was served and Fr Charles joined us explaining
he had been held up with another programme. He is the same age as Dominic, our
eldest son, and we seem to have so much in common that we never stop talking
(perhaps his English is better than most!) He has been to
Tuesday 3 November 2009
The groundnut paste is 99%
marketable so some was packed into 3 small polythene bags for Hellen to sell at 300/= on her vegetable stall in the
hospital compound. Margaret, the Children’s' Village, housemother will have
200/= for the nuts and the work entailed in grinding and Hellen
will get 100/= profit. This is just a trial run and the profits will need to be
adjusted.
Pallisa today with tasks to be
accomplished. Firstly, Alex,
Martin and I called in to see Max Kamotona, one of my
boys who is taking Senior 6 exams. If he passes with
sufficient grades, he will be able to go to university and, although his maths
and physics standards are poor, I am hoping that the Maths tables
book I bought in
Monday 2 November 2009
I'm not going out into the field
today so, after Morning Assembly, I actually went to the physio
department where the children we had found a week before were being screened by
Gerald, the physio. I visited the orthopaedic ward to
see a young man with a tumour of his right hand as large as a football and
looking as heavy as a lump of concrete. His hand will be amputated and I know
he will be happy to be released from this burden. The day was going well and
then Matthias in
We are persevering with the groundnut grinder
and there is an improvement in the resulting paste but more tweaking is
required. I visited the leprosy patients among other tasks, returned home early
and, as it was a while since I visited Mgt Asio, I
cycled there to find her busy digging in her garden as she has little for
buying food and manages to grow fresh greens having learnt about
compost-making. For the first time, she had no food to offer me as her cupboard
was completely bare. My chicken which she is looking after is sitting on 10
eggs so that will help and Rupert, my cockerel, proudly struts around the place
as though he owns it. I left with her daughter, Leah, to shop for my supper in
the small trading centre at the hospital gates. Tomatoes,
onions and a large pawpaw and some meat and fish for Mgt. Can you
believe that the power was on so my ironing was quickly done and batteries
recharged. In the evening, I managed to download my hundreds of photos from my
cameras but I have yet to go through them and more than likely delete the
majority.
Sunday 1 November 2009
I never finished Saturday's
goings-on so to continue...With the meeting closed, we went walk-about so that
Janet and Ann Mgt could proudly show me their projects. Both had Lorena stoves
installed in their mud huts nd Janet's compound was
well equiped with a compost heap, a raised seed bed,
tomato plants, a baby avocado tree and lots more. With the shadows lengthening
and telling me that it must now be after 6 pm, I took my leave and went to see
if my bike was repaired. I had asked Dina (the cleaner) to take it as I would
have been charged muzungu price and, sure enough, it
was already roadworthy for the princely sum of 1000/= (30p)! I was to make a
hasty ride home before dark but the moon was full and so lingering a while was
in order as I would need no lights to see my way along the stony road. I sat
outside Dina's home with the children playing with balloons which I had in my
bag. We decided to share a
was bathed and, wrapped in
a white towel, she cuddled into Dina's lap and soon fell asleep before being
taken into her hut to be tucked up on a bamboo mat on the floor. Not much
different from home in a way! Saying good night, I climbed (climbing is an
appropriate word for Ugandan bikes!) on my bike and cycled home safely. The Guest
House compound was bathed in the light from the full moon, an experience hard
to believe. It reminds me of home after a snow storm - silent and with the
ground, the tree trunks and the leaves all covered with a silvery grey hue.
Even the bats' wings reflect the light as they swoop low. The sky is a steely
grey and the effect is breath-taking and every minute is to be appreciated as,
once the moon wanes and the skies are not always cloudless, a month has to pass
before the phenomenon recurs.
Enough of Saturday
and on to Sunday. The
Saturday 31 October 2009
Hallowe'en at home but just a normal day
here apart from being a day off. Change the sheets, wash the
clothes but no chance of ironing unless I use the charcoal iron and they tell
me that I would scorch my clothes. I'm not desperate yet but it is at times
like this that I wish I had brought more of everything. My room always needs a
sort out as papers pile up and, unless I keep them in order, chaos would
follow.
Carole is getting on well with her
baking stove and so we walked up to see how work was progressing. The men were
sweating profusely as they constructed the oven which will provide home-made
bread for the patients and also income for the hospital. The team
have many ideas for the local people and I am sure the work that they do
is a very positive way forward as the long term supply of wood and charcoal for
cooking is of serious concern around Kumi. Do visit
the HERA GTZ Household Energy website; www.gtz.de/hera
and see if Prime Energy and Environment Savers Ltd is mentioned. I haven't the
facility to look myself but I will do asap.
Training is one of their priorities and I hope to include group members.
Back at the Guest House, Ruth came with
her brother, Simon Peter, and I was able to deliver the letter I had brought
from home to him. He is in his last year at University and he was pleased to
have his final year's fees paid. As you can imagine, he is very grateful for
the assistance he has been given from his benefactor.
At 2 pm, I went to Janet's home leaving
my bike for repair on the way. Janet expected me at 1 pm but no members had
arrived. I was duly invited into her hut where a feast was laid for Angela and
me as is their custom so I had to apologise for Angela's
absence and eat twice as much, in fact I managed 4 helpings making sure that I
didn't pile my plate too high each time in order to show my appreciation by
taking further helpings. I was not expecting food but I now realise
that each time I go this will be the norm. I was to eat alone and I was happy
when Janet and Margaret agreed to join me. Once more, I was offered food that
is only produced on Christmas Day and Independence Day for the family.
Finally, group members trickled in
until there was the full compliment of 16 members all of whom are HIV+. Half
have husbands and half are widows. It was interesting for me to listen to their
problems and their place in society. They are eager to start a group in their
own right and to be able to feed their children well as this is the major
requirement for them to stay healthy. Following the drought, there is little
opportunity for them to obtain food as their crops have failed which is their
main source of income. Janet had 4 large bags on groundnuts in her hut where I
ate lunch and I was mistaken in thinking her crop had done well until I realised that the majority of shells were empty. I am
hoping to link this group with
Friday 30 October 2009
I'm no longer working to rule and it's back down to business. George (driver),
Thursday 29 October 2009
I'm writing this on Friday morning in
the dark as there is still no power due to poles having fallen down and the
hospital is waiting for permission from "a" who has to repeat the
process from "b" etc until the poles can be replaced so it looks
doubtful for a while. Thanks to my netbook, battery
life is one up on a laptop. My candle has burned unevenly so it is sitting on
top of a mug which is tiltted on top of my TCP tube
of ointment (almost squeezed dry from much use) to get a little more life from
it. The mozzies are hungry as I have been so careful
not to give them supper!
To continue with yesterday: I must have
got out of bed the wrong side this morning as I was in defiant mood and I went
on strike! Firstly I decided to be late for Morning Assembly and when I finally
arrived I was just in time to see Steffie's (Dutch
nurse) promotional film, amazingly professional and all about her work in Kumi! I shall continue bungling along in my own little way
quite happily!
Next I refused to go on fieldwork as I
am tired of William's poor mobilisation of patients.
Instead, I stayed 'within' and found plenty to do. I reorganised
the system for restoring tricycles giving Michael control of the repair and the
spares as they will not all have been used before I leave. Then I had a meeting
with Joseph, the Human Resource manager about this and that. A visit to the
Training School with Paul was next to oversee progress
on the school desks where I found about 5 men working away with planes and
saws. Twenty will be ready on Friday to be collected by the Adesso
children. I gave out some jumpers and dresses and photo-ed
all the happy children but left many, many more watching enviously whilst they
went without new outfits. I started walking to Ruth's home when a boda boda boy asked if I wanted a
lift to town. Being midday, the sun was overhead so I decided to take advantage
of a lift and jumped on the back of the bike and agreed an inflated price of
around 12 pence for a relatively short journey. I found her lying and crying on
her bed and still in a deep depressio so the rest of
the morning was spent sitting with her, saying little and wishing I was
qualified in such matters. She finally said a few words and we made
arrangements to see her brother on Saturday and she told me what she would like
to do in the future. She would have to pull herself together a lot and is this
possible with such a sickness? I have my doubts but anything is worth a try. We
walked a short way across the fields before we parted company and I could see a
glimmer of hope on the horizon for her.
After a brief lunch of eating the left overs from the Michigan group's lunch, Carol (here from UK
to build the baking oven and still waiting for the arrival of her team)and I
made a swift walk to the hospital as the wind started blowing and the skies
were black heralding a definite storm in minutes. Stopping for a brief word
with Dr Opolot, we set off again and, crash, a branch
fell on my head with an enormous crack. Swift plans were made to pick up the
unconscious me but, apart from the impressive noise, I was unscathed except for
a bit of a bump and headache and, as you can see, I am here to continue my
lengthy tale. Safely inside the office and now with even louder crashes of thunder,
Margaret (Children's Village Housemother, Carol and I set to to turn groundnuts to paste with the hand cranked grinding
machine. We managed to make a very crunchy paste but not what we wanted so we
must try again before we pass it on to the group members of the HIV/AIDS widows
on Saturday. This entails roasting and de-skinning a new lot of nuts.
back to the Guest House with the modem and onto the
Internet to see if there is any news of baby Isabel, our new granddaughter.
With my feet pampered by a long soak in a bowl of cold water, Carol and I set
off for a meeting of the God's Grace ladies and so my
feet were soon covered with mud once more! We held a fruitful meeting by trying
to sort out some of their dissatisfactions with the non-attending members. A
good moan was had by all and it was decided to alter the Constitution at a
special meeting next week to be able to oust the non-attenders.
They are to give 20,000/= each and I shall double the total to allow them to
purchase new layers and a cockerel following the not too successful batch of
broilers as, last week, Jane from Aliasit Farm came
to give much-needed advice. Rivalry in the compost competition initiated by
Maureen Knowles back home is reaching fever pitch as they vie for the first
prize equal to our lottery in relative terms. Judging is to be on 21 November
followed by home visits to nearby homes to see the fuel saving stoves and any
other projects they may have started. Carol has offered assistance for those
who request it from the baking oven builders whcih will be very useful.
Back home and Angela had arrived back
from an unsuccessful field trip so I was pleased I had revolted in the morning
and stood my stance.
My apologies for spelling errors as my
new netbook hasn't got Microsoft Office installed and
I think that is why I can't spellcheck. Also the
battery is at critical level and I hope to send this to Peter for an update
before it dies. Time and enthusiasm to proof read is lacking as usual! How he
finds time with a new baby and Laura, I do not know! Thanks,
Peter!
Wednesday 28 October 2009
A journey back to Kumi
started with boarding the bus at CoRSU with Alex
driving, parking the bus at a Shell garage where his cousin brother worked,
getting on a public taxi for around 40 pence each into the centre of the city
(Park and Ride) and walking through the streets to Aristoc
Book Shop. There we bought many school text books to start our lending library
for the secondary school children I have scattered around the east of the
country. This took a while but the staff were helpful
and gave us a 10% discount as we must have been their best customer in recent
days. We had to buy a private car to carry the heavy boxes back to the bus and
then to buy Lawrance some treats such as sugar and
juice. Next stop
Tuesday 27 October 2009
Up at 5 am to be
taken to
Monday 26 October 2009
I'm getting behind with my diary so I
shall catch up by saying that today was not successful as William had not mobilised the outreach clinic again and so I was not happy
with him. A waste of fuel, time and resources for us all and I, for one, have
plenty of other tasks too important to neglect. We returned for me to shower
and change before setting off for our last meal with Mr
Viva and his team at Green Top Hotel in
Sunday 25 October 2009
Before I left, Modesta
and her children called and I showed them how to tie themselves together with 2
ropes and then get apart. This caused much amusement until I was almost late
for lunch. After they had left, I had just time for a quick wash before jumping
onto my bike and riding over the newly murramed road
(specially re-surfaced for President Musseveni's
benefit when he came to visit the drought area) and the corrugations in the
midday sun proved to be a foolish idea as many nuts and bolts loosened and the
bike fell apart making me 'roll' what was left along the road whilst it made a
deafening noise as the wheels turned. Most embarrassing but a friendly good Samaritan in the shape of a young man tried hard to
make it ridable but failed. I was happy to see that
the age off chivalry is not yet passed even here. Lunch at Okerenyang's
home was as good as ever. A meal with eight different dishes served up in a
half-constructed brick house with passion fruit juice to drink was a feast and
I often wonder how they remember all my favourite
dishes. I would like to empty every bowl but, one, my capacity is not large
enough and, two, I am sure the children and women enjoy our left-overs! Coming home over the fields rather than make a
further exhibition on the road, I passed pastures not very green, mud huts with
the old women sitting with legs stretched out by their huts, the goats grazing
and chickens pecking and then through the long grasses with the butterflies and
grass hoppers for company.
Back in the house, I was greeted by Consolata who was waiting for me with a container of ground
nuts, a rare gift these days as people's crops have failed so badly. We
discussed many topics and I gave her information on AIC and Fr Maloney's book
"Seeds of Hope".
Saturday 24 October 2009
I'm up to date with the diary! Saturday
morning and you will have to wait for today's programme
which is once again going to be different. My washing has been hung up dripping
wet and is already ironed. My room is swept, I've had a meeting with Gabriel's
brother who wants some assistance so I am thinking about it and Janet, the
Chairperson of the women's HIV group, and I am meeting with the group next
Saturday. The rest of the morning has been in planning for the evening....more
later. Now I'm off to Margaret Asio's with Angela for
lunch.
Sunday morning and Saturday is behind!
Lunch at Margaret's was, as usual, a delightful occasion and she had made such
an effort for Angela's first visit. We sat like royalty on upholstered chairs
which had been moved into her "cafe-type" hut specially
for the occasion and ate off matching plates and drank out of smart plastic
tumblers. We lifted the food plate to find a very crispy-based pizza beneath
made with mushroom, tomato, pepper and onion. Another dish contained sautéed
potatoes so a non-Ugandan lunch! After, we played UNO with the children while Mgt
made us a cake and tea which we ate alone as is the custom. A tour of her
garden, farewells and back to the Guest House to find the goat had been
slaughtered and diced, men were making kebab sticks for the meat, much activity
by the ladies cooking matoke, atap,
ebor, sweet potatoes etc. The musicians practiced
their repertoire on the acungo, xylophone and adugo. Bicycles arrived bearing crates of sodas, water and
beers, chairs, local brew in clay pot, tubes for drinking and all in aid of
giving the plastic surgical team a local party. The clouds darkened, a heavy
shower which didn't dampen the earth nor spirits and then, with many
bougainvillea flowers strewn over the porch and decorating the windows, the
guests started arriving. The team came by hospital bus and I think they enjoyed
the entertainment, food and drinks. Singing and dancing followed, the goat was
roasted over the charcoal fire, many tried the local brew from the clay pot but
only the locals kept it up. It was a good evening and I have to congratulate
the Guest House ladies for working tirelessly, changing into local dress and
singing and dancing until the last guest left. An unbelievable mess was left
behind but all is now spick and span and we await the arrival of a new visitor
from
Now I'm off to Okerenyang's
home for Sunday lunch while the doctor's,4 from
Saturday 24 October 2009
I'm up to date with the diary! Saturday
morning and you will have to wait for today's programme
which is once again going to be different. My washing has been hung up dripping
wet and is already ironed. My room is swept, I've had a meeting with Gabriel's
brother who wants some assistance so I am thinking about it and Janet, the
Chairperson of the women's HIV group, and I am meeting with the group next
Saturday. The rest of the morning has been in planning for the evening....more
later. Now I'm off to Margaret Asio's with Angela for
lunch.
Friday 23 October 2009
Thank God it's Friday as I am quite
exhausted and our programme is altered as Amos' child
is very sick and he has had to be with her in hospital. So off to Ngora with William and we decided to go in search of
childre3n for plastic surgery as the doctors had almost completed their list
and we didn't want them to be disappointed. Half the day was spent identifying
the homes of possible children and the other half was spent finding them which
was a little like finding needles in haystacks. However, after much sweating we
found a girl with serious burns which we thought could be worked on, an old
woman with a cleft palate, 2 children with palates and 2 burn contractures so a
good selection. We returned like fishermen with a fine catch of fish but left 2
children behind. One, the father refused to allow the boy to come and, of
course, they must consent. The other was a little baby who had burnt legs due
to millet porridge spilling on them but I am pleased to report that the mother
was managing well and she just needed encouragement and to be shown some
exercises to prevent contractures. One of the clefts, once she saw the muzungu, ran off so fast that we almost lost her for good.
It was like catching a chicken for lunch!
Returning through Ngora,
I had a meeting of THAW group and I gave them encouragement rather than financial
assistance explaining that the people of
Then I was really tired and we only had
to drop off the patients at theatre for screening by the doctors and then
admission for surgery Saturday morning.
Thursday 22 October 2009
An early start as we are off to Kaberamaido District which is very far north west of Kumi. We piled into the vehicle and set off with many
patients, attendants and their belongings behind. We were dropping off in Soroti, among others, the old (50 years!) lady who had had
a cleft palate repair and I have yet to see her smile because of pain but I
know she is very happy and grateful for her surgery.
On arriving at the health clinic, we
soon started screening the patients and very much wanted some more for plastic
surgery. One child came forward with serious burn contractures to her neck,
shoulder and body and 3 more required surgery so they were told to prepare
themselves to return with us. Around 70 children were seen with varying
conditions and most given a plan of action. The queue exhausted, we waited for
Michael to finish his eye clinic. I walked up a rocky hill to find a woman
hacking away with a pickaxe at a boulder wedged in the hillside. As you can
imagine, the sweat was dripping from her whole body as she prepared to roll it
down the slope only to start breaking it up into small stones for building or
road maintenance. Then I walked along the paths, returned to see how Michael
was progressing and then held a small, extra clinic in the field. A man had
back pain so I taught him easy exercises which seemed to have an immediate
effect (good) on his pain and he was most impressed. Mayabe
my healing powers are one up on the witch doctor. He was very appreciative!
Finally we set off home with the vehicle again packed with patients but this
time for admission.
An uneventful trip
apart from a large cobra which we ran over and then reversed for a photocall. (George drove over another much bigger one that night just near us by
the borehole, presumably squashing it, but it continued into the grass to live
another day perhaps!)
We stopped at Green Top to show the
surgeons the badly disfigured girl and, to our sorrow, they reported that it
was not possible to improve her condition and it could end up counterproductive
so we went home with a heavy heart. The other patients were booked in for
surgery. A long day, but with mission accomplished.
Wednesday 21 October 2009
Katakwi with Moses for an Outreach Clinic but, once again,
it had been cancelled, this time because it was World Food Day. Katakwi centre was laid out with agricultural stalls
displaying many aspects of farming from enormous cassava to water irrigation to
large goats and improved chickens. Although we should have been changing our
plans to do home visits, it was too fascinating not to explore all the
demonstrations and displays.
I suddenly spotted a child who I recognised; it was Michael, the boy who has 2 artificial
legs who I met about 3 years ago and of whom I made a movie clip which I always
use in my presentations as it demonstrates the good work of Kumi
Hospital. He had grown, of course, from the knees up but he had completely worn
away one foot and the other was barely recognisable.
We caught up with his grandfather and arranged to bring the boy back to have
new legs fitted. Then another boy was following me around (not an unusual
event) and, when we reached the vehicle to leave, I commented on this and then
he showed me the burn contractures to his hand. The boy really wanted to be
operated on so, after a short drive, he showed us where he lived and we met the
HIV+ mother who wasn't prepared to accompany him. An old neighbor was also
there and she agreed to go with the boy so she ran back to her mud hut, washed
and changed while I walked alone along the tracks appreciating the deathly
silence all around. Time to watch the grasshoppers camouflaged against the
grasses and appreciate the small wild flowers of yellow and purple. Then two
home visits to families with children with cerebral palsy where I had been
before and both affected by floods of two years ago. At both homes, I inspected
the pit latrines which I had constructed and I noted that one was smelly and
the other was not. Moses also showed me the mud hut I had had built and it was
satisfying to see the fruits of our labours.
In Serere,
the charcoal is half the price of that in Kumi, so
once again, I bought 5 bags from the lovely couple who sell the heavy bags on
the road side. It's not difficult to decide who to give them to and, for me, it seems a sensible way to help the economy. The
charcoal makers are happy as they can go for a week without a sale and the
people here are happy as charcoal is a luxury. I didn't realise
that the tree must first be bought and then there is much sweat and toil (and
hours) to burn the wood so the profit from each bag costing 20,000/= (3 pounds)is meagre. We dropped them off at
the huts feeling a little like Santa Claus as we left bulging sacks of dirty
the fuel.
Back at the Guest House, I was alone
for the evening as Angela had gone for supper to the German girls so I battened
down the hatches and settled down to an evening of sorting things out. It is so
dry and dusty here at present that my hair was unrecognisable
as such, more like the proverbial haystack, and it took three washes to get the
rinsing water to look somewhat clear. I showered twice and soaked my clothes in
washing powder to remove some of the grime.
Tuesday 20 October 2009
My day started around 7 am with Brenda
bringing the cake from Margaret Asio which I had
ordered for Friday to give to the surgical team. Then Gerald Moses, the blind
boy, called and we shared breakfast with him tucking in to bread, water and a
banana. I felt guilty having a different menu but he was happy and also he
couldn't see what I was eating!The
monthly CBR meeting took place today with a full attendance. Before it started,
I had many odds and ends to sort out with staff members, the surgical team, the
children's village, the Workshop and the physio
department so it is always good to have at least one day a week without going
out. The meeting went well with Charles, the chairperson, being his usual
vociferous self and wondering why he hadn't been informed about the groups we
are starting. Easily explained as I rarely see him!
With the part of the meeting for my
participation over, I was excused and found myself with many more little tasks
to accomplish before I realised I was very late for
my visit to Modesta's house where I was expected. I
jumped on a boda boda to
speed up my short trip and arrived empty handed to
find her usually warm welcome. Her life is extremely hard and poor but she
always manages to give me an omelette with yolks as
orange as a Spanish orange followed by omelette
sliced into ground nut sauce. I was treated to a Sprite which she thinks is my favourite drink whilst the children suffered an orange
drink which made their tongues a ghastly colour. They
spent the afternoon singing songs and fooling around while I took movie clips
of them in their small brick room which sleeps 11 of them and containing all
their worldly belongings. Modesta proudly showed me
her three goats which had been produced from a chicken I gave her a couple of
years ago; Grace and her daughter, Gladys, and the unnamed younger sister of
Gladys (my mind is a blank now when it comes to naming goats and cows). The
time passed all too quickly and I had to leave to wash and change to have
supper with Mr Viva and his team at their hotel. We
all travelled in the hospital bus and I sat under a tree and a new moon talking
to Chris on Skype while the others showered. We all had a good evening; I had 2
Bell's beers and a glass of wine and I sat watching Mr
Viva's face with a quiet, humble smile, a picture of contentment and I realised how much he gains from the exercise.
Monday 19 October 2009
Morning Assembly and Michael rowed the
boat ashore yet again with many hallelujahs following. Lots of babies and young
children have steristrips imitating moustaches and
covering up the tiny stitches of their cleft palate repairs and being carried
by very happy parents. It's nice to find muzungus
from Teesside in the compound and I think they are finding their stay here
interesting and rewarding. I was off out again to Wera
in Armuria so it was back up north and through Soroti yet again. Cassava chips were not available on the
roadside so Martin bought boiled yams for 30 pence and enough for 9 people.
This yam was one of my least favourite foods and not
one usually on the menu here but I was hungry so I was willing to fill my
stomach with anything. We held a well-organised
clinic and came home with 4 more children for the plastic surgeon. Coming back
through Sorotti, I bought a heavy water melon for 60
pence and some bananas for the patients we were bringing back with us.
Sunday 18 October 2009
Sunday prayers and then
a quiet morning to catch up with my diary. Half a sentence into it and along came Francis Okerenyang who
settled himself down for the morning. He was interested to read Barbara Koffman's (dental team) report on his son, Moses' (hospital
dental officer) attendance on her dental programme in
September. She is always impressed with Moses' performance and it is good for
him to be able to network with like-minded people as he never meets anyone
connected with dentistry up here.
At 12.30, Martin (CBR worker) and I
were going out for home visits on his motorbike but some of the plastic
surgeon's team wanted to join us so, with four of them, we set off in the Land
Cruiser starting at the hospital for Mr Viva to check
on yesterday's patients. We entered Ojikhan Ward to
find 4 children lying across a bed, face down and with their bottoms exposed to
reveal their surgery for gluteal fibrosis. It
reminded me of a Charles Dickens type punishment for naughty orphans. The old
woman stood there with her lip repaired, swollen and covered with a dressing.
She complained of pain but, in a day or two, when the swelling subsides, she
will be without her lifelong disfigurement. What a transformation for her! The
mothers of the children were delighted with the results and looked forward to
going home with their child able to integrate with others without ridicule. We
visited my leprosy man in the side ward who has lost his leg (not sure why as
it looks as though it was sawn off with a blunt hack saw with bone and infected
flesh exposed to the elements). He requires a hindquarter amputation but his
general condition shown in his skeletal body does not augur well for surgical
intervention. He likes a drink of water and a piece of bread as well as a
little company.
Finally we set off for the field and
Martin took us to a large tree where a group of villagers should have been
assembled but we were late! Can you believe that Africans decided to leave as muzungus didn't turn up on time! The Chairperson and
Secretary were present and, after a short introduction, we were shown round
their projects. Firstly, a chicken house with individual nests made out of
local clay, one of which contained a broody hen sitting on 12 eggs. Then an
orange tree project where they have grafted trees which were getting
well-established and we could pick some large oranges to give to the rest of
the surgical team who had gone site-seeing to the rock caves or rested at their
hotel. Very impressed with their abilities, we left them to visit 3 poor
families in Atatur. The first was a shock for us all
when we found a wild-looking boy with his ankles tied together sitting in the
doorway of his hut while his grandmother shelled a few ground nuts. This was
poverty and hopelessness in the extreme both affected by the drought with
failure of their few crops. The second child with cerebral palsy lived in
equally dire surroundings and, following a brief assessment, we decided to
refer him to the Workshop for a standing frame. Christine from the surgical
team promised him some clothes and she gave many pants from Asda
to the watching children. We began to think the third and last child was from a
very successful family as we stopped by an orange grove with large oranges
weighing down the branches until they nearly touched the ground. Passing by
this home and footing it along the narrow tracks, we soon reached yet another
home riddled with poverty and with another cerebral palsy child but, this time,
with far less potential and so we left with nothing to offer the family although
only the sister was present with the child. We returned to the tree where we
had started to find that the group members had re-assembled and our afternoon
ended with a few lengthy speeches as is the norm. We left taking the doctors
and nurses back to the Green Top where I was treated to my first
Saturday 17 October 2009
Setting off from the Guest House,
Angela and I hailed a motor bike pikipiki and, with
both of us squeezed on the back, we set off to town to meet Miriam who is a
co-founder of CREATE, an organisation which gives
community care for orphans and also has an improved goat project. www.dolen-ffermio.org.uk
We found her at the back of her home/ office busily
preparing lunch. We were told how the organisation
operates before going outside to sit under a tree with chickens chirping around
us and in quite a stiff wind so it wasn't long before the sand was filling our
eyes. A large cow entered her iron sheeting door and so we thought that was the
end of our lunch but the cow knew where it could find water! After lunch, we
made our leave and wandered through small alleys and where we were greeted by
many cheeky children wanting colours (crayons) to
find our way back into the main street where Angela managed to get some shillngs from the hole in the wall at the bank, a dust pan,
an English-Teso dictionary and register book and I
bought 6 knives at 5 pence each and a very sharp knife for 60p. A fast (because
we had forgotten to say slowly-slowly)bike ride back and I was dropped at
Margaret Asio's home where I ordered a cake for
Tuesday for the CBR meeting to demonstrate what can be made on a fuel saving
stove. She was busy making a raised seed garden, 2 compost
heaps and 2 sack gardens. I had a few balloons for the children so they played
happily while we discussed financial matters. Arriving back home, I found the
staff cooking supper for the plastic surgeon team and, as they had just been
asked to prepare it for 17 people in all, Isoon sat
outside and chopped peppers, onions, a large cabbage and mountains of chips
well into the darkness. I was pleased to have bought my sharp knife as it was
in immediate use. Pius, who has been kindly assisted through university from
the UK, called to give me an update on his progress as a volunteer and a water
project proposal his organisation is making in the
hope that I will find someone to assist. He is a fine exampe
of young men here, now aged 23, and eager to get ahead but it is so difficult
for the youngsters to get a start in life.
He was dying to get back tot eh
Training School where he could watch a programme on
TV having already watched Arsenal play (and win).
Friday 16 October 2009
I'm writing this on Saturday morning as
last night I had the modem and spent too long reading the many emails waiting
for attention. Not many from friends back home but lots pertaining to here. So
yesterday was another interesting but different day. Who could say life is dull
here. The student nurses from
I was supposed to be with
The team have
brought a journalist with them and she and I visited other departments within
the hospital. She was particularly impressed with the Nutrition Unit where she
studied photographs of "before and after treatment" for the
malnourished children. She is also with a BBC cameraman and the plan is to have
a short news item and perhaps a documentary. I suppose they get miles of
footage and use very little. Time will tell!
I have failed to mention Odung Sam, a 7 year old hydrocephalus with spina bifida. The workshop asked my opinion on seating as
he is only comfortable lying on his front which does not augur well for
adulthood. They are to try a cerebral palsy chair and, after much deliberation,
we decided on the seat angle. The boy has a body of a 3 year old with fixed
knees at 90 degrees and a brain of a bright 7 year old Another one who has
touched my heart and if he can tolerate his new posture, then a wheelchair
would be possible and surely a place in Kampala School for the Disabled in the
future with Lawrence. I gave him some crayons and colouring
books whilst he ate a banana and drank a Coke lying on his tummy. His mother
spoke good English and I suggested she spoke to the boy in English rather than
the local language of Ateso although I didn't tell
her why; that it would be most beneficial if he does go to Kampala. Important
that her hopes are not raised but not even her hopes as it would never enter
her head that he could have such a chance. She had completed her secondary
education to A Level but lack of finances prevented her doing anything with her
education. It is desperately sad. A member of staff here actually got a place
at
So the end of a week which could have
filled a book and here I have given a very short resume. I have an interesting
day ahead so more later.
Thursday 15 October 2009
Today, an Outreach
Clinic at Acowa, miles and miles and miles away from Kumi.
We set off reasonably early and arrived at a respectable hour to find around
500 people sitting around outside a Health Clinic. What a shock but they
weren't all for us, not quite! There was a concurrent Family Planning Clinic
and Michael from Kumi was holding an eye clinic but
we certainly had the majority. We settled ourselves at tables and chairs and
divided into 3 lots so 3 children were seen at once. Lydia and I had some very
interesting patients from a Muscular Dystrophy to cleft palates and burn
contractures which was just what the doctor ordered as Mr
Viva, the plastic surgeon and his team arrived from Teesside this very day. We
managed to fit everyone into the vehicle and, for once, we arrived home in
daylight. It really was a valuable clinic making the great distance worthwhile.
I could write a chapter for each day but
today my runny nose has turned into a cough and I'm about to get some lemon,
hot water and sugar (including ants) to see if it will settle.
Wednesday 14 October 2009
6.50am and the school
bell clanks away to tell the children to get up, I presume, as it continues at
intervals until around 7.15am. I'm already outside sitting in the porch enjoying a glass of lemon
tea and a plate of pawpaw and banana whilst it is still cool. I miss Morning
Assembly as I have an appointment with Moses, Adesso
Headmaster, at 8.30.
On arriving at the school, I found the
children lined up and singing by the flag pole and, as my visit was to be
brief, I passed them to have a word with one of the teachers, Stella. Then I realised that it was difficult to make my visit short as she
had made me an omelette with at least three eggs!
Grace said, omelette eaten and I was able to go to
Moses' office. What a jumble of dirty papers and all things imaginable. I told
him about the 20 desks being made and to tidy up the cow shelter as he is keen
to continue with this project but a storm had damaged the structure. A further
cow will only materialise if things are in order. The
first two are on the hospital farm both being pregnant at the moment. I've
decided on an Inter-house sports day which will consist of preliminary
qualifying matches followed by a final on 13 November. He produced the trophies
from under a pile of mess and I asked him to engrave the shield for last year.
I wonder if he will stick strips of embossed old tyre
on as Patrick, the sports teacher, did the previous year as he didn't want the
silver to be scratched! A hasty retreat from the office and I saw that the
children had made an avenue of bourgonvilliae flowers
which I was supposed to have walked down. I should have learnt by now that
short meetings are impossible.
Back to routine and a day in Serere. We piled into the Land Cruiser with many eye
patients returning home following surgery. This involved a long detour from our
direct route making me wonder if we were en route for
Returning home, we stopped at a mini
fish market where there was a very large mud fish resembling a python. If only
you could see my photos! You would be impressed!.
Tuesday 13 October 2009
Plans to go out with Martin today were
dashed as the vehicle needed servicing and I have to admit that, as my nose was
in full flow, I was relieved to take it easy. I had got up early to go with
Charles Okula, Hospital Administrator, to survey the
trees and at 6.45am and the best time of the day before the sun had much heat,
we set off along the tracks and through the mud to visit the tree nursery where
two men were attending to the seedlings including those of jatropha
and kaapol. 200 orange trees and 250 mango trees have
been planted out along with about 12,000 pines. The project seems to be coming
along nicely if not slowly. Cows from neighbouring
land are grazing randomly through the seedlings and, to me,
these are the biggest threat to the trees surviving. Not a lot more to report
but 40 desks to be made, 2 tricycles to be paid for, a tricycle renovated for Akurot, a leprosy sufferer. and my
flu.
Monday 12 October 2009
We returned to Katakwi
to continue with the formation of the women's group which we initiated last
Thursday. On the way, I again bought cassave chips
from the roadside. Nine chips cost 200/= (7p) and it is impossible to eat every
one. They are very hot, covered in salt and wrapped in old newspaper. We
arrived to find the members gathered under a mango tree, an agenda drawn up
ready, the committee formed and we were all set to start. Looking around at the
faces, I realised that many were familiar from
previous years and it was like meeting old friends. Justin was there with his
brother and his wife who has a baby which unfortunately has a urinary deformity
but she will be able to be assessed by the plastic surgeon later this week. It
was useful to meet Justin's brother, Julius, after finding Justin abandoned
last week but then his brother was in the fields looking for food and he had to
leave the boy all alone. This is one such situation which is unthinkable at
home. The meeting was well structured and fruitful and a plan was drawn up
whereby I provide them with two cows, the ensuing calves will be passed on to
another member until they all own one. After the formal duties were completed,
a table was laid with African tea (tea made with milk + skin on top - delicious
- and g nuts. We left with me bearing a chicken which will be a mate for Rupert
at Mgt Asio's. On to the next home
visit to see a family which I helped a couple of times. The goat has
turned into two cows so that the disabled child now has a better diet and the
land has been planted out after the lst crop failed
due to the drought. People are so resilient here. Time for home and I started
sneezing heralding the onset of flu which is in full force as I write. My
handkerchief is next to me and dries between blows! The chicken was deposited
at Mgt's and I came back to no power for the evening which was a disappopintment as, so far, it has been quite reliable.
However, it was a good excuse to go to bed early to see if the sniffles would
settle.
Sunday 11 October 2009
Sunday morning and I have the hospital
modem for the day so my netbook antivirus is updated
and my emails were checked before I left for church. Also the week's washing
was on the line dripping with water but that's fine as they still dry very
quickly. I was an hour late for prayers but still arrived before the start. The
church is looking very smart and just about complete after Chris' visit in
April. I wouldn't be surprised if you could have heard the singing in the
distance as it rocked the church. I enjoy people-watching (as well as praying)
with the children in their crisp, white Sunday shirts, the lady in front of me
in her Barbour-type jacket with faux fur collar, the two leprosy sufferers,
Margaret with Lawrence in tow at the other end of his walking pole. Walking
back, I called in to see Ruth to see if she had her new mobile phone and we set
it up together. Now I can phone her to check she is alright as I have been
worrying about her with her deep depression. Her mother is with her so I am
reassured that she is not alone. We walked back together and I showed her my
family photos for 2009 on the laptop.
Today I am eating frugally so, after a
banana for lunch, I crossed the airfield to reach
So the start of another week and I
wonder what lies ahead?
Thursday 8 October 2009
An Outreach Clinic at
a Health Clinic in Katakwi with Moses today. Katakwi is far so we
needed to leave early. Firstly, though, I had a meeting with Dr Opolot, Charles, the Administrator, and Joseph, from HR as
they wanted to put me in the picture as to where they were with Chris' project.
Afterwards,
Wednesday 7 October 2009
I shall be brief as I am geerting behind with my diary and I'm writing this on
Sunday. A day within the hospital and so time for catching up with projects but
the morning was spent helping
Wednesday 7 October 2009
Last night when I returned from the
field, I could not have put one word on paper or screen. Having set out at
7.30am and returned at 9pm, I was ready for a thorough wash and bed (and a loo!) and I had my best night's sleep since I arrived here.
George, the driver, and I set off for Serere to meet
up with Amos, the CBR worker who always provides me with an interesting programme. Today he didn't let me down and our first home
visit was to a village with 2 ladies (Mary and Goretti)
of totally indeterminate age; 15 or 50, I know not. They have a syndrome (which
one, I don't know as there are hundreds and it's a good word to select when you
can't think what the condition is) which has left them about 2 feet high with
legs curled up underneath them but how smart they were! Each morning they get
up about 5am and make bread (something like a muffin to us), alight their one
tricycle (one up and the other down) and the one up pedals with her hands all
the way to the nearby trading station where they sell their 20 "buns"
in bundles of 5 for 200/= a bundle which, at my reckoning, is 800/= (25 pence)
and that is after they have bought the ingredients. How they manage to traverse
the terrain following rain, I do not know as even our Land Cruiser skidded in
the mud and George had to use the 4-wheel facility to move. They have a content
existence but have a problem collecting water from the borehole especially when
their one jerrycan had a few holes in it so that, by
the time they returned home, the jerrycan was not so full as when they had filled it! Amos and I made a plan,
discussed it with them and, of course, they were very happy. The two of them
changed their clothes and then climbed into the back of the vehicle, quite a
feat in itself, and off we went shopping. First, a 100 litre
water barrel but nothing is too simple and the first one we saw was broken and
the man would not reduce the price so we forgot about that one. Then the local
store where we bought 3 jerrycans, soap, salt, sugar,
paraffin, matches, rice, posho, beans - you name it,
we bought it! The girls were thrilled especially when we got so carried away
and proceded to the butcher who had the most
disgusting-looking entrails on the block. A photo is available on request! A
drive to the next trading station and a much better quality barrel was for sale
at only a couple of 1000/= more so that was a good buy and then a padlock, of
course, so that their hut wouldn't be ransacked. Back home, they couldn't wait
to delve into the plastic bowls just like children with their Christmas
stockings. What fun I had! Mary brought me a chair balancing it with great
skill on her head and I do envy her abilities and also their housekeeping
qualities as their compound and hut were spick and span to the nth degree. We
had filled the jerrycans at the borehole and more
about the water barrel later...
On to the second home visit and we
returned after two years to the village where the HIV+ grandmother looks after
her 3 disabled, orphaned grandchildren. We had given the eldest girl a tricycle
and she is doing well in school, speaks English and I am proud of what she has
achieved just by being mobile. The second girl was walking with crutches but
had been demoted from Primary School to Nursery as she couldn’t walk to school
so we bought her a bicycle so that the grandmother can cycle to and from school
with Karisa on the back. Opio,
the hydrocephalus boy, has outgrown his wheelchair and I have returned to find
a medium sized one hopefully from within the hospital. We left to buy the
bicycle and to return with it later when I was to be given a chicken (live, of
course) More later...
Our third visit was to the home of Zaccariah where I had been two years earlier and had
provided a goat which has multiplied into five. Zaccariah
shuffles on his bottom and, although he could be brighter, we have decided to
provide him with a tricycle. I phoned Kamlesh (the
man in Mbale who makes them) to order a third one and
was told the first two will be ready on Friday. It's almost unreal to be
sitting on a little wooden seat in the middle of the bush where there is no
water nor power and with the sun beating down unbearably and to press a few
buttons to connect to someone miles away!
We continued west munching away at a
maize cob cooked by the roadside. I'm careful with these as I have cracked a
crown before now and the thought of spending the next few weeks with front
teeth missing is too much! Now we were to start the days plan in earnest and it
was well into the afternoon. We have decided that, rather than provide
individuals with assistance, it is better to start off groups who can learn to
help themselves and each other so here we were to meet Amos' first two groups.
They are starting small which is good but they are enthusiastic at this idea of
helping themselves out of poverty. They have 5000/= (under 2 pounds) in reserve
so that members of the group can borrow from it. How easy it would be for me to
boost the funds but I am leaving it up to them. I have said that when I return
next year, they may have 50,000/= but they thought that that was an enormously
unachievable amount. The value of money varies greatly from region to region
and here the ladies are basically impoverished but not amongst the poorest. We
sat on a bench opposite a shack from which blasted out the noisiest music ever
which was competing with another source just a couple of shacks away. Time to
depart and to start our long trek home but, on the way, Amos and George were
determined to find a market selling fresh fish from the nearby
Monday 5 October 2009
Up with the cockerels as usual and long
before the dawn breaks so it's on with the light (yes, there is power today)and I decide to tidy up my bookshelf which gets in a mess
everyday. I'm surprised how many papers I collect each day; receipts, notes,
requests. Next will be the cupboard which has the contents of my case thrown
into the back of it. Breakfast of dry bread and dry tea and then to the
hospital and no idea what the day had in store for me. I had been invited to
the World Teachers Day but, as it is a working day, I had to find out what I
was doing before I took a day off. I then realised
that I would be in working trousers and to go to a function I would need a
dress and preferably a gomaz, the local costume, so I
phoned Robert Ecelat who agreed that trousers would
not be correct dress even though I would have to ride side saddle on a motor
bike! Anyone else wouldn't care a hoot.
Sometimes the day starts very
frustratingly and this was one of them. Whilst waiting, I gave Michael his
autobiography which Bruce had kindly printed. He was over the moon and it made
him more determined to start on Part 2. Moses, the dentist, got his CD from
Barbara Koffman, the dental co-ordinator
from
We couldn't venture out to the field
until the staff had been facilitated (given money for fuel) at 2pm so I decided
to buy the fuel so that we got moving. The tank was filled up and off we went
to find William, CBR worker, in Ngora. The children
were on holiday due to the teacher's celebrations, a brass band paraded down
the street and everything felt festive. We saw some children with disabilities
in the back streets of Ngora mainly under the iron
sheeting overhanging the basic units. It was just too hot (as it is now while I
write) so we decided on some refreshment to keep us going. William thought we
would go to the poshest place in town but I refused
and so we ended up in nothing more than a shack with iron sheeting walls and a
wooden lean to where the cooking took place. A perfect place for a perfect meal
and truly African, very popular and with plates piled high with food and no
cutlery. Our plans for my visit are evolving into starting more groups within
the community and we were fortunate enough to meet 3 committee members of THAW,
Teso Hands at Work, a 6 month old group which seemed
to be very structured. They imparted much useful information for us and we came
away with a copy of their constitution and promises to
have further meetings. Next I wanted to visit
Then back home and I can write no more
as sweat is dripping off me, I am exhausted and I must have a
"shower" so good night...
Saturday 3 October 2009
Up at 6 to get my clothes soaking in a
plastic bin and you should have seen the water! Filthy! I have a kettle in
which I can boil water in my room but this morning the plug melted and smoke
poured forth so now I am relying on charcoal. I sat outside to have breakfast(bread with banana and lemon tea) and watched the
world go by. Women with firewood piled high on their heads, others with large
hoes on their way to the fields, a plough pulled by two yolked
oxen with their drivers shouting directions, children scampering past and
waving as they went, chickens chased by eager cockerels, a turkey strutting
along and two guinea fowl with legs going 19 to the dozen and resembling a
couple of nuns late for Vespers.
Today I have volunteered to stand in
for
Now I have had supper (cabbage and
chapatti) and I am disappointed to find that the modem lent to me by Dr Ekure needs a top up of funds so I'm out of luck.
I am worried about Ruth who continues
to be in a deep depression. I had told
Friday 2 October 2009
The week has passed quickly and I have
achieved a lot already. On reflection, I realise that
this year is no different from any other and that the crisis is the drought
which has caused a lot of suffering and hunger. The people here depend on their
crops to provide school fees and other expenses so they are finding all aspects
of life difficult. The scarcity of commodities has caused costs to rise out of
all proportion and we hope that they will soon settle to an acceptable rate.
Today was busy for me; I paid for a
piece of land, the repair of 10 tricycles, gave a loan to help a sick orphan,
sat in the orthopaedic out patients clinic for
children where we saw 72 patients, 66% of which had disabilities resulting from
malaria; to continue, I had a meeting with Joseph, HR Manager, regarding the
structure of the physiotherpay department, gave
Moses, a little TB spine boy, a jumper from Farndale
YCA and took a photo to pass on to the knitters, had the fridges swapped so now
the Guest House will not be as noisy as a jumbo jet engine when there is power
and Dr Ekure has lent me his laptop and modem so that
I can get on line. I've checked my emails but, without power, the battery is
flat and it will just be my luck that there will be no power until he wants it
back. If I am successful, I shall be able to send emails this evening so I
shall find it difficult to decide who to start with; the family, of course!
I'm sitting outside as I write this on
my netbook, a wonderful little machine whose screen
is quite visible in sunlight. Now the sky is a duck egg blue with wisps of pink
clouds, the sun has set and the dusk is approaching so rapidly that I know that
I shall have to finish in 7 minutes flat! The bats are swooping low and I will
have to swathe myself in mosquito repellent any minute. We will light our
candles whilst we await the switching on of power at
around 8pm. Nothing is certain especially as there was none this morning. We
have to wait and see (or not see perhaps, as the case may be!) I can still see
but mozzies are swarming round the screen so that's
it for today!
Thursday 1 October 2009
The days pass quickly and the morning
walk to the hospital becomes routine but never monotonous. Today I pass a large
squashed frog anda vivid green grasshopper also
killed by a pasing motorist in the night. My visit to
the field didn't materialise for a reason unbeknown
to me so what did the day have in store? We held an impromptu staff meeting
which proved to be lengthy and fruitful ending with a decision for Niels and me to have a meeting with Joseph, the HR Manager.
Have I mentioned Niels earlier? He is the Dutch physio who came here in April and has another 2 weeks
before he returns home. We are realising that our
vision for the physiotherapy department is similar and we agree on the action
required to improve things so we are hoping for big, positive changes.
I am negotiating the removal of the
excessively large and noisy industrial fridge to be replaced by a smaller,
quiet one I have found which is almost unused and runs continuously consuming
much power. The person in charge of the office containing the small one has
decided she needs it to keep water cool for the children so we have come to an
agreement; I get the fridge and I buy her a 20 litre
clay pot and the mothers go to the borehole for the water. The hospital saves
power and the purchase of bottled water!
What next? I decide to visit Adesso School to discuss the purchase of desks from JP only
to find them rehearsing their drama, singing and poetry for Sunday which is to
highlight AID's and HIV to parents. The school was
divided by JP last year into "houses" and one was named after yours
truly so I watched their performance and will go on Sunday to enjoy the day
there. It is so hot and any distance to be walked in the heat of the day is so
arduous that it is easy to wonder why on earth do I do
this but activities before and after the walking makes it worthwhile. A few
spare moments once back at the Guest House and just time to take a cup of lemon
tea before I leave for Hellen Odule's
house for God's Grace Group's Thursday meeting. We sat outside in the dusk and
discussed progress since last November. The poultry house and run are splendid
and inside are 6 broiler hens in one half and about 30 chicks in the other
half. Things could be going better but considering the drought I was pleased
with progress. Hellen doesn't work and has had time
to develop her garden using lots of compost and she has produced a beautiful
crop of vegetables which would win gold awards in any English produce show. She
is an inspiration to the others who do not have the time to do so well but it
helps them to see what can be done in spite of the drought. The family consumes
most of her produce but she has managed to improve her lifestyle with what she
has to sell and to buy herself a mobile phone, her pride and joy! The skies
darkened, not only with the oncoming evening but also with evil-looking rain
clouds so about 15 of us rose from the ground and squeezed ourselves into her
tiny one-roomed house. The meeting progressed and plans were made. We are to
invite Jane from Aliasit Farm to visit the project
and to ask her for any further advice, I gave the group an order for 20 maize
bags for me to bring home and to give them an income of 100,000/= and finally
to arrange a party for members of the group using Hellen's
produce. I cycled home on Grace's bike in the dark, trying to avoid unseen
potholes and hoping that the motorcyclists in front and behind could see me. I
feared putting my foot to the ground as it was the time of day for snakes to
come out of their homes.
A good supper (we are always eating!),
a shower of sorts and then time to get tucked under the mosquito net for a good
night's sleep or so I thought but my phone rang waking me from a deep sleep and
making me think that Niels was playing music loudly.
It wasn't until morning that I realised that I was to
blame for the noise and that it was a missed call from Julian who continues to
pester me incessantly.
Wednesday 30 September 2009
I'll make this brief today. I write
this having had my shower and I'm sitting in my room with the others being sociable
the other side of my door. I'm happy to be in my own company and I will get
into my book, Baking Cakes in
My aftertnoon
was spent arranging the recycling of 10 tricycles which will make a total of 30
in 2 years. I have had a lock changed on a cupboard so that I can hide my stack
of Ug shillings in a safe if I have the right key for
that. Emukol invited me to visit the church and it
was a pleasant surprise to see it so much nearer completion. A bitty day and
hopefully I will go to the field soon. Good night!!
Tuesday 29 September 2009
Yesterday being Monday, we left Kampala
(we being a Canadian family of Robin (plastic surgeon), his pregnant wife,
Heidi, 6 year old Joshua, 5 year old Leah and 18 month old Hannah, Alex and
I)and set off at a respectable 8.45 with our luggage piled high on the top of
the Land Cruiser. Two hours of traffic jams through the city brought us to
clearer roads when we could make reasonable progress. The miles passed smoothly
through the tea and sugar plantations and past the broken-down vehicles until
we were flagged down by an agressive-looking police
officer with rifle at the ready. Uganda is becoming Westernised
indeed with, not only the rifle, but also the spped
gun showing we had been doing 69kph instead of keeping to the 50kph speed
limit. Poor Alex was in a true fix and had to pay the 100,000/= fine at the
bank in Jinja before returning with the receipt to
claim back his driving permit. Without us, he would have got away with a bribe
but the beastly policewoman was in no mood to negotiate. Whilst Alex was at the
bank, Robin and I decided that we should go alves
with the fine as it was 2 weeks wages. I suppose this helped Alex out of a fix
but he was very disappointed to be guilty of his first offence. After a break
for lunch, toilet and leg stretch we continued north for mile after mile
passing the women bearing heavy loads on their heads, the cyclists risking life
and limb balancing with their weighty and unwieldy produce on the back,
schoolchildren playing in the school grounds, petrol wagons churning out filthy
black fumes, until we came upon a crash seeming like 2 buses and a public taxi.
Later I found out that all occupants in the taxi died making me very nervous
about travelling in one ever again. Destiny, I was told, "don't worry, when your time is up, it's up!" I have decided
not to take this line of thinking and to take as many precautiuons
as possible. The road is so potholed that vehicles speed along on the wrong
side of the road so it doesn't matter how carefully one drives. Finally we
reached the Guest House, unloaded our baggage and settled in with me in "my"
room.
There is a Dutch physio
who has been here since April but who leaves mid-October otherwise we were all
new. After supper enjoyed by all with the children managing well and Heidi
coping admirably, and after the proverbial "shower" taken by standing
in a plastic bowl and jumping as cold water is poured down my back, my head hit
the pillow at 8.30pm and stayed there until 6am not that sleep took over for
all those 10 hours. I'd forgotten how hot it is and that bedding on top of me
is quite unnecessary.
Tuesday (today), up at 6 while it is
still cool for breakfast, breakfast and the walk to the hospital for Morning
Assembly. Robin and I were welcomed by Charles, hospital administrator, and
then we went our separate ways; he to the theatre and I to the physio9therapy
department. It wasn't until this evening that I realised
my day's accomplishments having thought I had achieved little. I met my leprosy
friends, arranged the repair of 10 tricycles, decided to complete our Social
Worker, Paul's Kumi University degree as he had had
to drop out this term due to lack of funds from his poor crop yields. He fits
into my category of helping the disabled as he has suffered from cerebral palsy
since birth and copes with life with great courage. Helen, a cleaner, told me
her troubles without asking for help. Her son in Senior
5 had impreganated a girl in Senior 3 and the girl
had a baby daughter of 3 weeks. According to their culture, Helen now has to
accept the girl and baby into her family and pay the girl's parents
3,000,000/=, a hard task when earning 100,000/= a month gross! She had paid
into a microfinance company 350,000/= and it had closed down and taken her and
many others pre3cious savings. Her crops had failed and she had had to rent off
her one and only garden (this is insufficient land to keep a family of 4 in
crops let alone the 9 mouths she now has to feed). She had also to abandon her
small shop set out in cardboard boxes and so she is quite desolate. I will give
the baby some of my clothes for new born babies which I have brought out and
help her with a few crops. My brain is still working on this one.
Stephen Obwongo,
my mad friend, spied me and now I have a plentiful supply of fresh lemons from
his tree for my tea. They are very small this year because of the drought. Also
Julius who pesters me for 12 months of the year with aborted phone calls which
I never answer also realised I was here so I told him
that I was hearing no one's problems and left him and he never returned today
so my fingers are crossed! Too much to write about with Consolata
calling round and we exchanged family news as we sat in the dark with rain
lashing down causing a river in front of the house and lightening flashing and
thunder crashing overhead. Paul and I discussed his education requirements and
lots more and this is Day One!
Thursday 24 September 2009
Last Monday was departure day and
everything went smoothly for once; luggage perfect, no terrorists and even the
KLM food could not be faulted so, all in all, a successful flight. Matthias was
at the airport to greet me but it was a moment or two before I spied him and I
had just a few seconds wondering if this was a repeat performance of my entry
into
6am and up
with the cranes to leave for St Stephen's Hospital, Mpererwe.
I was met by Gonzaga, the hospital driver, who drove the ambulance presumably
with great skill and we arrived miraculously in one piece at Mengo Hospital where I was to meet my host, Samuel Lubogo, Professor of Anatomy at the Medical School, and his
wife, Anne. Gonzaga and I continued to the hospital where we were greeted by
the staff and taken on a tour of the hospital which is a small, 20-bedded unit
with theatre and OPD. Olivia, the hospital Administrator, and I then went out
to take lunch at a local cafe where I enjoyed chapati
and peas for 1000/= (30p). We were to have a meeting with Dr Lorna Muhirwe, the Executive Director of UPMB which is an
umbrella organisation for St Stephen's (and
After a lunch of matoke
and posho eaten with the staff I had first a meeting
with Mr Njagala Godfrey,
Chairman of the Board of St Stephen's, followed by a meeting with Rev Sam Lwere and soon I was getting a good feel of the hospital
and its systems. He took me to see his church which is being built round the
old one which holds 400 people. The new one, when finished, will take 1,000. I
returned to have supper with Prof Luboga's family and
retried to bed having made afew notes on the day's
events. Friday, I was at the hospital at 7.30am and spent the morning in the
Out Patient's Department where a steady stream of patients came to see the
Clinical Officer.The main condition seen was malaria
but also many pregnant women, one with syphilis. I had time to talk with the
staff and learn how they felt about the hospital facilities which helped me in
producing a constructive report. Lunch was beans and matoke
and then Dr Catharine and I went on a home visit to see an old man with a
relatively young wife in a very smart house belonging to his son. He is
terminally ill and well looked after by his wife but there could have been
invaluable input from a physiotherapist. I offered suggestions to Dr C and we
helped the patient onto his bed, showed him some exercises to alleviate the oedema in his legs and how to get out of bed without
assistance. We had no more time to visit further patients at their homes as we
had to be back for 4pm for the meeting with the Board of Directors, or so we
thought as we waited 2 hours before the meeting started. Introductions, prayers
and speeches were followed by my report on my findings and my proposals to take
back to the Rope Trust. I was surprised with a superb feast laid out in the
hospital courtyard and i left feeling I had achieved
a good result and I knew that I would be welcomed back next year hopefully to
find many improvements.
Saturday and I left Prof Lubago's home and returned to Mattias
where I caught up with my washing and we all spent the rest of the day at a BBQ
at friends of Matthias. Sunday. Up early to wash my
hair and pack to leave for Kumi but best made plans
here are sometimes altered and I am to leave supposedly in the morning.
So I'm up to date and I wonder if I
will be able to copy this to an email. This will be the last time I can send an
update until I am absolutely sure that I can find a virus-less computer. I am
doubtful. So bye for now and fingers crossed for more!
Wednesday 16 September 2009
Panic is reaching danger levels as I
leave on Monday next and preparations seem to be non-existent. But what has
happened since 1 August? The month was mainly devoted to summer visitors and
grandmotherly duties, meetings and outings so Kumi
also had a summer recess. A weekend in Glasgow was memorable with 3 of us going
up by train, staying overnight at a B&B, being thoroughly spoilt, attending
a Mass signed by the deaf and me giving a talk to parishioners following Sunday
Mass and signed by Liz Ann. What memories and, although I had 12.00 pounds
worth of cards to sell, I have banked over 200 pounds. (Lack of the pound sign
is due to Chris having bought me a netbook, much more
user friendly for transportation but still very new to me and I've a lot to
learn.)
A talks to Bedale
Probus Club and N Cowton
WI, Tony and Maggie McCann bringing presents and money for Anthony, lots of
things donated for taking out, letters, cheques, and
an all day breakfast at Harrogate Methodist Church. Thank goodness I cycled
there and back as there was the traditional English breakfast to eat and many
calories were consumed. Yesterday, I visited St Matry's
Primary School in
Saturday 1 August 2009
On 23 June, St Mary's Primary School,
CHANGE THE WORLD… WOMEN CAN AIC
It has been a privilege for me to have
been invited to attend the AIC Africa Seminar in
Travel requirements made, inoculations
updated and on 13 July, I set off for a new African experience.
Day 1 “Me, African Woman”
The presentations dealt with the AIC
African network, their links, evolutions and expectations.
Laurence introduced the Seminar with
the following points:
• Encourage personal change and
responsibility awareness.
• Within AIC, enhance the commitment to
solve women’s poverty.
• Make individuals, organisations
and society as a whole aware of their responsibilities.
Day 2 “Me, AIC African Volunteer-My
Actions”
An excellent presentation was given by
Rose de Lima Ramanankavana, Projects Co-ordinator for AIC
Dinner was followed by an evening of lively
Nigerian dancing, singing and audience participation ending with soda and
nibbles. We returned to our rooms fully realising the
true camaraderie of AIC.
Day 3 “Me, AIC
Martine, Cameroun AIC president, and
Rose, Madagascar AIC President, discussed the structure of an organisation with National Councils, elections and finances
as the theme for the day and continued to consolidate the relevance of the key
to Systemic Change.
A festive evening of singing, role play
and dancing organised by the Madagascan delegates was
enjoyed by all.
Day 4 “Me, Woman, AIC Volunteer,
African Citizen”
Laurence continued to explain the
elements of Systemic Change and the day ended with evaluation of the seminar
and a closing Eucharist. It was
Day 5 Departure
A sad day indeed with many farewells, promises
to keep in touch and photo calls Those who were
leaving and not staying on for the second week had a sight-seeing tour of
The week was a very special time for me
realising the influence that AIC has on the African
delegates and how they have developed their groups in order to empower the
poorer women to attain a social status and independence and to become aware of
their rights.
I thank the organising
committee for its preparation and delivery of an excellent seminar.
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News in Kumi
is that there is a serious drought and famine has already set in with much
starvation, hunger and deaths in the ensuing months due to the complete lack of
crops growing. I get panicking messages from people asking for our prayers and
I have heard that people are resorting to eating rats. Ruth is once again in a
depressed state and Florence's daughter, Martha's dormitory burnt down last
Wednesday with all belongings bar one dress destroyed.
Friday 19 June 2009
The rain is teeming down outside and
the temperature has dropped dramatically in the last few days. How can the
country be sweltering in the heat one minute only for it to be so cold and wet
the next? This morning Chris was using the hose pipe to water the garden which
was suffering from lack of rain and now I wonder why he bothered. It's a good
excuse for me to sit down and write a diary update.
Since 23 March, my last entry, I have
visited a school where the 5 year olds had been "doing"
Last Saturday, we had our Open Day, the
big fund raiser of the year. The garden looked great, friends made lots of
soup, bread, cakes and brought plants for the plant stall, raffle and tombola
prizes. We had the Traidcraft stall, recycled cards
and Deidre, a parishioner, brought quilted bags etc to sell. Joseph, my eldest
grandson, spent an afternoon designing his money-raising idea which was a
laminated snake's head for the start of a coin trail up the garden path. This
made £100.00 proving to be a huge success and I am sure we will do it again.
The weather was perfect and so many people came to enjoy the garden and to
support Kumi. Chris cooked sausages and beefburgers, the ladies in the kitchen served soup, tea and
coffee, raffle tickets were folded, tombola prizes were won and no-one stopped
until the last person left. Anita and Barry counted the money and a staggering
£2,750.00 was raised. Five AIC members from
The next event is my trip to
Before I go, there is a bag packing
session at Sainsbury's, our local supermarket, and this usually raises about
£500. I am collecting names of volunteers and I appreciate the support given.
p>The plans for the visits of Mr
Viva, the plastic surgeon, and the dental team from CRU later this year are
progressing well. I have a meeting in
Monday 23 March 2009
Time for a quarterly update and how can
the weeks and months be passing so swiftly? Our winter
is almost behind us, the mornings are lighter and next weekend we put our clocks
back to British Summer Time which makes our time difference with
The year ended with Chris recovering
well from his malaria and insect bite and he was discharged from our local
hospital before Christmas as there were no vacant beds for the seriously sick.
He was also missing his wife's cooking skills! Then I had a bug which lasted
over a month so, all in all, we weren't to healthy in
spite of the sunshine and Vitamin D which our bodies had absorbed.
My first presentation was a little
stifled but now, after a few re-runs, it is going well. One had to be cancelled
due to snow which almost stopped the country functioning. Schools were closed,
roads were blocked and there were many road traffic accidents. I've attended
some meetings which have been productive and I talked to the children of a
Primary School who had been learning about
The good news is that a local plastic
surgeon and his team are making arrangements to go to Kumi
Hospital later this year to operate on cleft palates, burns and burn
contractures and hand deformities to name a few. Then in November, Barbara Koffman who is part of CRU (Christian Relief
All my children passed their school
exams and are either continuing at the same school or have gone up to the
secondary schools. I am very proud of each one but especially Laurence, an athetoid cerebral palsy boy, who has passed his P3.
There will be more news to follow
before too long, I hope.