New Year Party
Algol
Hamish Tait, Robin Hastie & Jim Hepburn
Sun 11 Jan 2009 19:25
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This is written just before we leave to meet our new
grandson, Jamie. We arrive in Newcastle on Tuesday 13th and will be
staying with Wendy until 31st January. Then it's back to work in
Zidim. As we had no intention of coming back to the UK during our two
years, we have not brought any winter clothes with us, so Tuesday morning should
be interesting!
The hospital had a New Year party for the staff. It was
bizarre to celebrate New Year out of doors in the broiling sun. Otherwise,
there were many similarities with a Hogmanay party at home; plenty of good food,
a supply of beer and a bit of dancing. One difference was a series of
speeches; an introduction from Zra (head of midwifery) who was the organiser,
Jutta Krebs (co-ordinator), Michel (hospital superntendant) and Anne Poppelaars
(médécin chef). Photos show Jutta giving her speech, the crowd filling
their plates from the huge buffet and Asta, one of our midwives, enjoying the
dancing. She looks really cheery and that's exactly how she is in real
life.
On the medical side, we seem to be in the middle of a real
outbreak of meningococcal meningitis, with four cases this week. There is
a vaccination programme and all staff are being encouraged to take
advantage. We are also trying to get the families of all the patients in
the hospital to get themselves vaccinated. We have also been concerned
that we could be seeing the start of a measles epidemic as we had two cases
recently. Fortunately, we have seen no more but it is a real worry as
vaccination cover is well below the 90% level neede to give adequate protection
to the population.
Last seasonal thought - couldn't resist sharing the image of
Santa sitting on the roof of Porte Mayo Hotel recovering from all his labours
with three of our grandsons below. And finally, have included a shot of
Nicola (with Matthew) fulfilling a lifetime ambition - riding a camel (well,
really a dromedary!).
ANNE
Work:
This week has been a bit weird, getting back to work after
Christmas but for only one week. I am sure the head teachers will be glad to see
the back of me for three weeks and get a break from all my questions and
interference. At the moment we are still looking at the work of the PTA and
tipping worms out of cans, especially in money matters. It seems parents don't
want to pay school fees because it has been known for PTA committee members to
do away with the money. We are trying to encourage transparency, use of receipts
etc. I think we may have a long way to go.
Thanks to the appeal to the St.Andrews Citizen, 614 books have
now been delivered to the 4 schools with some money left to spend when we get
back. A great result.
This week we got the news that 4 girls from the literacy class
had got married over Christmas so Godam immediately replaced them from the
waiting list. He was non-plussed when I asked him why the girls have to stop
coming just because they are married. After a moment's thought, he said he
would ask their husbands' permission. He was further non-plussed when I
suggested he speak to the girls themselves . I await
developments.
Village life:
Thanks to the congregation of St.Leonard's Church, St.Andrews,
work got underway this week in training 21 women to dye materials using a
mixture of traditional and modern methods and then to make clothes. This is a
scheme run by the pastor's wife to give women and young girls the opportunity to
earn some money, be independent and have a better future. Training of the
girls will start in February, it is hoped.
Shopping in Maroua:
On Wednesday I went shopping for plastic to protect all the
new books. Reluctantly I ended up in the biggest supermarket in town. A shop
assistant follows you round as you select your goods. You then take them to a
table where another assistant takes all your shopping and handwrites a list. You
then move on to another table where you leave your goods with yet another
assistant while you take the handwritten slip to the cash desk. There purchases
are rung up and the till slip stapled to the handwritten one. The cashier
finishes off with the official shop stamp before you are free to go back to the
table where you have left your goods. That assistant then checks both slips and
accompanies the happy shopper outside where purchases are wrapped. I like to
skip that stage! Life's too short!
Random thoughts:
* Grandson Jack thought Africa was "cool but hot"! Little
brother Matthew thought "Afkiva" was "good" and Tommy said he had had the best
holiday ever.
* Wendy thinks motherhood will be just like having a new
puppy. Yeah, right!
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