Zidim
Algol
Hamish Tait, Robin Hastie & Jim Hepburn
Thu 20 Sep 2007 07:45
|
The journey here from Maroua was
interesting, to say the least. Jutta Krebs (hospital director) picked us up at
8.30 then helped us (well, Anne really!) bargain for fresh food at roadside
stalls. The first part of the drive was on tarmac, then we headed off on the
dirt track road. Not the direct route to Zidim as it's impassable after the
recent rains. The detour included two river crossings where the bridges had been
washed away. Local villagers have created temporarybridges/fords which looked
rather insecure, and were charging tolls. Jutta, however, just told them the
hospital had prepaid (presumably some kind of arrangement has been made) and we
crossed safely. Fortunately we were in a proper 4x4, especially when we had to
go "off road" to get past a heavily laden truck which was stuck in the mud.
Arrived safely at Zidim and that's us now in our new home. It's a small
bungalow with two bedrooms, a living/dining room, kitchen and bathroom with
(cold) shower. We have a gas cooker with oven and a fridge which runs on
petrol! Compared to what we've heard some of the other volunteers are going to,
we're living in luxury! The folk here have gone to great trouble to
make us feel welcome. This morning (Monday) I went to the weekly staff meeting
which starts with a short religious service (this is a Baptist
Mission Hospital). Then everyone introduced themselves: I have absolutely
no hope of remebering their names! Finally, I tried to say a few words in
French to introduce myself. Then it was off on a ward round of the hospital
with Dr Sylvia, who's from Holland. Conditions in the hospital are just as
we see on TV at home. The beds are basically concrete platforms and folk lie on
thin mats, or on the ground, Most of the children in the ward have malaria with
chest infections. TB is common. The surgical cases are really challenging: one
had an extrauterine pregnancy presenting at around 32 weeks gestation.
Anne is still waiting to here from her
employer/"partner". She's due to go back to Maroua for a meeting of the
education volunteers on Friday, but it's all still very unclear. Tomorrow we're
to be formally introduced to teh "lamidou", i.e. village chief. We'll have to
mind our "Ps & Qs", but according to Sylvia, he's a bit of a lady's man,
with 4 or 5 wives. Not content with that, he'll summon local girls to his house
- not very savoury! Tomorrow is also the market day in Zidim, but since all the
bartering has to be done in Fulfulde, we'll just
observe!
|