ANNE

Work:

My working life over the last few weeks has been dull compared with Hamish’s – more meetings and form filling. Dull but very necessary if we are to make progress with the development plans. Still enjoying very much being a physio. assistant.

Home:

Can’t believe Shona has now been with us for six weeks. Enjoying her company and her new ideas with mangoes and onions! She also made macaroni cheese with the real cheese which we finally acquired after several abortive attempts. Made with dried milk, it was pretty good.

Electrics in the house are now in perfect working order thanks to François but we still await a pole to erect an outside antenna for the TV. Dr.Djemba has already got one but has chosen to erect it in the middle of his living room!

Celebrated our 37^th wedding anniversary with sparkly wine, pig’s liver pâté and a lovely lasagne cooked by Shona. Made with dried milk again but delicious just the same.

Godam:

Not a happy chappie. His wife’s pregnancy is not going well. She is very sick and only wants meat to eat – very expensive. GD is having to cook, wash clothes and fetch water. Aw, shame!

Lydia:

L. has had malaria - the same severity as mine. When I went to visit her she was out fetching water while her husband and father-in-law relaxed on their Fred Flintstone rock armchairs. Grrrrr.

Random facts/thoughts:

• Roads are so bad here that we average one puncture per month.
• Godfrey the goat’s a goner!  Had a small soirée with some staff and it seemed like a good time for him to reach his full potential. Sho considering vegetarianism again.
• Up until 5 years ago, farmers here completely cleared their fields before replanting. They were unaware of the fact that vegetation should be left to rot and feed the land. Development has a long way to go.
• The pastor’s daughter, Séraphine, and François’ young brother, Emil, are waiting for Baccalauréat results. They will receive pass or fail over local radio.

P.S. Emil has passed! Haven’t heard yet about Séraphine.

Hamish

Life is never dull in Zidim. As indicated earlier, a third doctor joined the team, arriving here on 11^th June. Seemed ideal – a Cameroonian female doctor would be a great role model. Well, it just didn’t work out and she was asked to leave on 13^th July. Like many “medical” experiences I’ve encountered here, this was another example of something I’ve read about but never encountered at home. Her behaviour has been bizarre to say the least, culminating in a physical assault of the Médecin Chef and the Surveillant Générale on 11/7. This was a real surprise as the Surveillant Générale is not exactly a timid mouse, but she is a big woman – could get a position as a forward for the Cameroonian rugby squad, if they had one! Her appearance drew gazes of amazement from the locals as I doubt if they’ve ever encountered anyone dressed and adorned in quite such a flamboyant style. We’ve been referring to her as “Big Bird” after one of the muppet characters (see photo)! The day after the “fight”, she turned up at the roadside stalls outside the hospital, wearing just a pagne – a length of cloth wrapped round like a bath towel. The people here are very traditional in their outlook, so this caused quite a stir. We have reason to believe she has been abusing drugs and has appeared intoxicated on many occasions. I have heard that she was kicked out of a job in Douala, apparently for fighting with staff and patients. Yet she has been using her official stamp from that hospital in the medical records here in Zidim. After being told on 13^th July that she was fired, she turned up at the usual meeting of all staff on the Monday morning. She stood up & announced that she had a good rapport with the nurses (not what they say!) and couldn’t understand why Dr Jemba & I wouldn’t cooperate with her. She said she hasn’t made any medical mistakes, but the patients’ records have abundant examples of errors, some serious, which the nurses or medics have picked up & corrected. She then went on to say that the hospital administrator could not tell her to go – it would need a letter from the Minister of Health. Well, she got that one wrong & was whipped away from the hospital two hours later! At home, we would have to report her to the GMC, but the hospital admin doesn’t seem to feel that is necessary.

After all that excitement it was good to relax with a group from the hospital on Tuesday 15th. Anne had organised Lydia to prepare a meal for the “stageurs” (students) and we asked Dr Jemba, Francois & his brother, Emil, to join us. It turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable evening, the climax being when Emil discovered he has passed his Baccalauréat. The evening was going so well that they asked the hospital night guard to leave the generator on longer! I wound up giving a brief rendition of “Flower of Scotland” on the bagpipes, dressed in kilt! Our African guests led a perfect rendition of “My Bonny Lies OverThe Ocean”! I have to confess that on Wednesday morning I discovered that hangovers and Cameroonian heat don’t go well together!

I have attached some more photos. First there’s “Big Bird”, just to remind you all. Then there’s a shot of Shona working with a TB patient – no fancy physio gymnasium here, just find your patient lying on the sand & get to work! The third photo is of Anne & Shona in front of an interesting natural rock formation, like a statue, at a river about 20Km from Zidim. Anne & Shona have decided they’ve had enough of cold showers. Shona has sent out Camp Showers – 5 gallon plastic containers that you fill with water & leave in the sun. After just an hour or two, you have hot water. The two of them have constructed a shower booth outside the house using traditional woven screens – see fourth photo. The final shot is of a young baby with his mother in the hospital grounds. I’m particularly chuffed with this one as the local kids usually scream in fright if a nassara (white person) goes anywhere near them. To get mother & baby both smiling is quite special. As you will see, nappies don’t exist here in the bush!