Monday, October 3, 2011

A final post from Zambia

I'm posting this final blog from Lusaka, where I will be boarding my plane home (via Aussie to visit my sister) tomorrow. Here's a last few photo memories of my time at Kalene...


Ladies from church after sharing a farewell meal of nshima and chicken, and Mama Kafweku and Mamisa on the walk home. Me standing at my house with the gift the congregation gave me, a chitenge skirt and a grass basket. Bless them.


A few last visits to the village, lots of curious children as usual!




Having a meal with Mamisa's family, and her and her sisters having a boogie.

Some interesting medical cases

An old internal fixation plate worked it's way to the surface of this mans leg, he had an operation in Congo in 1988! And 7 year old sickle-cell patient Joshua's spleen being removed; he happily went home a few days post-op after about 6 months in hospital with constant needs for blood transfusions. For those who don't know, the spleen, on the right, cannot normally be felt in a healthy person - in this case it took up most of his abdominal space! Mass haemolysis (breaking down) of red blood cells, common in sickle cell patients, causes this abnormality.


A baby with a ruptured omphalocele (born with the guts on the outside) and the doctors operating.


Weighing a baby for the TB program, and working on a sick child on Childrens ward.


Ward round with Doctor John.

CAMP DRAMA
The annual girls camp was in August and drew a crowd of 96 girls. We had lots of great bible teaching, singing, dramas, games, swimming, good food, and a few frightening moments...

The snake
On Tuesday afternoon, a long black snake was spotted in the trees, followed by girlish screams and rock throwing. The snake slithered majestically through the trees and into the hollow of a trunk... uh oh... so.... TIMBER!!

No one would rest until the snake was dead! After chopping down the tree, it was hacked into by several people for about 20 minutes until the snake emerged.


There it is! The girls all ran after it throwing rocks and hitting long sticks fearlessly until the dead snake was proudly hung for view. Hooray!

Campfire

Fires like these, although cute and cozy looking, we found can lead to drastic consequences when not handled carefully, as we experienced when 3 cabins burnt down one night spreading terror through the campsite. A few girls lost possession, but glory to God, no one was injured.


All hands on deck for mixing up a big pot of nshima for 100 hungry mouths.


Always time for hairdressing! And the girls memorising verses in their free time.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

No shortage of cute kids!


Some kids with external fixation, and others making good use of a linen trolley.


Some malnutrition kids on the road to recovery, and a close-up of the tell-tale signs of pale thinning hair and eyelashes.

Prems

The last few weeks have been busy on maternity, with 7 premature births in as many days. Here is RN/RM Grace with one of the "ka-dollies"

Paul

Paul came arrived from Congo while I was on my holiday. The first is a photo from when he first arrived, after falling in a fire during a seizure. The second 5-6 weeks on.


He became a part of the ward in the end, we even nicknamed him "Dr Paul" as he came on ward rounds with us and curiously observed procedures. The photo on the left he stands with a 19 year old boy who came in a terrible state with diabetes and made a remarkable recovery.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

May madness

Back into work at Kalene after a 4 week holiday, it's been busy!

Last week Friday I went on a rural health centre visit.


The road there, and a mother with child standing in front of the health centre.


Please step into my office... the consulting room. Frustratingly, the clinic was out of stock of almost everything helpful, which made my job difficult!


Kids outside

Sachibondu

On my way back from Lusaka by road, I stopped at Sachibondu bible school for 4 days to spend time with Ruth Wallis and see the rural health clinic that she runs.

Ruth has worked in Zambia for more than 40 years, an inspiration!


Sachibondu is stationed beside a small lake and has a lovely community feel to it. I enjoyed my time there.

That holiday I had...

Seems long ago already! I spent a lovely 3 weeks in South Africa doing very little, which was just as I planned!


Climbed Table Mountain twice

Made the top by sunset and spent the night

Enjoyed the beach, and some trick photography

A happy ending


Zwao, a 2 year old on his day of discharge after 9 months in hospital, 2 major operations, and 13 rounds of chemotherapy.