Monday 29th
June
It the UK we take for granted reliable supplies of water and
electricity. Here we are a long way from the town centre and at the
end of a long road – this is apparently why the water can be a bit
erratic. There seems to be no pattern, but if often fails to reach
our taps. There is an outside tap in the grounds and often a tin bath
sits underneath it – usually with the tap open. This ensures that
as soon as water arrives the family living in the small house within
the wall get their supply. Unfortunately pressure is rarely
sufficient to reach our taps inside and service the outside tap at
the same time. If we are lucky when the bath is full water comes out
of some or all of our taps - depending on the pressure. Maximum
pressure starts to fill the cistern in the toilet!
Of course when our turn comes we will refill the drums and containers
in the house to cope with the next gap in supply. So far we have had
water everyday that I have been here, equally we have been without
water for at least one period every day!!
Electricity has been more reliable! Today it has been off for a few
hours – fortunately my laptop is doing well – providing 2-3 hours
of battery power. Yesterday power was off from morning till about 17
hrs. However on the whole it has been pretty good. Only once have we
had to create a cold meal in the evening and read by candlelight! As
if listening to my comments, power has just been restored and the
kettle has burst into life – I could just do with a cup of tea!
Yesterday I decided to take the opportunity, while Deana and Martin
were away to clean the floors. After sweeping I got down on my hands
and knees and got floor washing. I had managed to get a bowlful of
water before the supply stopped which was just sufficient to clean
the house! I was quite proud of my achievement as I marched swiftly
to church. (Though as you will hear later pride always proceeds a
fall!!)
Fr. Clement made up for the short service last week. He gave a
rousing sermon – receiving, no doubt well deserved, applause at the
end. (My chitonga still doesn't enable me to make out anything). At
about 12.20 the new church committee members and the related Small
Christian Community committees were brought to the front of the
church. It was heartening to see so many actively involved in the
organisation – probably between 60 and 100 people in total. After
notices I left for home at about 12.45.
I am realising how far I am from everywhere! A very brisk walk gets
be from the church to home in 35 minutes. However on the way back I
met Ian. Ian used to work in the stores and we spent many hours
together while I was developing the stock control database. There
have been many changes since and he is now working in the Male Ward,
looking after their information. He told me that he was looking
forward to meeting me again because he wanted to develop a better way
of analysing and presenting the statistics – particularly in
relation to cause of death. I remember in 2005/6 when I was working
with Bentoe we were trying to lay cable to create a local network. We
hoped to have links to the wards so the hospital could benefit from
an integrated patient records system that I was also developing.
Unfortunately Bentoe died in a tragic road accident in 2006 along
with Rose – another hospital manager. The computer systems never
developed properly after Bentoe's death.
I was now running very late. I had a couple of sandwiches before
rushing to St. Veronica's section meeting. The numbers started very
small – the committee from St. Veronica's were meeting at Our Lady
of the Wayside so they were unable to join us. Numbers grew towards
the end of the meeting.
Martin and Deana returned at about 18 hrs. Later in the evening I
found a distressed Deana who found that water had somehow found it's
way into her room. She imagined some sort of hidden spring – or
perhaps a less savoury source and was a little relieved when I
assured her that I must be the culprit!! It seems that the corridor
has a slope which in all directions leads to Deana's room. By gaily
sloshing water around I had inadvertently sent a river under her door
where it headed for her mattress!!
This morning, after putting together a few notes, I headed back to
Zamtel to pick up my replacement SIM card - which of course would be
there!! At the main road I met Mr. Phiri – the barber and
proprietor of Sweet Sixteen. In 2004 I remember he cut my hair whilst
flirting with Emily a physiotherapist, who was volunteering here at
the time. He was standing by his car-washing business and is well on
the way to constructing a block of three shops which he intends to
rent out. He has a plan to build a lodge where the car-wash currently
sits and told me he also needs to have a college and sports
facility!! Quite an empire for a barber who speaks with a kind of
American/Jamaican drawl.
The SIM card is on its way!! There are at least a thousand cards with
the courier heading for Monze – they will be there in the
afternoon!! The guy at the office told me he wants to study
accountancy in the UK and asked about getting a visa. I told him that
it was not easy!! I also pointed out that it wasn't cheap to study in
the UK - as well as the fees accommodation is very expensive. He
hopes to fund himself. I agreed to return to the Zamtel office when
it fitted with my programme.
I headed for the hospital - a visit was well overdue. I greeted a few
familiar faces and was greeted my people who obviously remembered me
better than I did them! I called on Sr Juunza but she had a visitor
and it was clear that I should wait. I recognised a very familiar
voice from the office – it was Jennipher, if my ears didn't deceive
me. I popped over to the Director's secretary and said hallo. The
Director was in the operating theatre. I was pleased to know that he
was still doing some work for which he was trained. It has always
seemed sad that much needed professional doctors are given jobs as
managers and administrators, for which they have had no training and
often are not suited. Not that it is only in Zambia that this is an
issue. Increasingly in the UK, doctors and nurses are expected to
deal with more financial, purchasing and administrative tasks, as if
these were areas of their expertise.
When I returned to Sr. Juunza she was free and we talked a bit about
possible re-introduction of the stock control system. Although I am
sure it could help the hospital, I am not keen to spend a lot of time
unless I am sure that it would be properly used and maintained and
processes are put in place to protect the data. I will talk to Sr
Juunza again.
On my return back home I was joined by a lady saying something about
a Zambian hat!! Yes she had been true to her word and had made a cap
with the flag of Zambia and the words “Republic of Zambia”
embroidered on it. She said she had seen me earlier in the week but
didn't catch me. I am know the proud owner of a unique Zambian cap.
I picked up a large avocado and made a lot of guacamole. Raymond
came later in the afternoon and we put the world to right – or at
least. recognised so much that was wrong!
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