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Sent 15th March 2006
Well after months of numerous communication problems, which you won’t believe if I try to narrate, things finally seem to be on the up. We now have access to internet based e-mail (when it works) and I have managed to persuade, bribe, coax, threaten (*delete as appropriate) the largest mobile phone provider in Zambia to put a mobile phone mast within the Mission. Work has started this week – so it should be ready and fully functioning somewhere near 2025, judging by our experiences of Zambian business efficiency so far! However all being well, in one months time communication problems at Chikankata should be a thing of the past, that is until the mast gets struck by lightning or something like that. We are though optimistic that things will definitely improve. We have so much to tell and hopefully you’ll make it through to the end of this e-mail without falling into a deep sleep.
The last few months have been busy, challenging and interesting. Christmas was spent in Livingstone. On Christmas Eve we took a trip to the Chobe National Park in Botswana, which was a truly amazing experience. The morning river cruise gave us the opportunity to see elephants crossing the river, hippos playing with baby hippos and many more wonderful sights. On the game drive in the afternoon, we stumbled across a pack of lions taking an afternoon nap. The amazing thing was we were the only ones on this day trip, so it was also very romantic and definitely an experience we won’t forget in the while. Of course, in true Bradbury fashion there were some hairy moments too, especially when our small boat broke down just metres from a herd of hippos. After a few anxious minutes – hippos are the most dangerous animals in the world you know – the guide managed to get things moving again, much to our great relief. The short break was rounded off with a Christmas Day trip to Victoria Falls, always a spectacular sight. This exciting two days went some way to quelling some of the tinges of sadness and homesickness we felt at being so far away from our families and friends over Christmas. New Year was an all together more forgettable affair, seeing in 2006 in complete darkness as the electricity had gone off. I was in bed by 12.30am as nobody seemed interested in us first footing them at four in the morning
Living in Zambia continues to inspire and surprise us. No two days are ever the same and we are presented with new challenges every way we turn. I have tried to outline some of them below. Perhaps one of the most interesting and unusual experiences was being invited guests to a traditional royal funeral. His Royal Highness, the Chief Mweenda -who is the traditional tribal leader of the people in our District - died last month, meaning a time of great mourning. The funeral and burial, which lasted about five hours in the searing heat, was such a different ceremony from what we are used. The dancing, the singing, the coffin being passed around the gathered crowds, the people firing gunshots in the air, the goat being slaughtered in broad daylight, I could go on. Heidie and I also had file past the coffin with the other dignatries and had ringside seats as he was removed from his coffin and placed in the throne that had been prepared for him in his grave. A Zambian Chief is never buried lying down, always seated. Needless to say, we have never seen anything like it and are unlikely to have such an experience again.
Talking of burials and interesting experiences, just before Christmas I was the official witness at the burial of an unclaimed body. It seems for some people it is just too expensive to transport bodies home and hold the funeral and burial. Now I know this is supposed to be a sad story, but in the end it all turned a bit comical. First of all the true identity of the man was not known and so it was difficult to get official permission from the Council and the police to dispose of the body. I had to give the unnamed man a fake name for official purposes and after much discussion and a few bizarre suggestions, I settled on a good Scottish Zambian name of Alex Mweemba (Big ‘Eck for short). By the time the burial came round, the body had been in the mortuary for six months. Taking into account the regular electricity cuts, the body was not in such good condition. The blanket wrapped round the body was in even worse shape and it took me all my time to persuade the relevant members of staff to go near the body, let alone pick it up, transport it and bury it. As the body was put in the grave, I said a quick prayer, whilst trying not to throw up due to the pungent smell, surrounded by four men with overalls and mouth masks on. It was a surreal picture, and it was difficult not to see the funny side of what really is a gloomy story.
The Hospital has been ever so busy over the last few months. The malaria season came late this year and we are also seeing an increasing number of people, especially children, admitted due to malnutrition. It is heartbreaking to see some of the babies only a few months old so ill because of lack of food. There are a number of reasons for this and we are pleased that Chikankata started a five year Child Survival Project in January, funded by the US Government and the Salvation Army in America, which specifically concentrates on the prevention and treatment of malaria and the nutritional care of children. We have also experienced a severe outbreak of cholera in the villages surrounding Chikankata, which has resulted in many deaths. I have had to sign letters closing down seven schools indefinitely and set up a separate camp for all the cholera cases, away from the hospital to avoid the disease from spreading. Without wishing to be political it is difficult for us to hear about the attention and money being paid to tackling Bird Flu in Europe and the West. More people have died have died of cholera in our catchment area alone in the last two months than the total number of people that have died of Bird Flu across the globe. The reason for this outbreak of cholera is largely due to lack of access to clean water in our rural setting.
The Hospital has really struggled to cope practically and financially with the increasing demands. However it has been a real inspiration to us that just when we don’t know where to go something always turns up. Three substantial donations came through just at the time of Cholera which meant we were able to provide chlorine for people in the worst affected areas, enabling the locals to treat their water. The problem in that area reduced within a matter of days. I was really touched that many of my former colleagues at the Probation Offices across the East of England donated a significant amount of money to Chikankata this year rather than send Christmas cards. Without becoming a bit dramatic, this did save peoples lives in this instance (ok it is a little dramatic – Duncan and Dean will be accusing me of using too much project proposal language!). I have been able to buy a new Delivery Bed for the Maternity Ward from money received from Dorchester Rotary Club, a new Incubator is on its way courtesy of Southampton Shirley, two new vehicles purchased with a donation from a friend in America, expensive medication purchased with help of the good folk from our home in Falkirk, a new truck and autoclaves sent from Sweden, the Children’s ward painted thanks to the Youth Group at Exeter Temple. I could go on and on! We were also able to arrange the visit of an Eye Surgeon and his wife, an Eye Nurse from Finland, through some of the contacts made with the Swedish Doctors Rotary Bank. This was an amazing experience and, again with the help of a donation from a good friend and colleague from the Home Office, we were able to buy the medical equipment for him to work in Chikankata and perform complex surgeries. By the end of his 4 week stay here, he had performed over 150 eye operations, restoring many people’s sight. It was one of the most moving experiences to watch as the bandages were removed from the some of the patients and see and hear their response when they realize they can see again. When you consider that the government of Zambia has failed to pay the Hospital its statutory grant since October, you can begin to see why we can only refer to this whole experience as an emotional rollercoaster. We honestly do not know how Chikankata not only continues to survive but also grow considering its limited resources – but it always does - one way or another! We thank the Big Man everyday for his continued provision and feel extremely blessed that so many people are supporting us both with their prayers and their money.
One of the best things about living in Chikankata is the visitors we receive. There is rarely a day goes when we do not have people passing through. Chikankata is a popular place because of the innovative and multi faceted work being undertaken and we enjoy meeting so many different and interesting people. It has been good to receive some “well kent faces” from London and Washington in the first three months and the next few months will be extra exciting for us. Heidie’s mum and dad are due to visit at the end of March and, whilst they are here, a Youth Group from Aberdeen Salvation Army will visit and do some volunteer work within the hospital. Immediately after Easter, my parents and Clare make this journey to Zambia for three weeks, although I am not quite sure Zambia is ready for The Bradburys! We have lots of adventurous things planned for these different visits – Zambia is a great place to come on holiday (honest!).
We find ourselves turning our hand to many things and here’s just a flavour. Heidie has been on two food distribution programmes to Chaanga and Sianyolo, the remotest area in our district, where a 20 mile journey took three and half hours. She continues to teach at the Nursing School and facilitate for the AIDS Management Courses we run. I have been the foreman for an extension to the buildings at our training centre and become an expert in farm animal husbandry, whilst running all the different sections of Chikankata Health Services. In one area of the hospital grounds, we now have 8 pigs, 10 goats and a six weekly cycle of breeding 250 chickens. The pigs have been a spectacular success so far; two of the pigs have had 13 piglets between them and two pigs are due to deliver anytime. Here’s the thing - we give the first two piglets away to a family identified by the staff of our Orphan and Vulnerable Children’s Programme for them to breed pigs. They then have to pass the first two born piglets on to the next family. In addition to helping the community, the whole animal scheme has also raised close to six hundred pounds for the hospital in three months. So far it has proved very successful because pigs appear very good at reproducing (randy sow and sows – get it.) and a lot of people eat chicken round here. The names of the pigs include Pinky, Perky, Mashbury, Stirling, St. Albans, Mr. Scott and Alan Shearer, indicating that this has all been made possible with donations of friends from back home. With no start-up costs it could prove very profitable for those children most in need and of course, the hospital. This is just a little lead in to saying thank you for all the support we have received. We are extremely grateful for the many e-mails, letters, food parcels, subscription to magazines, photographs and donations we’ve receive. We really appreciate the thoughtfulness and encouragement people are giving us – thank you, thank you or as the people of Chikankata say “Twalumba!”.
The last few months have been busy, challenging and interesting. Christmas was spent in Livingstone. On Christmas Eve we took a trip to the Chobe National Park in Botswana, which was a truly amazing experience. The morning river cruise gave us the opportunity to see elephants crossing the river, hippos playing with baby hippos and many more wonderful sights. On the game drive in the afternoon, we stumbled across a pack of lions taking an afternoon nap. The amazing thing was we were the only ones on this day trip, so it was also very romantic and definitely an experience we won’t forget in the while. Of course, in true Bradbury fashion there were some hairy moments too, especially when our small boat broke down just metres from a herd of hippos. After a few anxious minutes – hippos are the most dangerous animals in the world you know – the guide managed to get things moving again, much to our great relief. The short break was rounded off with a Christmas Day trip to Victoria Falls, always a spectacular sight. This exciting two days went some way to quelling some of the tinges of sadness and homesickness we felt at being so far away from our families and friends over Christmas. New Year was an all together more forgettable affair, seeing in 2006 in complete darkness as the electricity had gone off. I was in bed by 12.30am as nobody seemed interested in us first footing them at four in the morning
Living in Zambia continues to inspire and surprise us. No two days are ever the same and we are presented with new challenges every way we turn. I have tried to outline some of them below. Perhaps one of the most interesting and unusual experiences was being invited guests to a traditional royal funeral. His Royal Highness, the Chief Mweenda -who is the traditional tribal leader of the people in our District - died last month, meaning a time of great mourning. The funeral and burial, which lasted about five hours in the searing heat, was such a different ceremony from what we are used. The dancing, the singing, the coffin being passed around the gathered crowds, the people firing gunshots in the air, the goat being slaughtered in broad daylight, I could go on. Heidie and I also had file past the coffin with the other dignatries and had ringside seats as he was removed from his coffin and placed in the throne that had been prepared for him in his grave. A Zambian Chief is never buried lying down, always seated. Needless to say, we have never seen anything like it and are unlikely to have such an experience again.
Talking of burials and interesting experiences, just before Christmas I was the official witness at the burial of an unclaimed body. It seems for some people it is just too expensive to transport bodies home and hold the funeral and burial. Now I know this is supposed to be a sad story, but in the end it all turned a bit comical. First of all the true identity of the man was not known and so it was difficult to get official permission from the Council and the police to dispose of the body. I had to give the unnamed man a fake name for official purposes and after much discussion and a few bizarre suggestions, I settled on a good Scottish Zambian name of Alex Mweemba (Big ‘Eck for short). By the time the burial came round, the body had been in the mortuary for six months. Taking into account the regular electricity cuts, the body was not in such good condition. The blanket wrapped round the body was in even worse shape and it took me all my time to persuade the relevant members of staff to go near the body, let alone pick it up, transport it and bury it. As the body was put in the grave, I said a quick prayer, whilst trying not to throw up due to the pungent smell, surrounded by four men with overalls and mouth masks on. It was a surreal picture, and it was difficult not to see the funny side of what really is a gloomy story.
The Hospital has been ever so busy over the last few months. The malaria season came late this year and we are also seeing an increasing number of people, especially children, admitted due to malnutrition. It is heartbreaking to see some of the babies only a few months old so ill because of lack of food. There are a number of reasons for this and we are pleased that Chikankata started a five year Child Survival Project in January, funded by the US Government and the Salvation Army in America, which specifically concentrates on the prevention and treatment of malaria and the nutritional care of children. We have also experienced a severe outbreak of cholera in the villages surrounding Chikankata, which has resulted in many deaths. I have had to sign letters closing down seven schools indefinitely and set up a separate camp for all the cholera cases, away from the hospital to avoid the disease from spreading. Without wishing to be political it is difficult for us to hear about the attention and money being paid to tackling Bird Flu in Europe and the West. More people have died have died of cholera in our catchment area alone in the last two months than the total number of people that have died of Bird Flu across the globe. The reason for this outbreak of cholera is largely due to lack of access to clean water in our rural setting.
The Hospital has really struggled to cope practically and financially with the increasing demands. However it has been a real inspiration to us that just when we don’t know where to go something always turns up. Three substantial donations came through just at the time of Cholera which meant we were able to provide chlorine for people in the worst affected areas, enabling the locals to treat their water. The problem in that area reduced within a matter of days. I was really touched that many of my former colleagues at the Probation Offices across the East of England donated a significant amount of money to Chikankata this year rather than send Christmas cards. Without becoming a bit dramatic, this did save peoples lives in this instance (ok it is a little dramatic – Duncan and Dean will be accusing me of using too much project proposal language!). I have been able to buy a new Delivery Bed for the Maternity Ward from money received from Dorchester Rotary Club, a new Incubator is on its way courtesy of Southampton Shirley, two new vehicles purchased with a donation from a friend in America, expensive medication purchased with help of the good folk from our home in Falkirk, a new truck and autoclaves sent from Sweden, the Children’s ward painted thanks to the Youth Group at Exeter Temple. I could go on and on! We were also able to arrange the visit of an Eye Surgeon and his wife, an Eye Nurse from Finland, through some of the contacts made with the Swedish Doctors Rotary Bank. This was an amazing experience and, again with the help of a donation from a good friend and colleague from the Home Office, we were able to buy the medical equipment for him to work in Chikankata and perform complex surgeries. By the end of his 4 week stay here, he had performed over 150 eye operations, restoring many people’s sight. It was one of the most moving experiences to watch as the bandages were removed from the some of the patients and see and hear their response when they realize they can see again. When you consider that the government of Zambia has failed to pay the Hospital its statutory grant since October, you can begin to see why we can only refer to this whole experience as an emotional rollercoaster. We honestly do not know how Chikankata not only continues to survive but also grow considering its limited resources – but it always does - one way or another! We thank the Big Man everyday for his continued provision and feel extremely blessed that so many people are supporting us both with their prayers and their money.
One of the best things about living in Chikankata is the visitors we receive. There is rarely a day goes when we do not have people passing through. Chikankata is a popular place because of the innovative and multi faceted work being undertaken and we enjoy meeting so many different and interesting people. It has been good to receive some “well kent faces” from London and Washington in the first three months and the next few months will be extra exciting for us. Heidie’s mum and dad are due to visit at the end of March and, whilst they are here, a Youth Group from Aberdeen Salvation Army will visit and do some volunteer work within the hospital. Immediately after Easter, my parents and Clare make this journey to Zambia for three weeks, although I am not quite sure Zambia is ready for The Bradburys! We have lots of adventurous things planned for these different visits – Zambia is a great place to come on holiday (honest!).
We find ourselves turning our hand to many things and here’s just a flavour. Heidie has been on two food distribution programmes to Chaanga and Sianyolo, the remotest area in our district, where a 20 mile journey took three and half hours. She continues to teach at the Nursing School and facilitate for the AIDS Management Courses we run. I have been the foreman for an extension to the buildings at our training centre and become an expert in farm animal husbandry, whilst running all the different sections of Chikankata Health Services. In one area of the hospital grounds, we now have 8 pigs, 10 goats and a six weekly cycle of breeding 250 chickens. The pigs have been a spectacular success so far; two of the pigs have had 13 piglets between them and two pigs are due to deliver anytime. Here’s the thing - we give the first two piglets away to a family identified by the staff of our Orphan and Vulnerable Children’s Programme for them to breed pigs. They then have to pass the first two born piglets on to the next family. In addition to helping the community, the whole animal scheme has also raised close to six hundred pounds for the hospital in three months. So far it has proved very successful because pigs appear very good at reproducing (randy sow and sows – get it.) and a lot of people eat chicken round here. The names of the pigs include Pinky, Perky, Mashbury, Stirling, St. Albans, Mr. Scott and Alan Shearer, indicating that this has all been made possible with donations of friends from back home. With no start-up costs it could prove very profitable for those children most in need and of course, the hospital. This is just a little lead in to saying thank you for all the support we have received. We are extremely grateful for the many e-mails, letters, food parcels, subscription to magazines, photographs and donations we’ve receive. We really appreciate the thoughtfulness and encouragement people are giving us – thank you, thank you or as the people of Chikankata say “Twalumba!”.
posted by Charlie Chikankata at 10:01 pm
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