Charlie Chikankata has a lot to answer for! Here I am in the heart of rural Zambia, working for The Salvation Army as the Manager/Hospital Administrator of Chikankata Health Services. Not so much an intellectuall reflection rather a kind of journal of the unexpected.

Thursday, August 31, 2006

THE COWS REVENGE
Today the cattle have hit back. Obviously annoyed with their temporary imprisonment yesterday, they completely wrecked my grass fence. I don't know if it was the same cows but there were five cows in the garden. Eye witness say there were brown with big horns, which matches the description of yesterday's offenders. As I was in Kafue with David Wicks (heading home we saw a herd of hippos on the banks of the Kafue River), then Kennedy my next door neighbour came over and tried to chase them out. Apparently they went a bit hatstand and ran straight through my fence demolishing it on the way by. Now since that time I have had about 500 cows (slight exaggeration!) in the garden as they have created a opening for their cow mates. It's becoming a real battle on wills.
David Wicks is the father of Annette, who is the Asst Nursing Officer. He is here on holiday but as he is an electrical engineer, I have had him working on our electrical system. He reckons he has only found about three years work so far, which is actually better than the five years I expected. His baseline assessment is that it was a fine installation but it is nowhere near big enough for the amount of people using the system at present. Having just received word that we have been given funds to completely upgrade and renovation the ageing and rather unhealthy water system (cheers Duncan P), the electrical system seems a bit more problematic. We shall see!
On the building front, things are progressing well. We are working hard to have the three self-contained units for single nurses in Sweden house ready for entry on Sunday. The roof is definitely on the NTS building (see picture) and the walls inside and out will be fully plastered by Saturday (binge drinking is even a problem for buildings now!). The Seminar Centre we are hoping to complete in two weeks. Supplies and finances have been a continuous problem but we are nearing completion. The way the local guys use their resource in such a creative way has been quite inspirational. It's been a very interesting time but now we are getting excited.
Yesterday I met the local headmen with Colonel Radar. The USA Territories have given the money to renovate our hospital radio studio and turn it into a fully fledged community radio station. This is a great development and one which will mean we will be able to communicate with people in our catchment area in a much more direct manner.
Incidentally, when I was in Kafue I met an Indian shop owner who used to run a shop in Mazabuka. He told me he remembers being taken to the Hospital where he was treated by Captain Gauntlett. I only told him I was from Chikankata as I was trying to get discount on 80 bags of cement and ended up staying for about 15 minutes AND he still wouldn't give me anything off the cement. Anyway we had a good chat about the Hospital and his experiences. I was also able to tell him that Colonel Gauntlett's grandson will is undertaking his medical elective here at present and doing fine. Then I went to Mazabuka to meet the Bank Manager, where I met somebody else who asked about Capt. Du Plessis (now Commissioner). In the last few days, I have had e-mails from both the Gauntletts and the Du Plessis'. I still marvel at the history and the rich heritage of Chikankata, which is difficult to describe unless you know the place. I am grateful to be given the opportunity to serve here and hopefully I will be able to play a small part in its development. (It's highly unlikely I will ever be a Colonel or Commissioner but you never know!) What a joy it was to officially present all the ex-pats who have arrived in the last 3 months to the new Cheif Mweenda, Mrs Kalichi ( I definitely won't be Chief Mweenda). She was presented with a goat, which Pete and Lars carried in, as is the tradition. There were 10 of us there plus 5 children from England, Scotland, Sweden, Denmark and Australia. Rachel and Heidie were the only absentees as they have not arrived recently.
Oh and by the way, I was interviewed today by a reporter from the Los Angeles Times about the Hospital and in particular, its work in the community. We made a quick visit to Ngangula to meet the Headman there too. All in a day's work!

Monday, August 28, 2006

RANSOMED!!

So today, I took three cows hostage, locking them up in the block yard and only releasing them when a small ransom has been paid. Fed up of having cows roaming around the hospital grounds and my garden, I took drastic action.
On Saturday, I came home and found 5 cows in my garden. As I was chasing them out with the broom, 4 of the 5 did whoopsies, number twos, plop plops, jobbies (whatever you want to call them!) in my garden. So today I locked up 3 cows. Of course, the owner was not best pleased but I don't care. Lessopn 1: Poop in my garden and that's what happens. Be warned!
However the Headmen for Chikankata and Kooma village, who incidentally congratulated me on my cow-kidnapping, were telling about a previous Administrator from the 1990's, Major Young, who used to keep a spear in his house and if he found any stray cattle in the hospital grounds, he used to spear them. He would then hand them into the hospital kitchen and the patients would enjoy a nice beef stew! So when the guy came to pick his cattle up in the afternoon, I was telling him he was lucky to be paying on K10,000 (about 1.50 pounds) for there release!
You'll be pleased to know all cows were released without harm.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

After last weekends traumas - which included a snake dropping off a roof on to my head (no joke and no laughing matter I can tell you!) - this has been a good week.

Best news of the week - I have been asked to be the Godfather (watch out for the horses heads!) of my friends baby boy. How chuffed am I? - Rhetorical question, Answer (so not really a rhetorical question then) = VERY! Then I find out that all 3 will visit in April. How cool is that?

Secondly, the roof has finally been completed on the NTS building. This is a major achievement and work has now started on plastering the outside (tried to post picture but it is not happening tonight). Hector the Director Bradbury is well and truly enjoying this new challenge.

Thirdly, we found out for sure that Capts James and Heather Elliot will be joining the ever growing band of ex-pats at Chikankata on Saturday. They come highly recommended and both have nursing backgrounds. From Stornoway to Chikankata, hmmmm

Fourthly, our newly implemented Medical Insurance Scheme goes from strength to strength. Basically if you bring a 50kg bag of maize to the hospital - a family of five will can be treated for free at the hospital for the whole year. This week we passed the 2000 bag mark (tried to post picture but...)

Fifthly, we have receive a substantial donation from TSA/USA to upgrade the hospital radio studio into a fully fledged community radio station, that will reach all our catchment area. Colonel Radar has instigated this and is here working on this project at present. I've bagsied the breakfast show but I don't think the Colonel is too impressed.

Sixthly, we have managed to secure a new motorbike for tracking HIV/AIDS patients in the community to make sure they are taking their daily medication

Seventhly, the issues regarding the transportation of a container from Aberdeen to Zambia (AtoZproject) seemed to have been resolved - the shipment leaves next week.

Eighthly, sorted out satisfactorily a very delicate and sensitive issue with a very important person

Finally, new Anaesthetist (man, that's a hard word to spell) has agreed to come to Chikankata - this will be the final piece in the hospital jigsaw for now - there are no more vacant houses on the Hospital side of the mission.

The range of experiences I have been getting is truly fantastic; whilst we have had some really tough times, we've had some great times too. Things are definitely moving in the right direction.

Go the Big Man upstairs!

ps Tomorrow is the Hospital's annual performance assessment from the Ministry of Health. Will let you know how it goes!

Monday, August 21, 2006

The Ambulance Appeal is well and truly up and running (see link at side). 'H' has set up a website which I am now hijacking.

If you would like to donate ten pounds to our Ambulance Appeal on line just go to
http://justgiving.com/notapennymore

Between the gangsta crew we are trying to get 2000 people to give a tenner each. Please mark which gangsta you are supporting.

Thanks for any help.

Sunday, August 20, 2006


Yesterday the ZIM Team departed for Canada. The last 3 days were spent in Livingstone as a rewards for two and a half weeks of real hardwork. On personal note, I really enjoyed playing golf on Thursday at the Royal Livingstone Golf Club with Dave V., Deryn and Joe. It was one of my highlights of this Mission Teams visit and something I really needed (I hate golf, I hate golf. Nice Shot. I love golf! - thanks guys!)

The three weeks flew by and despite one or two hiccups, the whole mission was a huge success. For the hospital, we finally got the roof on the Nurses Training School white elephant for the last eighteen months (see picture), we started the process of making our Seminar Centre accomodation self contained and added 3 new single living quarters in Sweden House (Nurses accomodation). On top of that they sorted out a new basketball court for the High School, lead and financed an SA officers retreat, ran a activity/bible camp for a week and helped at the Youth Day. A huge effort from people with huge hearts.

Heidie and I have thoroughly enjoyed their company. The Canadian Salvation Army and indeed Canada should be very proud of these people. Twalumba

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

So yesterday I was in Lusaka for the 4th time in a week buying materials for the various building work andI bought a bottled of Joy Juice. This lovely orange drink tasted very nice. There's few people I can think off that could do with some Joy Juice!

Wednesday, August 09, 2006


Things are on the move. Yesterday I bought the timber (2"x6" 5.1m - 155 planks plus the Purlin as well) as well as 320kgs of nails for the roof of one of the construction projects - I am getting right into this building lark. I can hear all my friends laughing given my previous efforts at DIY. At present, I am in charge of logistics, which is a major task in itself (I am not actually doing any of the building work myself). Things are moving well and should be finished in September. The building above is part of a 12 room hostel for the Male Students at the Nursing School.
We have been really grateful for the assistance both practical and financial we have received from the ZIM Team. One of the 3 projects they are starting for us, they are really getting us out of a tight spot (long story!). We are also enjoying their company and spending time with them. They are a great bunch of people. Yesterday I was in Lusaka with Joe all day and we had some really good chats. Joe's a grafter and I really appreciated his take on things.
I am seriously thinking of building my own house or renovating when I get back (although I'll need to get a few of the boys to help!)

Saturday, August 05, 2006


Chik Ambulance Appeal

We have many funny vehicles stories but unfortunately this is not one of them. Chikankata needs a new Ambulance.

We have sent the ambulance out a few times recently and it broke down causing us a lot of problems. Now we have received the news that the ambulance is in Intensive Care and unlikely to survive. It needs a new head gasket and engine overhaul - it would cost more than it worth. Now 9 of friends (yes I do have nine friends!) have agreed to help.

So the Chikankata Gangstas are in town. Check out www.chikambulance.blogspot.com The boys hope to raise the money by Christmas.

Please help them if they approach you or watch out for the horse's head !
The Guv'ner
NOTE:
We do have other vehicles that can act as makeshift ambulances at present but we are simply putting mattresses on the floor of Landcruisers or in the back of pick-ups so it is far from ideal (e.g. there is no oxygen cyclinder or room for nurses to sit.)
This is an entirely personal venture on my part to raise the money.

Friday, August 04, 2006

Today is Beverley's birthday - Happy Birthday! I thought yesterday was the 4th August and I phoned her last night, leaving a beautiful operatic rendition of the appropriate song on her answer machine. D'oh!

Anyway, it's today. I am guessing Keith will be at Music School , but Beverley - I really hope you have a great day.

The Johnston family have been so good to me in so many ways and I really love them all (I have to be careful what I say, otherwise Keith's mum might get the wrong idea - private joke!). Their place was one of the few places that always felt like home and I have laughed alot and cried alot with them over different difficult situations (pull yerself together CC). We miss you so much but are looking forward to seeing you all in December.

BTW: I'm also looking forward to the roll and slice sausage, Albert's sausage supper (large chips) with Irn Bru and the usual Chinese takeaway (go easy on the onions!).

ps Make sure Keith organises the tickets for the Rangers / St Mirren games

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

HECTOR THE DIRECTOR

So the ZIM Team have arrived from Canada on Sunday. They are group of people, varying ages and backgrounds, who are here for 3 weeks. They plan to help us build a few structures but I don't mind admitting, I am now nervous (see picture). The walls have certainly come tumblin' down and here's hoping they go tumblin' back up very soon. In particular I need the Seminar Centre completed in the three weeks as the two days after the team leave we have a group arriving using the facilities. I have really enoyed meeting these guys, especially John and Rochelle who are from Canada but working in Harare. I was reminded by Rochelle about miracles - Chikankata needs a few of them (especially where finances are concerned!) but I am beginning to believe it could happen.
Now to my friends, me being a co-foreman on building site probably raises a few cackles (I have caring hands!) but I have been at thick of it and loving every minute of it! I have to admit that how things are this week is how imagined it would be at Chikankata before I came here. I am enjoying not being so serious all the time. Today, I have ordered 40 toilets and sinks, 50 door frames, picked up 1500 bricks and 150 bags of cement and so on. I reckon that I could build my own house now (no laughing at the back please!)
As I speak, there are close to 600 people standing outside my office, watching a film about the Big Man which is being projected onto the side of a building in the dark. Jesus was bi-lingual and tonight he is speaking Tonga (literally and, I guess, metaphorically).
So far this week is a good week!

YOU WAIT FOR AGES THEN FIFTEEN COME ALONG AT ONCE

Here's an update on the staff we have managed to recruit in the last month;

3 new doctors (including an ex-pat Salvationist from Sweden - Halle - flaming - llujah!)
1 Nursing Officer / Matron
9 new Nurses (7 from our Nurses College)
1 Human Resource Officer
1 Accounts Assistant

This is such good news. We are processing the papers for a Clinical Officer Anaesthetist and then we will be well sorted for the time being. Chikankata is also becoming a proper Salvation Army Hospital again in terms of profile and staffing. For the first time in 15 months, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, I feel.

Big it up for the Big Man (not me by the way, the real Big Man upstairs!) - he always comes through in the end.

 
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