It's a right old rollercoster here. What a topsy turvy week.

Monday and Tuesday we did well to divert a strike as the Government were paying some backdated Allowances (from 2002). Allowances are a very thorny issue in Zambia, as those who have served at Chikankata will tell. The Civil Servants were not happy with the Central Health Office over the whole issue and were clearly very agitated. The problem was not with us here at Chikankata, they were satisfied we had done everything properly and correctly on a local level (which was a relief!) but with the process, which was handled centrally. However, I did realise for the first time that my strategy in meeting the Union Executive Committee once a month, often when there were only a few or small problems, to discuss matters was a worthwhile investment. At 20.00 hours on Tuesday a very amicable agreement was reached, with the Union praising the way the matter had been handled here at Chikankata.

Thursday was not a good day! Now I am going to be perfectly frank, more so than I expect I should be. I had to authorise the payment of salaries, amounting to a considerable amount of money (300 workers across the whole Health Services). In our bank account we had eight (8) pounds! 15 dollars! eight quid! 15 bucks! Best not to tell you how we paid them, but we did. It's a cash flow problem more than anything after people didn't pay us on time and one cheque for 10,000 pounds from a reputable NGO for a months residential training course we had run for them flaming bounced! I mean to say - how can you get it that wrong. Then 2 of our vehicles broke down, which is such a pain and really limits our outreach work. It will be a struggle to have them fixed, based on the eight quid scenario

Friday was an all together better. We joined with our friends from around the Salvation Army world in praying for the victims of human trafficking or sexual slavery as it is referred to in Africa. Pete did a great job of that and the event was well attended. I was reminded that The Salvation Army is in the process of opening a refuge centre at the Zambian Malawian Border for victims of this horrible trade. Then this afternoon, we found out the good news that one of the largest companies in Zambia, who are based in Mazabuka, have tentatively agreed to pay for the complete renovation of our maternity ward. This has been the culmination of lengthy discussions and today they came to measure up, which I took as a positive sign!. Then the Salvation Army in USA West agreed to pay for a new Childrens Playground for our Childrens Ward. It's an exciting place to be.

It's funny but even though we have absolutely hee-haw money, we are still able to move forward. At present we have just completed a new Ultra Sound room, the doctors room is almost finished, we are renovating the dental room, we are building two new Counselling Rooms in the HIV/AIDS Clinics, we are building a new hostel for the Nurses School for 22 men, we have just completed 3 new self contained rooms for nurses and the first phase of the Seminar Centre renovations are almost complete. We have raised almost half the money for the Ambulance we so desperately require. Our figures also show we have reduced Chikankata's debt by over 120,000 pounds in one year. All with eight pounds in our bank account! Who says miracles don't happen.

The Big Man upstairs (aka God) is really doing his stuff right now. In Bill Hybels book on Courageous Leadership he talks about some of the struggles he had went through when setting up Willow Creek Church. I was particularly struck by his chapter on resources. I am writing off the top of my head but he says something like this;

• It's very important to remember The Big Man is the ULTIMATE resource provider
• Nothing strengthens your trust, reliance and faith in The Big Man like having no money
• People love to give under the right circumstances and when they believe in something.

This has been my experience! Big it up for The Big Man

Tomorrow sees the residents of my village, Chikankata go to the polls for national and local elections. Zambia normally conducts its elections in a relatively peaceful manner although there is a real tension in the air. Last Thursday Heidie was in Lusaka and got saw the final stages of a widespread riot, which involved burnt buildings and much looting, but she managed to pass through unscathed. This is just one of the more tangible events that I have not been impressed about about the whole election thing. There are a few other things but best not to mention them.

What I am impressed about is how serious the Zambia people view the right to vote. The government has made the day a public holiday and people are travelling long distances and expecting to queue for hours in order to place the X on the ballot paper. I have been well and truly shamed over my poor attitude to voting in the past (although I still maintain that there's nobody much worth voting for in the UK - would I queue for four hours to vote for some numptyheid? I think not).

As well as my bovine friends, I have been having a running battle with the election campaigners. As the risk of sounding like Victor Meldrew, I don't think it is acceptable to be running through the hospital grounds with a loud speaker. I have been warned by my colleagues on many occassions about approaching these groups but I am still here to tell the tale.

I will let you know how it all goes!

Yesterday I saw something that will trouble me for a very long time. I saw a young mother, one of our own midwives from the Hospital, screaming as she walked up the street. She was absolutely ditraught. Behind her was a young man carrying her daughter. The 13 year old girl had just died. Her head was covered with a small peice of cloth but the rest of her body her limply hung down as the young man struggled to carry her. We felt so helpless as she brought the body the few metres from her house to the hospital. I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like for our dear midwife to lose her only child.

Last evening we gathered at the funeral house. Heidie sat on the floor, inside the house with the women, I sat round the fire with the men outside, as is the local tradition. I was very touched as first the High School choir and then later the Student Nurses came. They said nothing. They just sang. Then they left. It was very moving. I realised one of the real benefits of a Salvation Army running a Hospital in Rural Zambia.

Tommorrow we gather for the funeral and the burial. Please pray for the midwife and please pray for the staff at Hospital.

SNIPPETS

We've had no running water in our house for 5 days. This is when you remember how fortunate you are to come from a country where water really isn't a problem (although those with big gardens in the South of England may argue otherwise). I am though getting a bit fed up of chucking cold bore-hole water over my head every morning - that can't be good for you. I think I maybe a bit manky and smelly.

Book reveiws and meaningful quotations are often published on blogs by some of my more esteemed blogging friends. At the moment I am reading a book that Vibeke Krommenhoek gave to me just before we moved here. The Siren Call of A Dangerous God is good. I have tried to read it before and got nowhere. Now I can't put it down. It struck me as a bloggers book because it's just a guy (Geoff Ryan) giving his views on anything and everything that is important to him. It's a bit more than that but well worth a wee read.

Action Plan and Budget 2007-2009 completed this morning, in immeasurably less stressful circumstances and pressures than last year. It's a 84 page document that I don't really think anybody actually reads. Anyway, some good achievements: malaria fatality rate down last year and people started to actually come to the hospital when they are sick. Concerns: the case fatality rate of diarrhoea in the children under five years old from 58 per 1000 to 89. This is a real worry and something we will need to look at. Maybe have been related to the cholera outbreak earlier this year.

Finally, today we enrolled our 1000 HIV+ patient for ARV medication. Not sure if that is good news or bad news!

On Saturday and Sunday, we had no water whatsoever in our house. Last night when I sorted out all the water containers for refilling from the borehole, I realised that in 2 days Heidie and I had used 110 litres of water. Makes you think!

So mummy's brave little soldier put aside his severe malaria to venture into Lusaka yesterday. I was attending a meeting at the US Embassy where I was Chikankata's "Chief of Party" on the "SO7 team". God bless America! I was nearly transferred to the SO9 team but managed to stay put with SO7! I felt like I was in some sort of Hollywood movie, like SWAT ot something, and I was very excited. Unfortunately whilst the meeting was informative and important, being a Chief of Party on the SO7 it didn't quite mactch my expectations. Talking about Family Planning and Child Survival is unlikely to ever make it the big screen.

Then I had the most excrutiating afternoon. It took me the best part of two and a half hours to buy a new fridge freezer for the newly arrived ex-pats. It was not good for my malaria. TWO AND A HALF HOURS! FOR A FRIDGE! Sometimes (most times) doing business in Zambia is slow and this is a major area that needs to improve if Zambia is to improve. However it was nice to bump into Mike and Sue, owners of a nearby farm, in the same shop. They have been good to Heidie and I over the last year and have helped and supported up tremendously (as well as cooking fantastic meals!)

In the evening we had rehearsals for the Graduation Day for the School of Nursing and Midwifery, which is today 15th September. 30 nurses and 15 midwives will graduation - it really is a great day! Last evening everyone was so excited, and although my knee joints were very sore (I have malaria you know!) Chikankata's Chief of Party was able to march in behind the Zambian flag. I will post some pictures of the ceremony in the next couple days!

Over and out!

I've got flaming malaria again! Heidie and I went the whole rain (high) season without getting it and now we've both had it in the low season. Not happy. I guess we are lucky we can access the hospital easily and afford the best medication unlike the many people who needlessly die of malaria in our catchment area each year.

On the bright side I signed a cheque yesterday for 150 million (kwacha) to purchase 10,000 Mosquito nets to be distributed around Chikankata, courtesy of our Child Survival Project.

CHIKANKATA ON THE MARCH

Today is congress. Whilst I have not been able to attend (I will write a seperate account of the building deadline when I have clamed down - which will probably be in about two weeks time - there are some people who are going to get a right rocketing tommorrow!), anyhow, it was great to see The Salvation Army marching through the Mission. Apparently, its been quite a few years since there was a TSA march through this place.

What a fantastic sight! There must have been a line of about 1/2 mile of marchers. I have tried not to mention much about what has happened in the past few years but it seems the Territorial leadership and the Salvation Army members at Chikankata had not been entirely pleased about some of the developments at the Hospital in recent years.

This was a day where everyone was saying The Salvation Army had well and truly reclaimed the Mission.

We are on a real tight schedule as far the building work is concerned. Today I was panicking a little so I transferred all the men off the Nurses Training School site on to the Seminar Centre and Sweden House projects. All the employed local builders were in at 6.30am to start and finished at 17.oo. The main problem has been the plumbing. It has been action stations to get the two projects finished by Sunday morning latest, which is when the new nurses (Sweden House) and the participants (Seminar Centre) arrive.

So as much as I think its important men learn about Breastfeeding, today when I took my place as Guest of Honour at the final ceremony of Breastfeeding Week, I looked out into the gathered crowd of around 200 people on saw only a handful of men - AMONG THEM THE HOSPITAL's TWO PLUMBERS!!!! What part of "we're on a really tight schedule"; "all hand to the pumps"; "we need to get a real move on"; work hard for the next two days and I'll give you a little bonus at the end of week"; It's really important it's finished by Sunday morning absolute latest"" do you not understand. So my introductory remarks went something like this;

"It's a great joy to see everyone gathered here this morning, except my two plumbers who should report back to work at the Seminar Centre immediately!"

Having said that breastfeeding is a serious issue here, given the malnutrition of children and the HIV/AIDS status of many of the women. It was estimated that malnourished children in our catchment area total up to 15% and this worsens from Nov-March depending on the rains. But Chikankata has distributed tins of milk and protein supplements to the community on regular basis.

Another outdoor ceremony - another red nose! So I have a big Harry Redknapper today from sitting in the gathering.