Water is on my mind! Maybe it’s because we had one big storm last week (which incidentally knocked the electricity out for four days – another long story) and nothing since. Maybe because people are beginning to panic that this will be another drought year. Maybe it’s because Colonel Sewell, an SA officer and water engineer, has arrived to start the upgrade of the water system. Maybe it’s because I haven’t had a proper shower or wash for close to five months. Most likely, it’s because last week I visited a small community of around 1000 people to examine the problems of their water.

This isolated community 10km from Nadezwe was one of the worst affected areas last year by waterborne diseases. It’s estimated that in Chikankata Hospital’s catchment area only a small percentage of the total population has access to clean, safe water. In the blazing heat, I sat silently and heard first hand that the only access to water for this particular community was dirty water from a nearby stream; the same water used to bath, drink and wash their clothes. This community had no means of sanitation whatsoever other than a few ad hoc pit latrines they had built themselves. We saw for ourselves the shallow well the men had dug, with water so dirty that in the UK we wouldn’t even allow our pets to touch it. We listened to their pleas for help; their stories about loved ones lost and saw their worry in their words that next year it might be them.

Unsurprisingly this community was one of the areas most affected by cholera last year; the Headman estimated that close to 100 people died for waterborne diseases. This equates to 10% of their population. Many of the people at the gathering complained that they suffered from constant diaherroa and vomiting – they were frightened. I heard from Gift, our highly skilled and dedicated Environmental Health Technician, who told us that children are particularly vulnerable. When they are thirsty, they drink – they don’t have the knowledge and they don’t have the luxury of being able to run home and draw a glass of water from the tap to clench their thirst. And that’s when it struck. For many people, clean water is a luxury!

The Salvation Army’s Chikankata Mission has problems too. The hospital’s infection prevention committee is finding it difficult to control and prevent infections due to the erratic supply of water in the wards and other critical areas of the hospital. The Maternity wards needs constant and safe water and we are continually concerned about the dangers to mother and babies of cross infection. The Theatre is one of areas where sterility has to be maintained and without a consistent supply of water, post operation infections have increased. This year the High School has had a dysentery outbreak for the second consecutive year, as there is not enough water to go round.

But it’s not just in Zambia. The WHO and other groups are predicting that severe water shortages affecting at least 400 million people today will affect four billion people – half the world- by 2050. This a frightening thought. So what can we possibly do? In the words of one missionary, Debbie Meroff; “We can either shrug off such realities because they don’t intrude in our own lives, or we can choose to follow the directions of Christ”

Matthew writes “If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward” Whilst I accept that I might be taking this verse a bit too literally, it is certainly a clear direction on the part of Christ. That’s why I am so impressed with the initiative of the Watershed Project which will help the communities around Chikankata, just one of the many projects run by the International Development Department at The Salvation Army’s UK Headquarters. That’s why I’m writing a first hand testament that these projects will make a difference; the different between life and death, between joy and misery, between defeat and hope for so many people. My understanding is that Christmas is about life, joy and hope and that’s why I am asking you to support their important work this Christmas if you can.

www.salvationarmy.org.uk/id

The rains come down and the power went whooooop!

So the rains came on Tuesday, albeit two passing storms. Since then its rain farily consistently. Since then the electricity has gone, fairly consistently. For the last two days we've had no power at the hospital, save two hours. Speaking to my good friend, Mr. Henry, the relatively new manager at Zambian Electricity Supply (ha!) Company (ZESCO), he advised me that in the first two hours of the rains coming, 3 electricity poles had fallen. He reckons that about 80% of the poles in our district need to be replaced because they are so old and unstable. It's not looking good for the rain season.

Still, it was the same manager who called me in August to congratulate me that we had reached the point that for the first time in four years, we were paying the electricity bills from the same year we were actually in (ie in August we were paying January's bill). I took this as a kind of compliment, although I'm sure it was a back-handed reminder on his part.

The same Tuesday the rains came, my accountant and I went to a District Health Management Board meeting, of which we are Chikankata's members. We had notice that the meeting started at 10.30. Knowing 10.30 Zambian time could mean anything, we left for Kafue Gorge Hospital just after 10 and arrived at a few minutes past eleven. We were the first ones there. Everyone else arrived at five to one, 12.55, fifty five minutes past 12 !!! So the meeting eventually starts at 1pm, only 2 hours and 30 mins late. No one even said sorry - it seems it's acceptable to come when ever you fancy and keep everyone else waiting and wasting their time. No wonder I don't wear a watch and my hair is going grey!

UNBELIEVABLE!

The electricity stayed, the game was beamed all across Africa, I settled down to watch the game at Simonga Farm, secure in the knowledge that my good luck message had made it in the Southend Evening Echo. And who would have believed it?! In the words of the BBC Website:

Southend pulled off a massive shock by dumping holders

Manchester United out of the Carling Cup at Roots Hall.

Southend's first appearance live on African tv and they go and beat the mighty Man U. I am going to enjoy today, as there are many Man Utd fans around this place. It surely proves once and for all that St. Mirren were right to sack Alex Ferguson.

Most of all I am pleased for my real mate Garry (who phoned me right after the match), because we fans of 'lesser' (ie rubbish) teams live for games and days like these. He's a season ticket holder, one of the Roots Hall faithful for many years and a founder member of the Southend / St Mirren Supporters Club and the Zambian Shrimpers, whose flag was proudly on display last night at the game. He's also a top guy!

The Zambian Shrimpers are in heaven and we are all so pleased, as we were excited (see picture below)Bring on the Arsenal in the next round!

One final football note, yesterday I saw a woman, carrying firewood on head, a baby on her back...................... wearing a Partick Thistle top! Let's hope Saints draw the Jags in the cup and we'll be able to have a bit of good old Glaswegian banter. Haw Hen........

COME ON THE BLUES!

Today is a big day for Southend United FC. Southend are my favourite English team, St Mirren are my Scottish team and favourite team overall (by Richard aged 7). Tonight the Southend entertain the mighty Manchester United, managed by former Saints manager, Sir Alex Ferguson (we sacked him!). You can rest assured the Zambian Shrimpers (see picture) will be supporting from afar especially as the game is being shown live on Zambian TV. How excited am I?! Garry has the 'official' Zambian Shrimpers flag, which will be displayed on the top deck of the stand housing the home fans, behind the goal, near the corner flag, next to Basildon Shrimpers flag, not far from the pie stand, where we used to sit.

Incidentally, I once went to the same pie stand at Southend 10 minutes before kick off the get my usual pie and bovril, only to be told they had already sold out of pies. I asked them how many pies they had brought in for the game. The answer : SIX! Six pies! Anyway Southend have come along way since those Division 2 days are now in the Championship, albeit bottom of the league.

One of the things I absolutely missed most about being away from home is going to the football. Miss it, miss it miss it! My tickets for the Southend Birmingham game and Rangers St. Mirren game during our holiday are booked. In the meantime, I'll certainly make do with cheering Southend on from afar tonight. Here's hoping there's electricity.

COME ON THE BLUES!

Health Care Rationing

It's been a while. The reason I haven't posted for all two weeks is...(get the violins out again)....we couldn't afford to pay our internet bill this month.

Faced with paying salaries, buying drugs, medical supplies and a temporary cash flow cisis, it was hard for me to argue to pay the internet bill last week. So we only go reconnected yesterday. I don't know what happens in the UK or US now but one of the first questions we get asked when people visit is whether we have internet connection. It seems to be something people can't do without these days. It was funny to watch people here get edgy and I had to remind them that this time last year we had no phones, no mobiles and no internet. Funny how people forget!

Anyway a few highlights and lowlights from last week;

I visited Chikombola (one of our Health Clinics) with the Mission Director to meet with the Headmen to tell them to stop the piff paff poof witchcraft nonsense that has resulted in two staff leaving there. We have managed to recruit two new staff but they are straight from College and very vulnerable.

Won Man of the Match in the Independence Day Hospital vs High School football match. It was a thrilling 1-1 draw in which I hit the post with a 25 yard free kick, won a penalty, missed a penalty, hit the bar from outside the area and score a bullet header to open the scoring. I was not however appreciating everyone singing Peter Crouch Peter Crouch Peter Crouch to the tune of Here we go when I was substituted with 5 mins to go. I felt I was more of a Michael Ballack, Kevin Maher or Hugh Murray kind of play, surging forward from midfield.(The latter two may not be so well known - they play for Southend and St. Mirren respectfively)

I met with the Nursing Students to tell them off a two of them had been caught drinking and two had been caught cheating in an exam. I have since written to the Town Clerk and Licencing Board to complain about the noise and the way people are selling beer at the nearby Chipanga (I am turning into mu mother!)

The container from our good friends in Aberdeen has arrived. We are currently clearing it through customs (this could take a while).

Watched a great DVD sent by Garry of my friends Nick and Lisa leading the service at Chelmsford. We were very emotional watching it but we really appreciated seeing everyone, especially our godson, Joshua. (Nick, please wear the regulation neck tie when conducting formal SA ceremonies!)

The new Clinical Officer Anaethetist, a Salvationist from Malala but working in Western Province, has been formally posted here. He arrived on Saturday. This will be the final peice in our hospital staffing jigsaw for the time being - all accomodation is full now.

We had our quarterly Finance Reveiw last week - our debt is down by 60% which is good news. We must be the only organisation in Zambia that looks at debts of K468 million - 65,ooo pounds and reports that its good. The irony was not lost on me. We are still working well outside our budget and will need to make further cuts - not quite sure where they are going to come from.

Nice day in Lusaka on Saturday, with Pete and Emma. A geckp ran up my trousers while we were at the craft market.

Pete and I have joined Mazabuka Golf Club and now there's is just the small matter of getting our hands on some golf clubs. It's all in the name of networking you understand.

Southend drawn against Man Utd in the next round of the Milk / Rumbelows / Carling Cup - whatever its called these days. Gutted at missing it but will be able to watch it live on tv at one of the farms next week. I am expecting Garry to have a banner near our usual spot at Roots Hall beside the Basildon Shrimpers. Unfortunately Southend are bottom of the league at the moment.

Heidie has gone to Livingstone today to deliver some training in Prevention of Mother to Child transmission of HIV/AIDS. She has gone on the bus so I will be interested to see how she gets on.

Finally, we can now say we are coming home next month. Less than 5 weeks - not that we're counting or anything.