CHAANGA

So not last week but the week before I took another trip to Chaanga. It's not a journey I like doing particularly but I always enjoy when I get there. The Clinic there is run by the Hospital. Situated deep in the Gwembe Valley the 30 mile journey and takes about 3 hours to get there. There is something about Chaanga that epitomises the Salvation Army and the Chikankata spirit.

Originally opened by the Army as a Dispensary in July 1954, the Clinic now has a small in patients unit and a maternity wing. It is staffed by a nurse, a three health care assistants and a HIV Medic. It is apparently one of the most rural clinics in Zambia due to the poor access and it is a very busy place.

It was recently renovated and painted thanks to a donation from the good folks of Exeter Temple. Above is my mum presenting one of the staff with a mini Exeter the Lion (the daddy is in the Hospital), when we visited in April. While we were there we also visited the school, which was originally built by The Salvation Army but as with all Primary Schools in Zambia it is now run by the Government. Sadly the school buildings are now in need of much repair. However we were intrigued by the rules in one of the classrooms.

Over the rain seasons the road becomes impassable and during the dry season it is also quite dangerous. Alot of the time you are just driving on rocks but there are some stunning views to be had.

However not quite as dangerous as during the Rhodesian struggles, when this part of the country was embroiled in some of the difficultues and became heavily landmined. As we still do today, if one of the mobile clinic vehicles does not return in time from the Gwembe Valley, we send out another vehicle to look for it. In October 1979, a mobile clinic did not return and so a vehicle was dispatched to look for them (this is the abridged version of the story!). On finding the mobile clinic still at Channga, they returned home but unfortunately on the way home, one of the vehicles drove over a landmine and the consequences for the vehicle were disastrous. Fortunately the occupants of the vehicle escaped unscathed apart from blown eardrums. The story goes that on their safe return the staff gather together for a prayer meeting in the chapel where they sang together "I know he cares for me".

This week we have finally ordered the new Ambulance. Despite raising all the money earlier this year, the Salvation Army administrative system is a little cumbersome sometimes. One of the people who logged on to the justgiving website and gave generously was none other than Alan Slator from Worthing Corps in the UK, the driver of the vehicle above (pictured) and great supporter of Chikankata!

We have been become increasingly aware of the fine heritage and service Chikankata has given over the years. I struggled for a long time with the whole idea of The Salvation Army being involved in institutional health care due to the financial implications and pressures it puts on people. However this week I read a passage of the bible where Jesus is sending out 72 evangelists. He tells them to heal the sick and then tell them that their God is near. It's taking a while but it does make sense.

Chikankata Hospital - To serve God and the people