Bahai Beach 56

Bahai Beach 56

Uum Zahra

March 29, 2007

Her radiant smile and warm handshake brightens up my every day come to the camp. Our standard first line is: ‘How many Zahra’s and how many Ashis’s.’ Our code for how many newborn girls and boys in Oure Cassoni. I wish for the girls and she for the boys. Seldom do you meet someone with such a positive energy. After a night without sleep because of three deliveries she will not go home for a sleep. ‘No Ashis, there is work to be done’

Since the age of fifteen she has been working as a midwife and her training was in a big city in Sudan called El Fasher. Thirty years of experience.

She had to flee her beloved Omboro 3 years ago. Janjaweed and Government of Sudan troops were burning her house and that of her neighbors. Antonovs were bombing the village before. Zahra like many in the village overnight lost six close neighbors and had to rush away in to the mountain to seek shelter. Packing some essential belongings in her two donkeys a six-day walk on a dangerous voyage through the desert to attempt to reach neighboring Chad. During the flight troops were in hot pursuit and Antonovs were strafing the terrain with bombs.

Bahai and its surrounding filled up with 18.000 refugees from her and two neighboring villages; Kornoi and Farawaya. Refugees were camping out under the trees and the already vulnerable water well was heavily taxed. Zahra’s donkeys died within three days in Bahai because of the poor quality of the water.

Her sister who had two young children passed away after three months leaving her to take care of them. When I asked her yesterday if she wanted to go back to her village her answer was crisp and clear. “Not until my niece and nephew have completed there school. ‘ As the International Rescue Committee was looking for qualified health staff Zahra was amongst the first to be recruited and as I wrote about some mails ago a first health post was set up under a tree to take care of the health of the Sudanese refugees.

Three years later and Zahra received her diploma from the Chadian Ministry of Health as a midwife and nurse with distinction as she said one of the best things to happen to her since many years. During that ceremony she was given a new name by the leaders of the community; Uum Zahra, Mother of the community.

The last two months with the help of Melel the Reproductive Health department has received an immense boost. Before 30 women came per day for antenatal check ups and now the number has nearly tripled, breastfeeding mothers & pregnant women (about 300) get supplementary feeding, blood group screening is being done as is screening for syphilis, deworming takes place as well as addition of folic acid and iron tablets to prevent anemia. As a result instead of 5 deliveries per week in the health center we see about 8-10 deliveries and Dr Remy sees all the babies. The fledgling department needs expansion. We have found 1 midwife extra in the camp, hired ten traditional birth attendants and we will be building two extra consultation rooms.

And this week there were 4 workshops on gender based violence and clinical management of rape survivors for protection staff, nurses, midwives, traditional birth attendants and community health workers. Roughly ninety people trained by Sonia an expert form IRC from New York. It was extremely insightful concerning ones own prejudices and conceptions. From here on we hope to integrate parts of this approach in our health programs overall.

Zahra and her team are working magic. And every day I have the pleasure to see her radiant smile.

As long as there are people like Zahra the spirit of the Sudanese refugees can never be crushed. No bombing or other violence will chase them away.

Namaskar,

Bahai Beach 55

Bahai Beach 55

The system is getting tweaked.

March 26, 2007

After the bombardment an immense silence prevailed. Some obligatory barking by the Chadian Government and we all returned to business as usual. The wounded of the bombing are doing well.

My chicken are definitely delusional; after 40 days of breeding STILL no chickies running around the compound. I guess I will have to wake them from their self-induced delirium. Who is behind this plot to waste the precious time of my two hens? Are the roosters here up to the job? Is it impossible to breed in March? Who can enlighten me?

I have found a nice website which answers at least some of my questions. Google Brahma chicken in Holland and you will find some answers at least

So how about me; does 9 months of sand in your lead to permanent brain damage or can it lead to growth?

Well at least my goatee is really like a goat’s. Cannot be bothered anymore to shave and it makes me fit in with the crowd in the camp. As well in the local discotheques. Flashy lights, fierce Kalashnikovs fire, Stroboscopes, goatees and local beauties figure a plenty in this oasis. I cannot think of any village in the world with a better nightlife. Sheesha’s as evening treat, bright starlight, a puffing generator on the background. Time to reflect and plan for future world domination. Perhaps some more time in this heaven on earth perhaps not.

I like to work in programs not are not well settled yet or a bit chaotic. The day-to-day adjustment of what is possible forces you to be proactive and reactive at the same time. Will the next phase of the Oure Cassoni program be a bit too calm? On the other hand I feel a very strong commitment to our refugees

The program is getting stronger on a day-to-day basis and that is a good feeling. Our refugee staff is getting trainings twice a week in 4 different groups. The laboratory is slowly, slowly deploying. Surprise, surprise there may be a mirror microscope requiring no electricity so we can do blood films, urine and stool examination in the camp itself. This week a very sensitive topic: clinical management of victims of sexual violence will be discussed in three workshops. It has not been addressed enough in our program and I hope these session will kick start a broader discussion about women’s health.

And then there is a visit of our major donor and at the same time the medical coordinator of UNHCR will be shedding her light on the weaknesses and strengths of our program. Drug orders for the next six months are due as is the monthly report, health incentive staff, a one month hand over, hiring of three staff members and the day to day things.
Busy is good and my energy level is still high. Yet a break in India is something I am really looking forward to. Explore the motherland and loiter. Ponder some more about the when and where I will be in the second half of 2007.

This weekend our shower was fixed and a truckload of mangoes were sent. Bravo. Life is getting better. In the day the thermometer is starting to hit the 40’s again. I wonder how hot it gets here. At least the nights are always reasonably cool.

The dream of a sauna as we had in Ethiopia will not be achieved but you can’t always get what you want. But if you try sometimes you get what you need.

Hasta la pasta,

Ashis

Bahai Beach 54

Bahai Beach 54

Birthday gorilla on the loose

March 22, 2007

‘O what a beautiful morning, o what a beautiful day
I’ve got this wonderful feelin’, everything’s going my way’

At 00.00 I ripped open a surprise packet from Australia. My o my I was flooded with gifts; books, speculaas, candy, chocolate, lollypops, an Australia rocks t-shirt, crèmes, dreams, candles, incense…

What a delight.

And then this morning in memory of Dance Valley (flower shower from airplanes over a dance festival) our neighbor Omar decided to send a silver bird with some firework in the morning and in the afternoon.

Things got only better over the course of the day. Two healthy baby boys added to Oure Cassoni population. Our second day of supplementary feeding for pregnant and breastfeeding women in the camp was a massive success with more than 130 women showing up. Things are moving and shaking. The construction team is building a veranda for the reproductive health clinic.

At 14.00 we had what I consider to be the best moment of the day. In a fine ceremony 3 of our nurses and five of our midwives were given official Chadian certification for their work. This is a day of immense success. After three years they get go-ahead from the Chadian Ministry of Health to be working as qualified staff in our health structures. While I was praising them in a speech explosions could be felt and heard across the border.

Silver birds with nasty cargo.

Yet fearlessness is the keyword. Our ceremony continued and as one of the leaders remarked on exactly the same day 3 years ago this happened to their home village Kornoi and they had to flee. He praised Zahara our chief midwife and said her title from now on would be ‘Mother’ Zahara. With smiles on their faces our 8 heroes received their certificates after being lauded by Sylvie, Osman and in presence of several Zone leaders, Dr Camilo, one of the founding fathers of the camp was there as well and for the refugee that was very special as well

This was a special and surrealistic moment where fear was overcome with resilience.

We also found another qualified midwife. Things are coming together in the camp.

The sweetest moment was when Okke sang me some birthday songs. This youngster has a bright career ahead of him as a rock star.

Tonight we are eating sheep. I will tear apart some ribs. Chat with friends on skype.

It was been a great birthday.

My one wish has come true today. Better quality of services for the refugees. Things can only get better over the next months and years. Despite the violence vibrancy and positivism rules the waves for a day.

Namaskar,

And a gazillion thanks to all the staff for making this place a better place,

Ashis

Post scriptum

My friend Gogo just walks in to share the sheesha I lit up with in his hand a heart of sweets. Cool gift!

And the chicken just dropped by to sing me a song as well; kuckoolekoo

Bahai Beach 53

Bahai Beach 53

March 20, 2007

Mother India calling

The sheesha is bubbling again. Tobacco is freely available on the market and with Yoda we hang out at night looking for the world’s best and worst song. Downloading from the Internet the hunt is on. Anyone want to chip in?

Today I have got my holiday approved and the Bahai Beach episodes in the month of April will be coming from India. On the hit list are; meet and greet the Dalai Lama, finding a nest in the Himalayas to call a home, meditation in ice cold rivers, visiting friends and family around the sub continent, stocking up on good books, chilling, incense, funky humor, loitering, bargaining for nonsense on different markets, games of karam, ludo, pimp pam pets. Being home in short!

The team in the camp is almost up to full strength and I can feel progress being made on a daily basis. It is a slow but steady process. As the security situation has improved over the last weeks and months we can focus on consolidation instead of fire fighting all day. The arrival of the new country director and the return of Marc will surely help in the process. Also in Abeche we have two new staff members; a security officer, who although I have only seen him sleep (my fault for never being around during normal hours) looks rock solid and a new base manager in Abeche; Frederic. With the truck moving up and down with materials essential items, as there are drugs and materials are arriving in rapid succession. It is a good time to take a break after 9 months in the project.

Like the last time before a break it is also an opportunity to reflect on the future, present and the past. As for the future it is becoming tempting to stay a bit longer as then I can see the reap the fruits of the seeds sown over the last months. Yet travel and seeing family and friends around the world is tempting as well. Another path as there is exploring shamanism, reiki, further study appeals as well. I need to make up the balance and decide over the next weeks what I truly want. The work in the field is definitely something that makes me happy. On the other hand a real social life remains low key here in the field.

Presently the team is changing, old friends like Mr. Mathias will soon be leaving and new people are turning into old hands. The smile is still on my face every day as I wake up and that is a great feeling.

The camp has been rocked by some very sad events over the last three days. First a
13-year old boy was stabbed with a knife in the lung and he is still fighting for his life after an evacuation to Abeche. Then yesterday a man got stabbed in the side by his son. The knife must have severed vital organs as he bled to death within a half hour. Today I visited the wake for the gentleman. He was one of our staff members. About 100 men and 50 women were praying in separate spaces for the deceased. The men read out suras from the Koran and the beads go rapidly through the hands to accompany the prayers. This mourning will last three days and will be repeated after about 40 days and thereafter yearly.

It is still unclear if there is an increase of violence or if these events are isolated and exceptional. The suspects for the two crimes are both in jail. Yet I cannot begin to understand the sadness that both families must go through.

The day also included a visit of the Dutch Ambassador for Cameroon, Chad and Central African Republic. He came with a team of three and it was fun to be talking with Yolanda and three compatriots in Dutch for half of the day. Discussing the difficulties faced in the field but also to talk about the resilience of the refugees. He also promised to send herring and eels on Queensday. Let us hope I return on time to sample some of those typical Dutch treats in N’Djamena. It reminds me of the days when I could pop over to the herring stall on the bridge near my house in Amsterdam and eat my favorite fish.

Well another day has gone bye. By all means send me a list of the worst song you know and the best. It is fun to down load them and make my song collection as eclectic as can be.


Namaskar,

Ashis

Bahai Beach 52

Bahai Beach 52

Mimi’s mystery

Sunday 18 March 2007

Reports come fast and thick. First there was a singular sighting by one staff member but then a clear pattern. This was followed by multiple sightings by multiple people. Mimi, our handicapped limping black former cat is more pleased to stay on the Libyan market with the local population then with our decked out compound.
Bless the kitten.

Thos reminds me of the potential threats my chooks (and future kutkuts= chickies) are going to have to face. The more or less hyper intelligent Mimi’s have found out that one can eat birds. Luckily early in life they have been traumatized by all kinds of birds so a learned trait – fear for winged beings – may still be in place.

Well as you can read I have plunged head forward back into the work in Oure Cassoni. There is a plethora of visitors coming bye/ there right now. Again ranging from donors, our new country director, security/health/gender based violence advisors from New York, journalist, the Dutch Ambassador for Cameroon and Chad.

As a health team we have the pleasure of hosting the doctor who has set up the camp. His name is Dr Camillo and when he came in the beginning of 2004 there was not yet a camp. As he showed in a slide presentation there were 8000 people living in the wadi (dry river bed) in the middle of nowhere and 8000 people living under trees as well in the village of Bahai. For those that arrived in Bahai they shared one water well with the 6000 inhabitants of the village and all the animals.

What remained of the animals that is. The first loss concerning their animals they faced was the thefts and butchering of their stock in the attacks by janjaweed. Then during the trek here some animals died. In a third batch they sold their livelihood for very low prices to assure at least some food. And the final hit was the bad quality of the drinking water leading to massive number of deaths of the livestock. There were images of piles of tens of donkeys, goats being burned. And this happened on a daily basis.

In Zaghawa culture money is represented by livestock. Mainly camels, but also donkeys and goats are the way to express wealth and power. Some of my staff have told me they lost all their (200) camels, 300 goats and 50 donkeys. Imagine losing all your income in a span of two/ three months…

Then over the next months, March and April 2004 there was a steep rise in deaths amongst the tree dwellers. As they stated themselves ‘The sky is their shadow’ and ‘When you have nothing you might as well be dead’ It was the time when there tens of deaths per month due to malnutrition, diarrhea, meningitis and respiratory tract infections. Surprisingly those that were dying were mainly in the category 50 years and older.

To assure health care access a central tree was found in both sites and that is where with help of freshly recruited nurses, midwives and community health workers mobile clinics were started.

After the needs became clear finally in April 2004 Oure Cassoni was founded as a ‘temporary camp’. Two more weeks and the third year anniversary will take place. Yet to put things in to perspective the Chad program for refugees is still the baby amongst all IRC refugee programs worldwide. The sad reality is that many refugees are forced to live in squalid conditions for five, ten or even twenty years.

I would like to thank Dr Camilo for sharing the story of the exodus and arrival in Bahai with us. It gives a perspective and a reminder where we come from and where we are despite all constraints. Major strides forward have been made, but also major steps need to be taken. Slowly but steady we are moving forward.

Namaskar,

Ashis Brahma

Post Scriptum

Yoda and I were having one of our loquacious conversations about the meaning of life when he poured out one of his ad hoc gems in the context of quality of the work we are doing in Chad: “I cannot accept any mediocrity in the work, but for my own mediocrity”

And in the market I was walking around with my Rasta man cap when a man came up to me and inquired as to why I was wearing a child’s cap and children’s glasses. My response: “ O the girl who sold me the items ensured me they where adults’” Leaving the man bewildered and myself with a smirk from here to N’Djamena.

Bahai Beach 51

Bahai Beach 51

Chasing Hippo’s

March 14, 2007

Once every 6 weeks we get to leave the proverbial bubble. One tends to forget there is more in life than refugees, sand and camels in this world. On Thursday 3 of us hopped on a plane and lo and behold the peasants hit the big city 2 flights later.

This was by far my best break. There are nightclubs to relief the pressure. Imagine an energized Ashis hopping up and down on the dance floor. Different discos are familiar with the sight by now. There are some more visits left to round up the remaining few that have not been visited. Meeting up with witty compatriots. Talking with my adorable eye doctor about the differences but mainly parallels between Islam and Hinduism. Cherishing the endless amounts of addax (chatter boxing) between two friends looking to maximize the laughter. Jokes about his Keralite descent and my phony Marxism.

Just outside of N’Djamena there is a small village where you can sit on the riverbank of the Chari River. It is as idyllic as it gets. Watermelons and mango orchards with splattering of birds chilping away. The beautiful kingfisher hanging above the water looks for a glint of shadow of a prey. The egrets wading through the undeep parts of the water. A hawk observes form in a tree. The quiet of nature and peaceful as Chad can also can be.

One tends to forget while in Bahai that not the entire country is in a state of emergency. True large parts of Chad are heavily militarized riddled with low (or even high) intensity conflict. But there is also the delightful countryside. A place where fishermen carve up pieces of soap to attach to their fishing lines and where with wooden boats they ride the river waves as lords of the water. Catfish the size of your underarm are sold for $6 per 10 pieces. There where the local sultan comes out to greet you as you are a special guest of the village.

As the level in the river is relatively low it is possible to play a match of cricket on the bank of the river. Another nice scene was the visit of the Chadian honorary consul to India. He flew over to Chad from India to give a party in the Meridian for diplomats and business people. For token sake there were 5 Indians as well but the vast majority of visitors were Chadians and embassy people. To assure that in the Indian report of this event there were some Indians present we (3) were rounded up and a photo was duly taken. What I liked most about it was the fact that I got taste the entire range of Meridian pastries. They have an excellent pastry chef there and 15 different cakes and pies were sampled and compared leading to the conclusion that there should be more of these invitations so deeper investigations into the matter could be made.

Talking about photos do check out www.newsweek.com . There is a very nice article in Oure Cassoni camp with Angelina Jolie and on photo 9 you might recognize someone.
Right now I am hoping that my stand bye place for the flight to Bahai turns into a solid seat so I can return to my bubble and do my work there.

Just to keep you up to speed. Yoda made a tough and courageous call. A lady pregnant of triplets had delivered one child in the camp but then for the next 24 hours there was no progress for the other 2 babies. With the team he decided to send her by route to Iriba where MSF operates an operation theatre. The lady and the 2 other babies (completing the triplets) are now fine.

It seems I am entering the bubble again. This time I have the pleasure to know that a break (holiday) may be up sooner than later.



Namaskar,

Ashis

Bahai Beach 50

Bahai Beach 50

Two difficult deliveries in two days

March 5th, 2007.

The energy level of the doc is kind of low of late. Time to tank up in N’Djamena. Have a swim, eat fish and fruit and sleep in an air-conditioned room. Perhaps even a hotel as the guesthouse in the capital doubles as an office and I am not so much interested in that. A few weeks after that I am planning to go to India (f I get my full leave days)

Yesterday when we arrived early in the camp straight away we were asked to see a difficult delivery.

A young lady had been in labor for more than 10 hours and despite the fact that the head was nearly outside of the birth canal the last centimeters seemed too far. While doing a vaginal digital inspection it became clear why. The head of the baby was in a slight mal presentation and the lady had suffered from female genital mutilation. In other words her vagina had been sutured close leaving an opening of 5 centimeter. No longer am I surprised to see this in Oure Cassoni and even though the official number of women having FGM is 48 in the camp, all the woman I have seen during delivery have been incised and sutured. With external pressure to the uterus and a firm episiotomy (cut to open up space for the head of the baby to pass through the baby was born. Yet when clamping off the umbilical cord the clamp was not used correctly and an arterial umbilical vessel started to shower blood over Zahara and myself. Within 5 seconds the clamps where back on and Zahara and I could look and laugh at each other as the child and mother were doing well. All present in the delivery room learnt a valuable lesson that the umbilical cord and the clamping thereof is a delicate affair.

Another lesson learnt is that 6 midwives present at the delivery makes the delivery a busy and highly inefficient affaire.

This morning again we left early due to the food distribution taking place in Oure Cassoni starting today. On arrival we found that two children had been delivered during the night. Two healthy baby girls although one was only 1.2 kilo and she needs close follow up.

There was a 17-year-old girl delivering her first born. As she had been in labor for over 12 hours the TBA had decided it was time for the mother-to-be to start pushing out the baby but the baby head had not proceeded far enough in the birth canal for that. This girl/mother had also been cut. After the delivery it became pretty clear that the exit of the birth canal was narrow and obstructed as the head was very much deformed and the baby came out without breathing, blue and floppy.

Here what the midwives do is grab the baby by the ankles and slap it on the back. If that does not work the child is also hit on the feet while water is being thrown at it. What the baby girl needed was to have all the mucous sucked out of her nose and throat clogging up her capacity to breath and a ‘kiss of life’.

The feeling when a child is not breathing for 2 minutes is very stressful I can assure you. The good thing about this girl was that he heart was beating firmly and rapidly. After mouth to mouth-nose breathing for about 1 minute she started to hiccup, clear her mucous and breath on her own.

An observation on my side after this narrow escape to the midwives;

“A human is not a fish, it requires oxygen in air in order to breath”
“Many hands make the work light but too many hands make it a mess”

At the moment of delivery of the baby there must have been 7 midwives, 3 relatives and myself in the delivery room. In the building because of the other two deliveries there were another 15 women and as it was nearing consultation time another 10 pregnant ladies were awaiting on the porch.

Well at least this week the majority 6/7 deliveries are taking place in the health center. Let us hope this mini trend continues and the difficult and at risk deliveries are observed early and helped out in an appropriate way as well as referred on time when needed.

The lady we had referred to Bahai on Friday with generalized convulsions was returned back today with a healthy baby boy n her arms.

Reproductive Health was originally not supposed to be part of my tasks but as there is no expatriate manager and only since one month a doctor I do tend to lend a hand when needed.

Well next time more about the other programs.

Namaskar,


Ashis

Bahai Beach 49

Bahai Beach 49

Urgent transfer.

March 2, 2007.

The maternity was a hub of activity this morning. The two boy twins are both doing well. After I did a check up of these delightful newborns and was about to write up the history of them a 20-year-old pregnant lady started convulsing.

Her mouth was contorting; her arms and legs were flying left and right. With three tongue depressors and some bandage we rapidly devised a protection for her tongue. Often in attacks like this people can bite their tongue causing heavy blood loss. Three midwives were holding her down while we struggled to get a perfusion in her arm. Only when two more people lent a hand did we manage to find a vein and keep the drip in. She was convulsing and having contractions at the same time and that endangers the baby. Diazepam was given and after 3 bouts of convulsions she improved

As there are limited ways to follow up a case like this straight away the convoy leader was informed at 11.00 about the urgent situation for this lady to assure a rapid descent to Bahai Hospital. Even a caesarean may have been necessary (hence a flight to Abeche). All the more reason to speed up the transfer. Yet here the poor security situation shows it impact. As we travel in convoy with other NGO’s under guidance of a vehicle filled up with gendarmes it takes some time to arrange transportation back. In fact our plan time of departure was 12.30 and despite all best intentions we did not manage to leave before 12.45.

In the car she started talking with her sister again and right now she is under observation in Bahai Hospital were she is under close observation. We hope to hear later tonight that she has delivered her child safely. Eclampsia can rapidly kill mother and child. Even after delivery she still needs treatment and follow up. Also her next pregnancy (not so much choice in Chad) will be monitored closely.

In the car you can get angry about the lack of organizational skill to alleviate a potential life threatening situation, or and that is probably the more positive approach, be appreciative that she was in the health center during the day when the problems started.

It is not always easy to remain patient for things happening here in Bahai and Oure Cassoni. I talked before about the gunshots being fired in town not being considered as a dangerous thing. Or the fact that once again the town is flooded with armed boys & men. Yet given all constraints and all threats it so much more helpful to look at events from a positive perspective.

It is fun to live with 30+ people in a compound, for several weeks no car has been stolen, the refugees are still hanging in there, nobody went on strike when we paid them nearly 3 weeks late, water is still available in the camp, construction after having been on hold for several months are now en route to be made. A half fence is better than none, even if the water truck has managed to smash it after only 2 weeks. Bread with lentils in the camp has been changed for the treats of sardines from a tin and goat meat, on and on.

In the end of the day if you cannot smile about the life you are living who can.

I started this morning singing and dancing. Teasing my national staff and in a very good mood despite or because of the sandstorm and it is how I wish to end the day. A big chunky smile on my face.

Every is not falling apart,
No slowly, very slowly there is improvement in the camp.

For today that means hanging up curtains for patient privacy in the health post.
And the promise made by two logisticians that before I leave the project for good three investigations coaches will have been made.

My self I am after locks on the market as well as cooking pots so we can start the distribution of supplementary foods to the pregnant and breast feeding women.

25 small changes make one big change

Namaskar,

Ashis

Bahai Beach 48

Bahai Beach 48

Green men with expensive toys in town.

February 28th, 2007

The heroine from Tomb Raider must have a huge following in Chad. Boys and men are flocking like pigeons on the Dam Square in Amsterdam. Is there something in the air?

Well as precaution we left the camp early today. While we left there was a class going on with as a topic recognition of diarrheal disease, its danger signs and how to treatment. Education was going on and that is a good feeling.

We also had a meeting with teachers from Zone A to explain our coming visit to their school to classify the children with ringworm in two categories. There are the severe and the simple cases, category one requiring tablets and category two requiring crème. Now I am hoping for a quiet day so we can visit the camp tomorrow to follow up here.

End of the month also means I need to take some time to write a report on the activities of the last 4 weeks. Our doctor is hanging out in Abeche getting training in HIV counseling and the treatment of tuberculosis. It means I am seeing patients again in the camp. As there is our one HIV positive patient who without treatment was doing reasonably well. Today I was informed he is dehydrated so I sent a nurse with perfusion and ORS. If he does not get better in his home environment we can always send him to the hospital for palliative care. It is the reality of Africa.

We lost another young man, most likely to HIV this week. Treatment for this disease in Chad in the district hospital of Chad is not available. Ben, my assistant public health manager has just come to tell me I have a big part in his play about ‘Prevention of HIV’. I am looking forward to do a little bit of health education acting. As we have been doing blood tests for syphilis we are finding this sexual transmitted disease in pregnant women. It is time to address this issue in the community. Both in Bahai as well as in the camp.

My chickens are complaining a lot about the sound pollution of helicopters and vehicles plying bye at high speed. They have written up a petition so I go out there to speak to these bad boys. Pip em down, less noise, eggs are being bred, chooks require rest. Talking about birds, one of the Zaghawa sub-tribes is called Anju. Anju is a bird with bright colors. This bird can never be chased from the houses of the Anju Zaghawa hence they are known as the Anju.

Today in the news; Chad to reject UN troops. Perhaps they have been looking at their neighbor too much, or the present regime thinks it can squash the ongoing rebellion easily. While I am reading a book on recent African history, including a lot of violence and chaos the scenario is repeating it self in Chad. Future historian may shine their lights on the situation of this part of the world. I was pondering how to get a hold of a book by Samantha Power on different genocides in the world when Sancho Pancho walked into the compound with exactly that book under his arm. Yesterday we got to hang out like the 6-year olds we really are and it does me tons of good that he is around. Another merry sidekick to rule the world!

Silly boys rule Bahai.

Two boys and a band of noisy chooks.

Namaskar,

Ashis

Bahai Beach 47

Bahai Beach 47

Sancho Yoda in town

February 27th, 2007

With the arrival of Yolanda form Holanda, Brahim, Sacho Yoda it seems Bahai is brightening up again. Only dark spot is Audrey leaving on an expedition to find Gelato Baboons in the Simian Mountains, but I am sure she will be back soon. The big gorilla in the mean time is eagerly awaiting some slam dancing & fish eating in N’Djamena. Over the past 8 months I have met plenty of people who are stationed in N’Djamena but have visited Bahai. Time to harass them!

I wonder who has figured out yet who was our mystery guest? Next week I shall reveal…
What I can say is that all our visitors are genuinely impressed with the resilience of the refugees living in the camp. One could imagine a group of repressed, sad people but as I have written before they are a mighty bunch. Super heroes.

No not always easy to work with and for but worth every single minute.

The most interesting moment of the day for me came when we were discussing female genital mutilation. As to assure that the tradition was kept alive a trick procedure has been devised. Instead of cutting the clitoris and the labia a small incision is made so the girl bleeds and then the older women confirm that the girl is now ‘proper’ and circumcised. I was surprised to hear such a brilliant solution. Ancient culture respected and no harm done to the girl. And the men suckered. Discussing this practice our Health Officer mentioned that it is not an Islamic practice (found in the Koran) and therefore the roots of this practice are cultural.

Remember the boy I mentioned a couple of blogs ago who was tied to the wall. Well SOS Kinderdorf has returned and they have a special unit to take care of mentally challenged children. He will be the first to be consulted, to be given walking practice daily (he has contractures because he always squats). He will come for play therapy and the family will be explained that our young friend needs stimulation. The positive thing is that when you do stimulate him he responds instantly.

On arrival home I was pleasantly surprised with a local treat: locust. Yummy they taste great. Tomorrow I will serve them to my buddies in the compound to see who likes them and who does not. Another thing lined up for tomorrow is a visit to the school in zone A so finally all children there can be examined for the severity of their ringworm. It will mean seeing up to 500 kids tomorrow. Well all the more fun.

And some more good news; drugs are arriving and have arrived. Hopefully all we are missing presently is in the boxes. Although in the end of the day most of the essential drugs are available in both the hospital as well as the camp
Bye the way does anyone know how to fix a fridge? After 6 months ours is still broken. Finding a mechanic is impossible and even after an extended visit to Abeche (for our fridge) it is still not cooling. The irony of the country is that a new fridge needs to be bought when it breaks down. Sad but Chad.

Catch you later,

Hasta la pasta

Ashis