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