Technorati tags: tanzania, hospital, utengule, ngozi crater lake
Hello everyone!
Sorry in English again, I’m getting annoyed by writing everything twice. And English is easier for Dutch, than Dutch is to the English speaking.
Think my last post might have been a bit depressed; guess that was just a matter of writing in the wrong time.
Anyway, all is going well.
This week was our last in the hospital. We had a really good time in the hospital. Seen a lot, learned a lot, and everyone was very friendly. It’s like you said Marianne, a whole different world compared to home.
Actually it’s quite interesting. Sometimes it’s all so different over here, but it can be so similar as well.
I’ll give a short overview of my impression of the hospital. As you could read last time, things are far from perfect. There are always at least a few women who have to share a bed. A lot of the staff is unmotivated; they don’t take their work serious. I mean why would you go through all the hassle of measuring a blood pressure if you can just make it up? Even in women with pregnancy induced hypertension/pre- eclampsia. The same for foetal heart rate, making that up is easier than actually listening to the baby’s heart. The labour ward is another example; they have a stick there to deal with uncooperative women. This, and other things that show lack of compassion, can be quite frustrating. I have to mention that not all the blame comes to the staff. They really work a lot and long hours. Fortunately there are some motivated people who want to change things to the best. Although the hospital lacks some resources they are aware of what is possible with what is available. The professor is one of them, though his efforts are not appreciated by everyone. And compared to small hospitals, this one has heaps of facilities. After all it’s one of the 5 referral hospitals Tanzania has. The hospital leaves mixed feelings, with despair and hope.
So much for the hospital; when I’m back I’ll be happy to tell more about it.
Last Sunday we went to the church of the driver. (The Germans where we stay work for a water project sponsored by the EU and Germany, they have a driver for work purposes) Well actually, I skipped the serves. I’ve already seen one here, the dancing and singing is very nice, but the preach, all in Swahili… So they went, and I stayed home. After about 2.5 hrs Axel came to pick me up. Lunch was served in church and we’re all invited. That was really nice. And the food was good, local but good.
Now some pictures.
Look at the arrow, someone is walking there. This was on the way to the Ngozi Crater lake, in a rain forest.
Ngozi Crater Lake. (in the crater of volcano)
Locals have a lot of stories about this lake; it’s supposed to host a Which or a monster. Some stories tell it’s a magic lake etc etc.
The scientific explanation is that the volcano underneath is leaking gas bubbles. Sometimes people on the lake get inside a bubble that’s just above the water. They die or drown suddenly because of lack of oxygen…
The pool in utengule
Coffee beans, drying in the sun.
