|
5 May 2005
Dear Friends and Family:
Today I had to hurry to the manse for protection when a staff
member threatened to kick and beat me because, during my three
days as acting hospital director, I refused to reverse the executive
committee's longstanding decision to transfer this staff member
to a health centre. This man told Reverend Mhango he would have
beaten me badly, but refrained from doing so out of respect for
the reverend. This is a new experience for me. Even when I had
to deliver the dismissal letter to a staff member for using hospital
funds for personal use last month, I was not threatened.
The threat of violence is not unheard of. Last week the executive
committee went to Mhaunda health centre to bring the staff back
to Embangweni after a village headman and some community members
threatened to beat them. In that case, the dispute was actually
with the government. Reverend Mafwia, the police, and other village
headmen came to the meeting during which some of the village headmen
were rolling on the ground, pleading for the staff to remain for
the sake of the patients. Two patients had died on the day that
staff was kept from doing their job, which caused anger in the
community at the aggressors. After these other village headmen
came up with an acceptable plan to protect the staff and the paramount
chief agreed to control the threatening village headman, the staff
agreed to stay and serve. Assuring safety seems to be a necessary
step for peace and reconciliation.
These episodes cloud my vision of this peaceful country, which
has not had a war since independence, and this peaceful area where
I walk to and from the hospital at all hours of the night. Violence
and the threat of violence are hard to keep in perspective, especially
when you are a single woman who lives alone. Two nights ago, this
same house was full of nurses, clinicians, and other staff members
to celebrate the graduation of Esau Kasonda, a nurse who finished
midwifery training, and this year's clinical officer-intern, Sibusise
Nchlema, who received a notice he had passed his exams. The potluck
was full of touching speeches, words of encouragement, good chats,
good food, and dancing, as some of the nurses cleared the floor
and brought in a stereo with large speakers. The celebration was
wonderful, and one of the reasons I usually love this place and
feel at home.
Last time I wrote, my colleague Dumisani Kamwana had just left
to train in South Africa in pediatrics, and I was the only doctor.
Since then, Doctor Petros Kayange has joined us. He just finished
his internship, and seems to be so happy to finally be working
as a doctor. Dr Cosimo Storniolo and family have also returned
for a six-month stint. Plus, there are now four clinical officers
who can do c-sections and most emergencies, so I am nights of
more sleep and more weekends off.
Last month I joined PC(USA) volunteers Bill and Beth Rule on
a trip to Nyika Plateau, Malawi's largest game park. By mistake,
we turned onto a road no longer in use after poachers burned a
bridge farther down the way. The car slid down a hill, rolling
over a sheet of rock and down slippery grass. Since we couldn’t
make it back up the hill, we decided to proceed, hoping this road
would meet up with a better road. We had to push the car on many
occasions, going off the trail when a big tree blocked the way,
and having to use the windshield wipers to clear off the high
grass we were driving through, we arrived at the burned-out bridge.
So, in mostly wet clothes, with little water and a few crackers,
we slept in the car in near-freezing temperatures. The next morning,
Bill walked 30 kilometers back for help, Leatherman knife out
and ready, as the park boasts the highest concentration of leopards.
Rescuers, who had been looking for us until 3:00 a.m. the previous
night and were arranging a plane search, accompanied him back
to tow the car.
The comaraderie was good throughout, but the car took a beating.
I will always remember certain scenes: Bill and Beth jumping on
and hanging from a tree to bring it down so we could drive over
the stump. Bill using his dear Leatherman knife to fell a small
tree that was too big for the car to break. The thunder and lightning
and blowing rain during these hours. Beth and I having to abandon
the car when we stirred up a beehive while getting the car turned
around. We both have epinephrine prescriptions for bee sting reactions,
but did not have any with us. While gathering rocks, logs and
an old license plate to put under the tires, we were aware that
snakes live under these rocks, such as the cobra we saw while
driving, but neither of us mentioning our fear until later. Our
rescuers having to push the vehicle that was towing our vehicle
up the hill, and fill the path with branches as the vehicle went
up the hill so it would not slide back. When almost out, our vehicle
hit a rock and dislocated the ball bearing, yet our handy rescuers
removed the wheel and pushed the ball bearing back in place so
we could proceed.
There were stressors during that 24 hours that now make us laugh,
and some that had us laughing at the time. Thank God for laughter.
Thank you for your prayers for the everyday and for the extraordinary.
Love,
Martha
The 2005 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.337 |
