Cameroon #4

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Cameroon #4
Dear Family and Friends,
We are finally in Koza. We arrived on Tuesday August 9. It was quite the trip. We started by the
driver at the dental clinic dropping off our luggage (now cut down to 11 pieces) for the baggage
on the train from Yaounde up to Ngaoundere. Then we finished packing a “few” things. We each
ended up with a large backpack and a smaller backpack each and two large bags of food. It was
crazy but we thought we would be in the sleeper car, with four beds and some space to store
things. Well we didn’t end up in one. We were in first class seats. This meant in a train car with
two chairs on each side. Well leaving Yaounde was a chore. They opened the gates at 5:30 and
there was a mad rush for the train. Fortunately the first class seats are reserved. Not a first
come first serve basis like second class. There the people who get there first get seats and the
rest stand. In the first class everyone sat. We were heavily weighed down and fought our way
through the crowd to the train. Then boarded and were able to find places for our backpacks
behind us. The driver brought our extra two bags that we couldn’t carry to the train for us, so I
didn’t have to fight my way back to get them. We left on time at 6PM Sunday evening. There
was a train stop about every 20-40 km. They were long stops, I suspect as the conductor talked
with his friends.
Also the train stopped when it was the Muslim prayer times, as did the bus later. So we were
suppose to arrive around 9AM but we arrived at 2:30PM to Ngaoundere. Well we were able to
arrange a bus ride with a company represented on the train. So they said in a ½ hour we would
be ready to go once arriving and it would take 5 hours to get up to Maroua. Well the first two
buses out did leave within a ½ hour but all our luggage was not off the train yet. Finally all pieces
were brought off. Now we would go on the next bus. We finally left around 5PM. On the way up
to Maroua we had to go over a bridge that was to short to have the luggage piled on top like
before so all things had to be brought into the bus to cross the bridge with the passengers
walking. Then reload everything up top again. This was around 1AM. We finally reached
Maroua about 2AM. What a journey.
Fortunately the Conference president of this region was there to meet us and take us to a hotel
for the night. There was one bed in it and we all crashed together.
We left the next morning for Koza and arrived after about 3-hour travel because of the rough road
the last 20 km. Trucks are absolutely necessary to reach Koza.
The whole hospital staff (18) was out to meet us and welcome us “home”. It was a very nice
reception. Our house if beautiful. And Koza village is situated in the mountains. And right now
(rainy season) everything is very green and absolutely gorgeous.
They hired a cook to prepare us a fantastic meal and we ate very well in our own home. They
hired him and a guard for the nights. If we choose we can keep them on. It’s not very expensive
and real helpful to have someone able to cook and clean while Aud and I are both at work. It also
gives two people of the community employment, which, unless you work at the hospital is NONE!
So it would be helpful both ways.
They have worked here 2 days so far and it seems to be going well.
The following day was a meeting with the town mayor and chief. All the important people of the
village were there. The Union treasurer and the conference president of the church were there to
present us to the community along with the support of the mayor and chief. It was very humbling
with the way everyone was addressed and the meeting conducted. The society is very
hierarchical and their meeting showed that too.
After the meeting we went to see the hospital. The structure is very nice but very ill equipped.
We currently only have HIV, Tuberculosis, type and cross, and stool, and malaria smear, and
hemoglobin, urinalysis. No x-ray currently because they don’t have the reagents to develop it.
Wow do I wish I had an ultrasound already in the first two days. Would be very useful, as would
be an x-ray (TB and fractured femur). I guess we can get some electrolytes and transaminases
when we have those reagents also. We don’t have glucose either, which Audrey found it hard to
deal with a diabetic coming in with headache, polyuria and fevers. We also have no insulin and
no oral agents currently. Our pharmacy has a variety useful and non-useful things. A variety of
antibiotics and anti-worm medications and one NSAID for pain. The operating room has a few
non-absorbable suture but NO absorbable suture and only one size of gloves and No masks or
hats. So there are many things to obtain once the hospital makes some money, along with
paying its staff who haven’t been paid but 1/3 salary the last two months. The types of patients
we have currently are, 3yo with a femur fracture I just put in traction, many with malaria, worms,
the diabetic, pregnant patients with bleeding, some with vague complaints and pains, breast
mass, tuberculosis, and one unable to pay bill so staying here till done paying. Private rooms are
pay per day, others are one time fee for hospitalization. Our daily routine, as far as I can tell,
consists of: 7:30 worship and recount of new patients admitted overnight, rounds on the wards,
seeing patients the nurse doesn’t know what to do with, then recheck on patients. Most workers
leave by 2:30 when their 8 hours are up. There is one nurse in the hospital and 6 nurses aids
that run each ward individually. The rest of the staff are trained on the job.
Well we are very blessed because the day before we arrived the cell tower in Koza began to
work. As I mentioned in the last letter our number from the US is 011-237-522-0278. The 237 is
the country code. We have the phone on whenever we are awake. We are 5 hours ahead of
EST.
The people here seem to be very courteous and friendly and generally quiet. We are glad to
finally be here and to have a “home” once again after 4 months of roaming around North
America. We are very pleased with the administrator and his vision for the hospital and we pray
that we are able to address not only physical but also the spiritual disease. Please pray for us as
we start work here in Northern Cameroon.
And as we try to lead a hospital having never done it before. Thank you all for your prayers and
support.
In His Service, Greg, Audrey and Sarah Shank
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