After I posted last weeks entry I realised I had not mentioned the craft event put on by the peace corp volunteers working here in Togo.The Peace Corps traces its roots and mission to 1960, when then Senator John F. Kennedy challenged students at the University of Michigan to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. From that inspiration grew an agency of the federal government devoted to world peace and friendship. It is still working in many countries today and I was fascinated to talk with one of the volunteers in Lome as he organised the event over the weekend. Putting the fair on during rainy season at least meant there were tourists to come and see the work. The volunteer along with others spread throughout Togo had persuaded craftsmen and women to bring their wares to Lome and sell them there. The only problem was Thai rain but they were pleased to see us on a soggy Sunday morning. Cloth and wood dominated the stands and was, as one would expect, of variable standard. Sadly my daughter refused to help flatpack a chair with seagrass weaving for the seat and back. Something about not having a large enough rucksac! The volunteers live in the villages having nothing of the luxuries we have of running water and electricity teaching some very basic management of a small business such as accounting, marketing etc.
This week has been full of goodbyes to various folk some of whom have been onboard for a long time. These include one of the second engineers from the UK and the eye surgeon and his wife. But others are returning and there will joyous reunions later tonight.
In order for us to make full use of the Glenns last operating day in the possible presence of strikes called by the unions protesting about fuel prices, we started work early on Thursday morning. First patient was having their surgery by 8.00am and we had finished all 28 cases by 11.00am Teamwork is absolutely key to operating on so many patients this quickly. It meant that all the patients could be seen at the ship for discharge later that day and would not need to return to the clinic on the Friday. What it also proved was that we can offer daycase surgery! All the patients were given lunch in the dining room after the staff lunches had finished. The sight of so many patients coming along the corridors and up the stairs supported by their carers caused heads to swivel.
The photos shows me beginning to lead the first patients from E ward where they are prepared for surgery.
Gateway, which I mentioned last week, was a one month course that I took at the beginning of the year in Texas. The weather, you may recall, was cold at the beginning of the year in the UK. It was even colder in Texas but at least there was no snow. It was very dry too so although exceedingly cold, there were clear crisp sunny days. We were grateful for the cold weather the first week as the 14 of us in basic safety training were expected to don full fire fighting gear and go into a very controlled fire - in a forty foot container. The suits themselves were bulky and generally not designed for 5 foot short people! But the week of working together as we learned about first aid, the basics of safety on a ship, turning over liferafts, donning gumby suits and fighting fires was a great team building week. The following 3 weeks we learned about working and living in developing countries, understanding about different cultures and about spiritual warfare - very important in countries where voodoo/witchcraft are practiced. We had times of laughter and tears and all of us were challenged at some point in those 3 weeks. The friendships continue as we work on the ship in all our different areas of expertise and service.
So of the week ahead? One of the general surgeons who was planning to come has had to withdraw because of illness but thankfully Father had in place on the ship a general surgeon who was here for the VVF surgeon. Dr Frank works in Uganda and is actually a general surgeon. As he said in his talk that he gave about 10 days ago,in Uganda "you have to be able to operate anywhere between the neck and knees". So we are still able to operate on the patients who will come for screening on Monday morning.
We await too the arrival of a head and neck surgeon from the UK. He is what is affectionately known as a "repeat offender" i.e. a returning member of the crew. So our weeks will switch gear completely. There are also returning anaesthetists so it will be a pleasure to welcome them again tonight.
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