Jeremy & Maggie visit the NEW clinic!

On Tuesday evening Jeremy and Maggie were driven to Liwolo, about 40km from Romogi where the Cress base camp is staying.  Edward, the Bishop’s driver negotiated the ruts and bumps in the red, dusty roads expertly so they arrived just before dark. During the journey they were able to enjoy the wonderful countryside – very green with crops such as Kasava, peanuts and maize, and teak trees with huge leaves alongside the prolific mango trees – and small settlements of thatched ‘tokuls’ peeking through the vegetation.

There are few cars in this area but many bicycles, often with 2 people on and a variety of loads. Most people seemed to be walking, and they past many people of all ages and dress.  Lots of babies on their mothers’ backs, sometimes on the back of an older child, many children, some quite young.  Edward assured Jeremy and Maggie they would be back at their homes before dark.

Darkness comes quickly and by 6.45pm the light is failing and by 7.30 it is pitch dark.  Later though the stars come out and with no light pollution, that is a sight to behold.

Jeremy and Maggie stayed Tuesday night in a 2 bed tukal in a compound owned by the deputy governor, consisting of 3 guest tukals, a kitchen area, a meeting room and a shower block all set around a mango tree (of course!).   Decrepit lorries can be found around the compound and they were both relieved to hear that they were nothing to do with Cress!

The compound space is shared with chickens and a host of little chicks.  “We were given a great welcome by Francis who is leading the Sunday school conference and missing his friend Becky, but appreciating her work and input. The Archdeacon and local pastor, Joel, came hotfoot from the clergy conference at Romogi to greet us and after a supper of delicious rice, beans and cabbage, specially cooked for us, we retired with Joel’s promise to meet us at 8am sharp for tea.

Sudanese style tea is another experience we may bring home. It has a chai flavour and is served with milk or sugar.  As there was no milk, we took the sugar option, although Jennifer was dismayed when we said one spoonful would be enough. Our hosts roared with laughter as they have more like 3 – dessert spoons – in their tea!”

Breakfast was tea, rice and mandazi, delicious donuts handmade by Joel’s wife and this set Jeremy and Maggie up for the day.

Maggie continues “Reality hit when Joel told us that overnight one of his parishioners had gone into labour overnight and delivered a stillborn baby. This was her second birth, and her last baby had also died. It made me want to weep. She delivered in the government clinic and it clearly highlighted the need for improved facilities. We visited the ARC run government clinic after this, and saw the lab and the outpatient facility, nobly run by a volunteer, and then visited the inpatient ward.  Probably the subject of another blog at a later date.”

Suffice to say that Cress’s decision that another clinic is needed appears to be fully vindicated, although the staff at the government establishment are doing their utmost in impossible circumstances.

“Details of the new clinic are being kept tightly under wraps until The Grand Opening on Monday but we spent a great day there, meeting staff and unpacking the things we had brought over. We were privileged to meet Martin, the gentleman who had donated the land and thanked him again on behalf of Cress and the local population.

I am longing to share with you much more of what I did that day but am not allowed to disclose anything till after Monday! However, it was wonderful to be able to unpack 2 huge suitcases, packed by me and Jane Guy, back in Broad Chalke several weeks ago to the shrieks of delight from the recipients.  It was truly amazing. Many of the items were being used by that afternoon, and most movingly, Fred Taban arrived with a wound which was able to be redressed by the acting clinical officer and his assistant.  He was very touched and said that in all his life, this was the first time he had been able to receive treatment in his own village.”

After a busy and full but satisfying day Jeremy and Maggie returned back to base camp, shaken ( slightly, by the bumpy roads!) and stirred (by their experiences) and happy to be back in the fold of of the Cress family.