A few weird and wonderful things have happened in the past
month or so.
Weird was the excitement of developing Tumbu Fly larvae in
my ankle. This happens when the fly lays eggs in your clothes while they dry, which
then burrow into your skin when you put them on. A maggot then grows under your
skin getting bigger and fatter thanks to your juicy flesh.
I have to admit we were all grossly excited about this, and
I cringed as a little head poked itself of my ankle after I had put on some
vaseline (I suppose the equivalent of smoking it out). We were so excited that
the only concern was that it hadn’t grown any bigger, therefore ruling out the
option of a youtube video. Next time I must do better.
Wonderful was the arrival of the first rains, starting
surprisingly early in March. It was comforting to hear the hammering of the
rain on the tin roof again. Unfortunately, as Samuel warned, the rain “washes
the sun”. I think that the fact that there is now never a moment when my face
isn’t dripping with sweat proves this theory.
Also the arrival of the mangoes! They are incredibly
delicious, and add some much needed variety to our diet. I do feel though that
I would not risk my life for their taste. Several boys disagree with this
however, not willing to wait for them to ripen when they can be easily shaken
or hooked down by bamboo sticks, instead climbing high into the sky, balancing
on precarious branches, many of which crash down later throughout the day (the
branches, luckily not the boys... yet).
Another great day was a casual trip to the border to see a community
health clinic and visit our friends. This led to a trip over the river border
to pop into Guinea and see the border village. Who needs visas when you can
just smile and talk badly in French? This woman was the friendliest person I have
ever met.
Unfortunately not all new developments are good. Dare I
mention the E word?! Ebola is in Guinea, and sadly as we are the direct route
between Guinea and our capital Freetown, as well as being the first hospital
over the border, this is not an idle threat to us.
We have discussed contingency plans of course, the most
sensible being Josie’s suggestion of hiding in a bucket. No chance of a bodily
fluid splash then.
Another option is to run away to the beach, perhaps slightly
more appealing.
Sadly the reality is actually that we have been taken out of
clinical contact. Extremely frustrating (if understandable on the Kambia
Appeal’s part). It was hard to look our friends in the eye, and say you cannot
help them, and yet they cannot leave and have to continue working, often
without being paid, with not enough gloves and in some cases not even anywhere
to wash their hands. Amazingly the staff were incredibly understanding, only saying
how much they appreciate our efforts.
I think it is safe to
say that I wouldn’t be so gracious in their shoes. My respect for the unique
staff of Kambia Hospital is increasing daily.
We had a scare last week, when we were told there was a
suspected case 10 minutes from us (this would mean we would have to be
evacuated home). Luckily it was only Lassa, another horrific viral haemorrhagic
disease, but this time with only a 20% mortality rate rather than 90%! Yay! I hope
this is the only time in my life I will be celebrating a Lassa diagnosis.
We have been finding other ways to stay sane/ keep busy.
Here are a few examples:
1)
Drinking many suspicious plastic sachets of
ginger rum.
2)
Taking out frustration on mud and transforming
it into bricks.
3)
Trying to cook on a charcoal fire (with many
furry and feathered friends to keep us company).
4)
Taking a sweepstake on the amount of time it
would take for our fence to finally be repaired. Good news – I won a whole
30,000Le (about £5).
5)
Being slightly awestruck at the sporting day
talents of the local secondary school. Also laughed the loud speaker booming
out a harsh ten minute long scolding for the tiny 5 year old scout who couldn’t
lower the flag properly. Poor boy (but pretty funny)!!
Hopefully I will be UK bound in a few weeks time, unless
Ebola has it’s wicked way with Kambia, in which case it may be sooner. Let’s
hope I have a little longer left of sweating to go.
