helen weld public health

Daily Rhythms. . .

The week has been a bit of a blur. The days unfold and are remindful of the ocean’s rising and ebbing tides. Every morning the patients pour through the gate towards triage as we are walking to do rounds in the malnutrition ward. It’s a quick assessment for the rest of the day’s “busy-ness”. The high tide peaks around 11:00 and by 5 PM it has ebbed, leaving behind full beds in the overflowing wards, a reduced supply of medications and a weary staff.

A 14 month old baby died over the weekend. She was admitted on Friday with malaria and severe anemia. Getting her fever down from 40.3 C (104.5 F) was challenging. Later she had respiratory distress and succumbed. It’s so sad knowing that a blood transfusion would have probably made the difference between her life and death. There is a severe national shortage of blood in Burundi and transporting patients to Rumonge or Bururi (about an hour away) is problematical. The day that we have blood bank capabilities here in Kigutu will be a quantum leap for VHW’s services.

Several of us had a “Mountains Beyond Mountains” hike on Saturday and did home visits to Clovis (the 4 year old burn patient) as well as to a gentleman who has diabetes and a successfully healed chronic leg ulcer. Clovis’s burn is healing so well. Brad brought back some Vitamin E oil for the final healing process. Upon our arrival his grandmother (who is really his surrogate mother), Liberatie, was working in the fields. Word was sent to her , via the grapevine, that the muzungus had appeared and she came running back with a load on her head. (I hate to think how far she came!) As per Burundian custom, we had to accept her gifts of food for us. As we were about to depart some children appeared with loads of firewood and started running away terrified when they saw us on their home turf. It was probably the first time they had ever seen a muzungu…never mind four of them. Liberatie called them back, laughing hysterically.

Telling time in Burundi is another difference requiring a bit of adaptation for us muzungus. Only daytime is differentiated into hours. We are so close to the Equator here, with the sun rising at 6AM and setting at 6PM, there is hardly any dawn or dusk. 7AM is 1 (rimwe), 8AM is 2 (ibiri), 9AM is 3 (gatatu) and so forth. The months are named according to the flow of the weather changes and patterns. April is “ndamukiza”, meaning “greet them on the other side or “greet them for me”…
since the rivers are flowing at high levels and people are not able to cross, they have to just yell across the water to those on the other side.

The highlight of the week was definitely the return of Bazile and Brad. It’s great to have them both “home”.

Helen

Patients arriving in the morning

Six toes


Helen hiker


Walkers at the top


Boys reading


Walkers with Clovis and family


Helen drinking banana beer


Wood carriers


Helen with Hilarie's auntie


Heading home back down the hill


Clinical staff welcome back Bazile and Brad