With all the terrible flooding wreaking havoc and causing death
and destruction just a little south of us, it seems slightly bizarre to be
commenting on our lack of water. The rainy season is still yet to start here, and
it is now very notably late I am told. Apparently, we are having an
unprecedented period of drought and the piped water supply to the whole of
Muheza has been dry for the last three weeks. Unfortunately, that means that
our water tanks are now almost empty again and we are back to rationing. I am
hoping that I will be able to squeeze out another couple of quick showers in
the mornings after my runs. But I won’t hold out too much hope.
I guess this is living the reality of climate change. Genuinely
quite scary. Perhaps it is time for such things to register as a wakeup call on
a global level and that we can start to try and make amends before it is too
late.
So that, together with the recent nightly power cuts,
certainly seem to be gentle reminders to appreciate reliable utilities when we
return to the UK.
Today has been a funny day. Major theatres are still out of
action with the refurbishment in full swing. Despite many assurances to the
contrary, I just can’t see it being ready to use again this week. Whilst
frustrating in many ways (being both predictable and avoidable perhaps),
they are doing an excellent job and I am keen that they are allowed time to
finish it properly. The theatre team have settled very well into our alternative
venue in the obstetric ward and I think we will manage some elective work there
after all.
There was a first for me today; I cancelled a patient on the
table. I had been asked to see an 11 year old boy at the end of morning rounds.
Although the history was a little confused and the findings far from classical,
at that stage he seemed to have a peritonitic abdomen. A decision to operate
was made and arrangements began. However, a little while later I watched him
walk very happily towards the obstetric theatre. Alarm bells ringing, I re-examined
him ‘on the table’ before he was put to sleep. The clinical picture was now
completely different. His abdomen almost blameless. Never one to allow pride to
overcome making the right decision, I sent him back to the ward for further
observation. I suspect that he will go home tomorrow. I felt slightly bad for
our visiting friends as their first few days have been a little bizarre I expect.
Things have been far from the normal for here, and this normal being very far
removed from the UK anyway. However, they seemed to take it all happily in their
stride and we had an early finish to the day.
This was excellent news as it is our littlest daughter’s 6th
birthday today. We returned for birthday lunch and of course birthday cake and
tea a little later. A huge effort had been made by my wife and other daughters
to give her the best possible day. They had created a wonderful chameleon cake
and she had plenty of presents with those sent out or bought here. She had an excellent
day, with lots of whatsapp video chats and things to do and enjoy. She did say
at bedtime though that she missed seeing her friends and the rest of our
families in person – it was one of those incredibly sincere and mature moments
that children sometimes throw at you. It made me both smile and feel a little
sad for her. She is a very happy and content little lady though and I’m sure stories
of her African Birthday will be told for years to come.
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| Cake and presents! |
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