The fifth pregnant patient enters the Madame Sy’s consultancy room, the head midwife of the district hospital. One sits on the examination table with a trainee, one next to her, one on a chair facing Madame Sy and two in a corner. While I wonder what privacy means in this culture I see a nice [&he[...]
Archive for the ‘Africa’ Category
May 10th, 2013 - 22:51 § in Africa
Freedom
Last Sunday (May 5th) the Dutch celebrated their liberation of the German oppression during the Second World War. I have to admit I was not quite aware as it was a busy day. But this past week I took some time to reflect on Freedom and was touched by the following poem of the Senegalese […][...]
2013 or 1931?
We wish you all a healthy 2013! That this is not obvious was experienced by Aida and Mariam, 6 month old twins, who were brought to our nutrition consultation by their grandmother. Their mother had died while giving birth, something that’s still way too common in Africa. On this continent t[...]
Albinism in Senegal
In an empty classroom, armed with only a stethoscope, first aid kit and prescription pad I provide a free clinic for people with albinism (popularly called albinos) in Senegal. I provide basic care, give information and hand-out sunscreen. It is October 13, a national day for people with albinism, o[...]
A goat at the neighbors
“Boo” says Simon (1 year) as he points out the window. We are at the neighbors across the street, introducing ourselves as the new neighbors. Indeed, there’s a large black and white goat – with goatee and all – in the garden, who bleats loudly. “Why do you have a goat in [...]
June 16th, 2012 - 21:47 § in Africa
Say ‘a’!
Our first conversation in Wolof (translated) A: Peace with you B: Peace to you too A: How are you making it? B: I’m still here A: Is your body in peace? B: Only peace A: Do you come from the people of America? B: No, I’m from Holland. A: How do the people in Holland […][...]
Myths around pregnancy
“When you eat an egg during pregnancy your baby will be born bald…” An American guest-gynecologist reveals some pregnancy myths. “And when you stretch both arms high up; the umbilical cord might get around the baby’s neck.” “We relate a circulating umbilical cord to a pregnant woma[...]
Thursday in March
This Thursday in March was different than all other days so far. At 9 o’clock in the morning, an hour after the Morning Meeting, Jeanette, a surgical nurse, died. She was admitted the night before after a sudden severe stroke. Almost no one was working that morning, and a large group of collea[...]
Movie of Bongolo Hospital
Seeing the great medical needs in the Bongolo area, the local church started to pray to God in the early 70’s that God would send a doctor. When a team of medical CAMA missionaries arrived in 1977 their prayer had been answered. The small dispensary grew to what today is known as the Bongolo Hospi[...]
