Cleaning Day
on Shona in Sierra Leone (Sierra Leone), 13/Mar/2011 11:17, 34 days ago
Its early Saturday morning and I’ve come into hospital for a meeting with people from the Mercy Ship before the conference I’m helping at next week. Its still before 8 o’clock – but I’ve come in so early because its Cleaning Day. Everyone is cleaning the streets so there’s a curfew on public transport. Luckily one of my colleagues got a pass from the hospital allowing him to travel and he gave me a lift over here.It’s most bizarre. There was no traffic! It only took us 15 minutes to get here! And people are out, cleaning the streets. It seems to be the antithesis of the cleaner’s strike at the hospital. Quite unbelievable just how much rubbish there is too!My colleague told me that during times of military rule (as has happened several times in the past) the Cleaning Day was enforced by soldiers on the streets– and that anyone found out walking was given a broom to help out!A Happy Ward RoundYesterday I had a really Happy Ward Round. I arrived on ICU and asked the nurses my usual questions of“How was the night? Did any patients die? Is there anyone who’s really sick who needs to be seen first?” I was delighted to hear that the night had been quiet, no one had died and there were no patients who they triaged as emergencies and needed to be dealt with asap. Sure enough I looked around and I saw a lot of happy smiling faces, children sitting up and crying, or eating and drinking. I didn’t know where to start! It was lovely chatting to the Mums without having to give any bad news, and even better hearing “I tell God tenki” that their child was getting better.Quiz NightLast night we went to a quiz night held at IMATT in aid of the Vaginal Fistula Unit at Aberdeen Women’s Centre. For non-medical people, the centre cares for women who develop an abnormal hole between the vagina and other parts of the body e.g. the bladder or rectum following obstructed labour (when “the road no there” – as it is said in Krio). Check out www.freedomfromfistula.org.uk for more info.It was a really fun night with rounds on general knowledge, sport, geography and various picture rounds. And guess what– we won! All thanks to Dave and his amazing sporting knowledge I have to add. And all with the usual wonderful IMATT hospitality, we had a great night.More things which are weird but normal1) That Aberdeen is pronounced as“Abadeen” instead of “Hayberdeen”.2) Drinking water out of little bags that you bite the corner off.