Back down the Beira Corridor

Dear Friends,
Hope you are all fine.

I had to go back to Zimbabwe for a Residency Permit...so it was back  down the Beira Corridor, over the car eating potholes , through the flooded areas, through green, green fields, and into Zimbabwe!  There, the country seems to be recovering from the worst inflation known on earth. The shops are full of goods and full of people shopping. That was wonderful to see.

But there are a lot of extremely serious political and social issues brewing and I pray things remain calm in Zimbabwe.  For a dissident view, if you are interested in the country, you can google Zimbabwe Situation. I did have a wonderful morning shopping and chatting with the ever friendly people.

Here in Beira there is a worrisome lack of rain. It’s hot as can be. We are eating avocadoes, mangos, pineapples, guava, and a lot of shrimp and octopus.  I visited the house of a local “Traditional Healer/Witch Doctor”. (Many people tend to go to a traditional healer before going to clinic) or hospital). Her brother had been working in Germany , so we could chat in German! There are many Mozambiquans who worked in East Germany before the collapse of the East Block and they all speak German.  It’s so much fun to meet them, as my Portuguese is a big struggle and English isn’t an option!

I am reading A Complicated War, the Harrowing of Mozambique, about the horrendous war that took place here in the 80’s and into the 90’s. I really recommend it if you are interested in Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe. It is horrifically spell binding.

Now Mozambique is brimming with exuberance, projects, schools, all trying.  Let’s hope for peace and forward progress in southern Africa!
Sending all the Best and take care!!
Emily 

Baby Ngotenda

Latest from Mozambique

Greetings  from Beira!! Hope you are all fine!

Got back to Mozambique yesterday...into serious heat and more serious lack of rain for crops.  I went through Johannesburg ,South Africa, where World Cup Soccer  will start June 11th. The soccer mania is at fever pitch, and all the prices of things in the airport have gone way up!!

The winter Olympics are not being covered in Mozambique,(funny thing about that!)
Off continent topic...Heard that Riley Masters from Bangor , U Maine sophomore, ran a sub 4 minute mile last weekend. How brilliant and exciting!!

Just chatted with a Mom selling bananas across the street. She has 6 kids, her husband left and there is no money to send the children to school...even elementary school. Would like to remake the point that universal, free education is a remarkable concept and hardly universal.  Attending school is quite a privilege.

Am forwarding you a note from Zimbabwe from the new Hospital Administrator at Mt. Selinda  Hospital where we used to work....note and photo follow.  Look at that baby’s fierce determination in her face.

Many Greetings and all the Best for a great school  year 2010!!!  Would love to hear your news!    Ms. Wesson/Emily

"Please send thoughts for Baby Surprise One.  (Her Shona name is Ngotenda which means Thank You.)  Surprise was born January 12 weighing 950 grams (2 pounds) and she dropped to 750 grams. (1.6 pounds)  Amazingly, at age three weeks, she is fighting hard with almost no medical intervention.  All we can do for her are keep her warm, feed her with a cup or NG tube and weigh her every other day.  Her mother, Concelia, is a sweet woman who is very dedicated to her baby. "   

 “If we took an eye for an eye, the whole world would be blind.”  M. Gandhi
 

"Extreme Age"

Hello from hot Beira. Hope you are all WELL!!

Peter lost his camera so have not been able to take pictures. I am forwarding some beautiful pictures taken by an Austrian colleague of Peter’s. These are from just outside the city. Look at the loads of charcoal on the back of the bikes! Every one cooks on little charcoal grates. What ever happened to the solar cooker idea?? The world needs some smart students to figure it out and market it.  Hey Orono science classes?!

The following is for those 50 plus....One of the med students was doing the problem list for a patient here. He listed as a problem, “extreme age.”  The patient was age 51!!! Huh!!

Hope these photos can be opened OK. All the Best, Emily

Gerald's Photos

Spare Stethescopes?

If anyone has an extra stethescope that they would like to donate, I am collecting them for a hospital in Zimbabwe.
I am also collecting embroidery thread for projects in Beira.  Please email me if you are able to help! Thanks!
You know, Peter lost his camera so have not been taking photos. I will try to send some beautiful photos taken by an Austrian. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving. We start our journey on Fri...via NJ to see my Dad. Back to Orono around the 8th. Love to all, Emily

World Aids Day

Greetings on World Aids Day..December 1st.  The day was well noted here in Beira, with parades, theater,  and speeches. The theme at the Medical School this morning was Domestic Violence, how it is involved in the spread of HIV, and how to prevent it.
 The ARV drugs are very good and really prolong life, which is the good news.

World Health organization  (WHO) made  a groundbreaking recommendation  today...that is that HIV positive mothers take medication and  continue  to breast feed if conditions don’t allow for safe bottle feeding. Not breastfeeding is  a death sentence for babies in Mozambique. Previously they recommended nursing 6 months , then stopping. A baby can not survive, as formula is not affordable or safe. (The Pediatrician living downstairs is dancing for joy at this reassessment.)

This disease has touched so many, but many are now surviving with medication.

It is raining just now such that many houses in the slum area will have a foot of water in them tonight.

Hope you are all fine . Many Greetings!! Emily