Livingstone!

Zambia national holiday ni hnih leh weekend inzawm remchangah hmangin July 4 - 6, 2010 khan kan hmun tlawh chak em em thin Livingstone chu kan tlawh ve ta hlawl mai! Kan thawhpui Watsons chhungkua leh Hans te nupa nen, keini telin chhungkaw thum chu phur takin he Zambia tourists' capital lam pan hian kan inkhalh chhuak a. Livingstone hi, Chikankata bialtu Southern Province headquarters a nih avang leh, kawng tha taka kal kan nih avangin hahdam takin darkar nga chhungin kan thleng a ni. Kan thleng chu a hmun a lo nuam khawp mai. Livingstone hmingthanna thenkhatte chu Scottish explorer, doctor, scientist leh missionary Dr David Livingstone-a lo chettlatna hmun leh ama hming chawia he khua hi din a nih avang te, khawvela tuikhawhthla mawi leh ropui Victoria Falls awmna a nih vang te, Mosi-O-Tunya Game Park awmna a nih avangte hi a ni ber awm e. Vanneihthlak takin, tlawh kan duh em em Livingstone Museum tih loh chu, hmun hmingthang leh pawimawh zualte te hi kan tlawh kim thei a. Thlalak thenkhat ka han pholang e.

Thlen In Green Tree Lodge:

Kan thlenna hmun 'Green Tree Lodge'. Chhungkua te tein chalet hran theuh kan nei a. Khawsak mamawh chikim tunlai tak tak a awm ve. A neitupa hi Kristian tha tak a nih avangin 'missionary discount' in min thleng zui a, kan vannei khawp mai.

Kan chhungkua chalet hi 'Bee-eater Chalet' tiin a hming an vuah a, sava chikhat hming chawia an phuah a ni e. Tihian hlo bet hmuna kan fate infiam kan nupain kan thlir thin.

Tuallaiah hian tuichenna a awm a. Mahse thlasik khawvawh lai a nih avangin, kan fate pawhin tui chen chak hle mahse, kan khap ta mai. A kam velah erawh hlim takin nilum an ai a, an inkawm hlim thei a ni.

Marcus-a hian thawmhnaw lum haa nilum ai chungin swimming pool hi a thlir doh doh thin.

Tu nghawng nge sei zawk tiin kan fapa hian a nghawng a tisei ve a nih hi!

Kan thlenna hmuna Ei-inna hmun. Nu berin breakfast a ei lai.

Victoria Falls:

Missionary ropui Dr. David Livingstone-a sulhnu te chhuiin a lim bulah chhungkuain thla te kan la ve thei a, Pathian hnenah lawmthu kan sawi.

Victorial Falls hi a bul hnai hmun tam takah thlirna hmun an siam a. Chumi hmun pakhat atanga a lan dan chu hei hi a ni e.

Thlasik thal khawro lai pawhin tui hi a tam em em tho mai a. A khawhthlakna kham hi a zauin a sang bawk nen, force na taka tui khawhtla lo let chho leh si per hi sang takah invawr chho lehin a rawn tla leh lam chu ruah ang maiin a rawn sur ta a. He ruahsur a siam hi a kham ko lehlam atangin huh hnapin a do theih a ni. Chhum leh chhimbal mawi em em a siam bawk thin.

Victorial Falls siamtu hi Zambezi River a ni a. Hetia Victoria Falls a thlen hma chhak maiah hi chuan lui tui hi dam leh nem takin a luang a. Khualzinte pawh hetiang hian ralmuang takin lawngah an tualchai a, tlai ni tla tur mawi em em mai chu an thlir thin a ni. He thlalak hi zanriah kan eihona Waterfront Restaurant atanga ka lak a ni e.

Waterfront Restaurant-ah hian keini chhungkaw thum bakah, Peter (Chikankata volunteer from Australia), Adam & Ross (Chikankata attached medical students from UK) te nen hlim takin zanriah kan kil ho a ni.

Victoria Falls hmuchhuaktu Dr. David Livingstone-a chuan he tuikhawhthla mawi em em mai a hmuh hian khatih hun laia ram ni tla seng loa roreltu ni mek Queen Victoria chawimawi nan 'Victoria Falls' tiin a phuah a. Mahni chu intheihnghilhin a hming puttir lo mahse, a khawpui mawi leh thangduang em em chu amah chawimawi let ve nan 'Livingstone' tih puttir a ni ve ta thung a ni. Kham lehlam atang hian a lang chiangin a mawi khawp mai.

The three families with Peter (red shirt). From your left to right are Erin, Dr Deryn, Anthony, Emely, Mapuii, Marcus, Melissa, Peter, and myself. Chris (Erin's husband) is the cameraman.

Tuikhawhthla si per rawn let chho leh hi chhum mawi takah insiamin ral lehlamah he chhum ruah hi a do theih a ni. Hetianga tuikhawhthla thawm hi a rin em avanga leh meikhu ang maia chhum a insiam avang hian a ram mite chuan hming hran an neih tir a, 'Mosi-O-Tunya' an ti. 'The Smoke that Thunders' tihna a ni e. Ral lehlam mai hi Zimbabwe ram chhung a ni tawh a, lung vawm phak hleka hla a ni tawh.

Ka fanu nen pawh huaisen chhuahin kham koah kalin he ruah hi kan va do ve zuai a, a nu'n thla min lo laksak hman a nih hi. Tihian helai hmunah hi chuan kumtluanin ruah a sur tihna a nih chu.

Mak tak mai chu tui khawhthlakna lengkir sang tak ko maiah hian li lian tak mihring pawh chen theihna 'Dead Pool' an tih chu a awm a. He lia mihring chengte hi tui hian a len thlak daih duh hmel nain a len thla ngai tlat lo. Huaisen deuh te chu an cheng fo. Keini chu hetia pafa zaa a him tawk china dai hi kan duh tawk mai e. Mawng tiza tham chu a ni tho mai.

Waterfront Restaurant leihkapuiah kan chhungkuain thla kan la. Tlai nitla thlir chunga zanriah kan kil chu!

Mosi-O-Tunya National Game Park:

This is Kirsten Watters (on your left hand side) and her twin siter Dr Deryn Watson, who happens to be my colleague. Kirsten Watters, who is both South African and British citizen, also a PhD student in University of Kent and her friend Claire Luscombe, London (sorry not in the photo) both sponsor our family trip to the Game Park. Kirsten and Claire thank you so much. You make such a lovely family day for us.

On our drive to the Game Park, we were together on three open game vehicles with a group of American students. Stop for drinks on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River.

Motor hi sang hle mahse a pa thingkung lawn theih an chhun a, hnehsawh takin an lawn kai zung zung mai. Kan bul vela zawng te pawhin tluk lo inti takin an lo thlir dauh dauh. Ha ha ha!

He mi ni hian damsam mang lo chung pawhin kan fapa hian a changtupa nih a hauh ran tho mai a ni.

Hei hi chu Reptile Park a ni a. A him chin atangin tihian kan chhungkaw thum chhangchhe bawr tak chu nuam ti takin kan vak kual vel a ni.

Emely pawh a pa Anthony an a pawm lai chuan a huaisen khawp mai, crocrodile naute chu a hlau miah lo. Hemi ni hian Zambia rama rul an neih chu a chikimin kan hmu. Thenkhatin an hlauh takin thlalak ka dah lo mai.

Hauuuu!! Lei (tongue) a lo nei reng reng hlei nem mawle crocrodile hian! Crocrodile hi ransaah chuan an thianghlim lo ber ang, an awm duhna tui a bal a, an thil ei duhzawng pawh a tawp. Puar el euha chaw vawi khat an ei hian thla khat an daih. Tichuan nilumah inpho er er chungin an chawei kha an pumpui an digest tir mai tawh thin a ni. Ei leh nilum ai der der bak hnathawh an nei lo. Chuti chung chuan mihring dam chen aia rei mah an dam thung. An lifestyle ang hi ti ve ngawt ila, thisen sang, lung na leh zunthluma kan thih thuai ka ring! Hei vang hi a ni a, African ho chuan crocrodile sa, a bikin a thau hi immune system tihchakna damdawiah a tha an tih chu. A cure for AIDS!? A sa hi kan zanriah eina Waterfront Restaurant-ah pawh an serve a, white meat a ni a, a hmelah leh a taste-ah pawh arsa a ang khawp mai, an ti a ei te'n!

He crocrodile hi ka pu rual kum 80-a upa a nih hi! A ha te hi a bal (thlawn) ve lo. Crocrodile sa ei hi tourist hausa tak takin an intihmuh a. Kei chuan Uisa ka thlang zawk fe. Uisa ei hi zahthlak a lo ni love. Taste bud a inang lo mai a ni e.

Hei hi Impala a ni a, Mizo tawngin enge a nih ka hre tlat lo, Saza? Sazuk? Kan hmuh lai hian a sa tui dan tur ringawt kan lo hisap pek a nih chu, keini Mizo nu leh pa chuan!

Zebra tla lai. Kan guide chuan an zingah hian rai lai a awmin a sawi a, a eng ber hi nge ka hre ta lo. Zebra rawng hi engtin nge sawi ila dik zawk ang? A varah a dumin a tial nge a dumah a varin a tial? Han inrinsiak ila!

Giraffe. An nghawng hi a sei viau nain mihring ring ruh neih zat pasarih tho an nei asin!

Giraffe hi a zaidam a, thla pawh tihian kan lakpui ngam a ni.

Kan vannei a, khawmuala hippo lenglai kan tawng nawlh mai. Tuiah deuh zel a ni an chen. Kan guide chuan kum nga chhunga hippo tuala leng lai ka vawi khat hmuhna a ti. Khawmualah an tuan muang a, tuiah chuan chak tak an nih avangin tuiah an hlauhawm.

Sai rual. Kan naupan laia kan in luah vaiten thinghnuk atana an chhawr thin 'Nghoseia' ni awm tak te pawh an awm.

Thenkhat nghawng a sei a, thenkhat erawhin a vang lam an thawh hlawk ve thung!! A mawi ber tho mai!

Hnung inchhawn tawn! Bye! Thanks for your visit.

Roots

"Across the Zambezi River, up through the rugged hills and along the Kariba Gorge, officers made their way to Ibbwe Munyama (Black Rock) where the Army had established its ministry of spreading the Gospel," says Beverley McInnes in her book Flag Across the Zambezi, of the arrival of the Salvation Army in Zambia (then Northen Rhodesia) in the middle of 1922.

It was here at Ibbwe Munyama that the first Zambian Salvation Army school and clinic were established, which, later after their relocation to the fertile plateau of Chikankata, were to become Chikankata Higher Secondary School and Chikankata Hospital respectively, now in addition to the Boimedical College and the Nursing College, the tremendous complex that Chikankata is today!

With the formation of the new Territorial Health Development Strategy in 2009, our health ministry here in Zambia journeys back to its roots, making our services as close and accessible to the community's needs as possible. Of course, from the beginning and upto this time, the various community programmes run by the hospital are very much alive. What is but a noticeable positive change in our practice is the newly re-introduced "Weekly Doctor' s Trip" to our more remote health centres, which are now eight in all and is still expanding. These health centres are manned by Clinical Officers and Nurses with some of the centres having facilities to admit in patients. Now the services of our centres are strengthened and better reinforced with these visits by a doctor and his/her team from Chikankata. Yes, our aim is to ensure that every community member within our catchment population of 100,000 to have a feel of the priceless 'doctor's touch' from now and in times to come.

Here are few related photos.

I am standing in front of the ruins of the first clinic/dispensary at Ibbwe Munyama. In mid 1945 this clinic/dispensary was relocated to Chikankata. Those pioneer missionaries could hardly have envisaged the tremendous complex that Chikankata is to become.

The Transport Officer who is the driver for this day's trip, Mr Coster Kazila inspects the Landcruiser on our way back from Chaanga Rural Health Centre to Chikankata. Driving on a bad road such as this one is especially risky at night. But this day also the medical team is forced to stay back due to the large number of patients that turn out to be seen by a doctor.

Chikanzaia Rural Health Centre is situated on a plateau between beautiful hills. The many cables and poles visible are our communication lifeline through Chikankata Salvation Radio and mobile phones.

(Pic. by Dr. Lunkamba)
Stuck!! The team has to cross many streams such as this one to reach our health centres. It can be difficult during the rainy season. However, nothing can stop our committed team members from reaching out to the most in need. Here Dr. Gabriel Lunkamba, our Obs. & Gynae. doctor (in white vest) has to apply his multiple skills.

(Pic. by Dr. Lunkamba)
Just imagine how bad the road will be when even a Landcruiser finds it difficult to pass.

(Pic. by Dr. Lunkamba)
A herd-boy leading his cattles on the way to Chaanga and Sianyoolo.

(Pic. by Dr. Lunkamba)
Beautiful rocks on the way to Chaanga and Sianyoolo

(Pic. by Dr. Lunkamba)

Beautiful blue hills at a distance on Chaanga and Sianyoolo road.

Just recently a Jet has passed through above this hill at Ibbwe Munyama. A beautiful sight indeed!

Ibbwe Munyama road. There is often incidents of head-on collision with an ox-cart!!

Chaanga Rural Health Centre, one of our centres that has facility to admit inpatients. Together with Sianyoolo, it is the most difficult centre to have access to because of the extremely bad roads.

Patients flock together at Chaanga Rural Health Centre from all directions, using all means of transport. Today, these two ladies bring their old mother suffering from severe malnutrition, diarrhoea and dehydration.

The men waiting for their turn to be seen by a doctor.

The women, many of them senior citizen, anxiously waiting for their turn as well.

During one of our trips, Nathan (a medical student from Manchester, UK) spots this soccer goal post with a net. The net is made of nothing but the same Insecticide Treated Net (ITN) distributed this year by members of our malaria control programme. With the first ever hosting of FIFA World Cup by African continent this year, soccer fever is sky high even among remote villagers. I am afraid our malarial fever index will also become as high!

Nathan trying his skill on peeling a sugarcane. Our hospital and health service set up is quite friendly for medical students from abroad to do their electives. We constantly have students from all over the world, and they are very much a part of our system and by filling various gaps. Chikankata is fortunate in such a way that it is a centre where a wide knowledge and experience in the field of medical science is shared. More students (nursing & medical) as well as volunteers are welcome.

The remains of the old water pump house at Ibbwe Munyama.

We spot this graffiti at Chikanzaia village. It's really cute. This is all they have, but they are filled with hope for the future. So am I!!

My Winter School And 2010 FIFA World Cup

Universiteit Stellenbosch University international student ka nih angin May 11, 2010-a tanin chawlhkar khat chhung zawng Winter School kaiin, Cape Town, South Africa (SA)-ah ka zuk zin leh a. Africa khawmualpui chhim tawp, Indian Ocean leh Atlantic Ocean karcheh hmun tih takah thlasik ruah a sur nileng zankhua zak zak a, tun tum ka zin chu a vawt takzet a ni. Chutih laiin, ka thlen ni atanga chhiara thla khat hnu chiah chiaha tan tur, khawvel ennawm hmuhnawm ber mai, 2010 FIFA World Cup thlengtu tur an nih avang erawh chuan an inpuahchah mup mup mai a, an nghakhlel boruak erawh a 'lum' tha vat vat khawp thung!

Hetiang boruak kara ka kal chhan ber ka MPhil atana 'Research Workshop' zuk neih pawh hi rual pawl lo kan ang lek lek a, a inhmeh lo deuh tut tein ka hria! Amaherawhchu, ka cham chhung hian theih ang tawkin a ram mite boruak tawn hi hip pui ve thain ka hria a, kan university campus thlalak thenkhat bakah, South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup kaihhnawih ka hmuh phak chin thil leh hmun thlalakte ka han tarlang a ni e.

Ka thlenna In JJ Guest House hi a hmel enin a tlawm naa, a hmunhma hi a nuamin a mawi ve khawp mai. Ka tan a remchan lehna chu a neitunu hi kan university Environment and Sustainable Science department-a course coordinator a ni a, ruah sur hnuaiah pawh hul phialin a car nuam takah nitin a rualin ka kalin ka haw thei a ni.

Ka thlen In bul hnai maiah hian SA-a supermarket lar tak ve SPAR a awm a, mamawh chikim lam theihna a ni. Ei leh In tur, a chikim piah lam thleng a awm! A hmunhma pawh hi mawi veh vawh tak a ni.

Stellenbosch Town leh kan university campus timawitu pakhat chu, a bul vela tlang, ruam leh tuipuite bakah hetiang architectural design hi a ni.

Helai hmun hi zirlaiten notice leh information an duh apiang an tarna hmun a ni. An hmang zalen khawp a, an thil tar tam tak phei chu keima mimal ngaihdan phei chuan 'censor' phawt ngai chite an niin ka hria.

University campus car parking lot pakhat. University campus hi a him khawp mai. Student, faculty leh staff zawng zawngin electronic (staff/student) card kan nei vek a. Campus luhna leh chhuahna gate, building kawngkhar leh tukverh reng reng hi heng electronic card chauh hmanga hawn leh khar theih an ni hlawm. Eng sen vet vet awmna hmaah kan card kha kan han lek kang zeuh a, gate/kawngkhar-ah kan lutin kan chhuak mai. Card nei lo tan a theih ve loh.

University building thenkhat hi chu hun rei tak tawha sak te a ni hlawm. Hei hi class kan neihna thin ‘Industrial Psychology Building’ a ni a, kun 1913 daih tawha sak ni mahse an enkawl hnum tha a, a la thar mawi tha khawp mai.

Stellenbosch Town hrim hrim hi SA mingo (white) chenkhawmna a nih angin kan university zirlai zingah pawh hian mingo an tam ber a, 67.6% an ni. A bak zawng hi mihang (black), thlahpawlh (coloured) leh Indian community te an ni. Mingo zirlai bitna hmun a nih avang leh architectural design avangte hian Europe ram khawimaw laia university pakhat emaw tih ve mai theih a ni.

Stellenbosch Town leh university campus chhung kawngsir zawng zawngah hian Oak thing phun a ni a, a mawi khawp mai. Kan university hian symbol atan Oak thing hnah a hmang a ni.

Kan hmuh ang hian university official colour chu maroon a ni a, building chung leh kawng zawng zawng hi maroon colour hnawih vek a ni. Zirlaiten thirsakawr (‘bike’ an ti mai) an hmang uar khawp bawk.

Hei hi student centre ‘NEELSIE’ a ni a. He building hi lei hnuai lam nen thlengin chhawng tam tak a ni. A chhungah hian restaurant changkang tak tak tam tak, bar, coffee shops, bank, post office, ATM, air ticket booking office, pool table, thuamhnaw zawrhna tam tak, stationery, bookshops leh zirlaite mamawh chikim zawrhna a awm. Mizoram thingtlang khuain a neih loh thil tam tak hemi inchhung maiah hian a awm kim vek a ni. Hmun dang aiin thil man a tlawm zawk lehnghal!

University parking area dang leh chu. A tir atanga an thil ruahman hmang reng rengah hian an ngaihtuah thui chikim tih a hriat. Duhthala hman tur hmun a awm.

Johannesburg (Jo’berg) International Airport! SA port of entry ber a nih avangin, 2010 FIFA World Cup chhim tur mipui tam berten SA leilung an rah hmasak ber tur chu he hmun hi a ni.

Jo’berg Airport hi, 2010 FIFA World Cup an thlen dawn avang hian, namen loa runway leh terminal building te zauh belha tihchangtlun a ni a. Nikum January thlaa ka zin lai ai khan a lo ‘huau’-in a lo changkang daih mai.

Jo’berg Airport terminal chhunga Boarding Gate 11A innghahkhawmna leh chawlhna hmun. A zau tha hem hem khawp a ni.

2010 FIFA World Cup mascot Zakumi chu. SA internet country code ‘za’ tih leh African ram tam tak tawnga number sawm sawina ‘kumi’ tih atanga phuah a ni.

Football design hrang hrang leh 2010 World Cup khel tur ram hrang hrang thuamhnaw leh chhinchhiahna te chu hetah hian an zuar chikim khawp mai.

Jo’berg hi 2010 FIFA World Cup match dang bakah opening leh final match te khelhna hmun tur a ni a, Host City title pek a ni a, an stadium mipui 88, 460 len theihna pawh hi Soccer City tih a ni. He thlalak hi stadium hmun ni loin Airport chhung a ni e.

South Africa atanga Lusaka, Zambia pana ka rawn haw hian khua a la thiang tha chuang vak lo a. Chhum tam hle mahse, chhumte tihbuai theih loh piaha sangah kan South African Airways pilot hian min thlawhpui daih thung a, chhumte chu kan chhuk en thei tawh a ni. Nun kawng hi chhuk chhoin chhum chhah takin khawhmuh a tihfiah loh chang awm thin mah se, Isua Krista nen chuan harsa loin kan paltlang thei thin a ni. Harsatnate chu ‘hmelma’ an ni tawh ngai lo a, min chawikangtu ‘ban (pillar)’ nghet tak an chang tawh zawk thin.

Tichuan Nu berin fate nen Airport-ah min lo hmuak a. A hahdam thlak thin ngei mai. Fel leh thuawih taka an lo awm avangin lawman atan kan fate pawh shopping kan neih pui a.

A hlimawm thin ngawt mai.

Kan Transport Officer Pu Coster Kazila pawh Airport-a ka nupui fanaute rawn phur thlengtu, kan thian tha, hnathawk tha leh rinawm a ni a, a duhzawng tak chaw eipui hi a phu a ni.