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.

Thingtlang Naupangte

Laura, Melissa & Marcus

Melissa's friends from the neighbourhood

Kids at Kakole village dance to the African tune during one of our open-air meetings

" Nau-puakkhawm Ni"
(pic courtesy: Sabina)

Melissa & Marcus gift presents to Loveness, one of our patients in the children's ward

Here is baby Doctor Zaia. Doctor (not even the abbreviated Dr.) is his first and Zaia is his second name. It is the name given to him by his own mother (in the picture) as a gesture of gratitude to me

Here is another Shadreck Zaia Mweene. He is one of my Caeserian Section babies. On the day I took this photo, his mother brought a village chicken for my family. My wife was so happy to offer them lunch

Marcus on his favourite 'wheel' once again

Cute little photoshy!

Joyful harvest time!!