Chidamoyo Hospital in Zimbabwe

We spent the holiday weekend of August 8-11 at Major’s farm at Batanai.Located 25 kms and 45 minutes of terrible road away from Chidamoyo, we went to enjoy our 2-day holiday of Hero’s and Defense Day and the weekend.These are our last holidays before December.We enjoyed the quiet of the bush and Major and his workers and Patience were busy working in their field harvesting sweet potatoes and planting potatoes.I spent the time reading, watching Netflix on my iPad and napping!Patience cooked and brought me tea and porridge every morning when I got up.What a life!It was very cool as winter is still here and was down to low 60’s at night and early morning.I usually took my bucket bath about 11 am after it warmed up a bit!I went to the field one day and watched as they worked and watered.I laid in the sun on a cot and read.That is why I like farming so much! Ha!On Tuesday evening we came back to get ready to go to work on Wednesday and the rest of the week we were busy at the hospital sinc…

On Monday the 27th of July, Major and Patience and I left Chidamoyo for 4 days at Rhino Camp.  Its a 4 hour drive to Kariba and then a 1 hour boat drive down to Rhino Camp.  We arrived to large groups of hippo all around and some elephants munching the grass.Major and Patience went fishing twice a day and I went out on a game ride once each evening.  In the morning I enjoyed just sitting in the sun and reading my book while elephants walked by in front of me, munching grass.
It was a wonderful and relaxing time.  Just a good time to get away and enjoy a change of scenery during Covid.
Fishing wasn't that good for Major and Patience but they caught enough for all of us at camp to have fresh fried Bream for our last dinner there.  Major doesn't eat fish but the rest of it loved it!
We returned home on Thursday afternoon.  Zimbabwe had started a very strict lockdown again due to Covid.  Now people have to have a letter from work to travel or otherwise stay at home. You must wear a m…

On the 1st of July I went for my stent replacement.I was admitted—starved for 19 hours, waited in pre-op for 2 hours and then was cancelled due to complications with the patient in front of me. I told Major to come and pick me with food!!   They rescheduled me for the 3rd of July—just 2 days later, and so had a free day in Harare.With lockdown and trying to stay away from crowds we met Dr. and Mrs. Kajese (our doctor here from 2011-2014) for tea outside and went running around for supplies for the hospital.It was nice to have some human contact with friends—even with masks on and social distancing!!On the 3rd I got my procedure done and was home by 4 p.m.We came home to Chidamoyo the next day (the 4th) and had a day to rest before going to work on Monday--- I thought!At 0410 on Monday (the 5th of July) morning I was awaken to 7 guys yelling as they cut my fence and ran by my window and with 4 hits with a sledgehammer broke into my house.I had run to the dining room and asked them what…

Life continues under lockdown here in Zimbabwe.Still no transport in rural areas, making it hard for patients to get to us.
Covid-19 continues to increase.As of today (23-June) we are up to 512 cases and 6 deaths.Returning residents from South Africa have been the main number of cases.Now we have several cases who are not returning residents and so we expect the spread at any time.
Last week on Thursday all nurses at Government hospitals went on strike (for better Pay and sufficient PPE) which has driven people to mission hospitals for care as they cannot get care at other hospitals.Our Out-patients has increased a lot this week, even without transport readily available.People are hiring vehicles to bring them long distances to here.Continue to pray for the hospital and all our staff to be kept safe and well.
I did have my stent removed from my right ureter.Tried in the doctor’s office on May 26th and failed so had to go into the hospital for the in and out procedure on the 27th.I was ho…