Chidamoyo Hospital in Zimbabwe

We were happy to hear that Carolyn Mereki arrived in the USA safe and sound on Monday the 13th.   She had a 5 hour lay over in Chicago which turned into a 9 ½ hour layover as the plane was delayed—but she arrived in Indianapolis in the waiting arms of Ben and Karen Pennington and slept all the 2 hours to their home in Southern Indiana.   They took her shopping and out to eat and she was so excited!   On Wednesday the 15 th they drove her to Grayson, KY where she spent a night with Al and Patty Serhal before moving to the dorm the next day and beginning orientation.   She got her room all set up and we talked to her on What’s App several times.   She is eating in the cafeteria and enjoying the food.   Thank you for all who made it possible for her to go to University in the USA.   It took her awhile to get used to sleeping through the night—but we enjoyed it when she was writing us emails at 2 or 3 am her time as we were just starting work here! ...

This has been a busy week when on Sunday afternoon, August 5 th , Group 2 of Global Health students from University of Washington arrived for their week of clinical at the hospital.  This group had 7 students, 2 teachers and 2 drivers.  They were here for a week to see Global Health in action.  We started with church on Sunday night where the pregnant women in our Waiting Mothers Shelter come and sing and dance for us.  They enjoyed that start to their week. Besides overseeing their clinical time, I also provide the three meals a day at my house for everybody.   I have a cook and maid to help me with everything and it takes all of us to keep everyone fed and happy.   I do breakfast by myself and then the others do lunch and dinner, cooking and all the dishes we create.   They all said the meals were their best in Zimbabwe so that was nice to hear. The group went out on 2 Well Baby vaccination clinics while here and helped with the wei...

This week has been an exciting week and anxious as elections for Ministers of Parliament and President of Zimbabwe began the week on Monday, it was a holiday in Zimbabwe, so people could get to the polls.   I was able to work half a day as we had ART patients coming and had to draw Viral Loads.   We anxiously awaited all week for the results and on late Thursday night it was announced that the current President, ED Mnangagwa, was elected.   There were some riots and problems in Harare on Wednesday with 7 killed, but all stayed quiet here. On Sunday night a group of 6 University of Washington, Global Health students and their teacher and drivers arrived to spend the week with us as a clinical part of their month in Zimbabwe.   We had 5 women and 1 man, and we keep them busy doing vital signs, following the doctor on rounds and in surgery, working in our Antenatal Clinic.   They were also anxious to see deliveries which they got to do.   They went out ...