18. Timon's Report - Travelling Woes

Travelling in Congo is never easy!

This is the taxi which I took from Butembo to Kasindi on the Congo border on Sunday morning, the 10th of March 2013.  I was on my way back to Kampala before traveling to Aru and Mahagi. 

It was intended that I travel internally in DRC from Butembo to Bunia then on the Mahagi (where Drumo is dentist in our 3rd Clinic) and then on another 100 kms to Aru.  However it is rainy season and I was told that a 100 km stretch of road could take me 3 days.  Therefore I headed back to Uganda and went the long way round on the bitumened roads there.

Above: this is the Semliki River which is crossed by a locally made timber ferry which carries 6 cars at a time, together with all their passengers. While it was on  the other side offloading, we were waiting for  two and a half hours for the next crossing , and then after another  half an hour crossing we had reached the immigration post and and crossed to Uganda.  Then it was another long trip from 11 am to 8 pm before I reached home in Kampala.

The following day I started the journey at half past nine pm from Kampala travelling  to Arua which we reached at half past six in the morning.

So that was the end of the first trip. 

Next report will be of the second trip.

 When I go back I came down with  malaria, probably because  I think because in some places I slept without a  mosquito net, and it wasn't helped by the fatigue resulting from the long trip on “Bodaboda” motorbike on the trip between Aru, Mahagi, and Paidha where I boarded the Bus to go back to Kampala.

That's all for now.

Thanks.

For the CDSI

Timon Grodya Dhego

17. Timon's Report - Final meeting with Bp Ise-somo

Dental Meeting with Bishop Isesomo.

The points to discuss with the Bishop were the issues raised in our meeting with the Medical coordination team and which needed either decision and action or contribution to proceed to the implementation.

The first one was the current situation of the Dental Clinic with the high number of staff but less work and at the end of the month supplies and salaries takes all the monthly income living no savings at all. 

In regards this, the Bishop promised to send the issue back to the management committee, which is under the leadership of the Dean of the Cathedral to handle the case. That was actually the right procedure because it’s not his direct responsibility but he can advise the Dean and through him, the management committee concerning what to do.  

Another point discussed was concerning Ringo’s possible move to study any time from now. 

The Bishop is equally having deep concern about who can fit in Ringo’s shoes in terms of faithful management of the clinic as seen over the years, but still the move is of a great value because it will bear long lasting result for the sustainability of the Clinic. 

In regard to that point I suggested the idea of calling the qualified dental technician we met in Aru to come to Butembo if we agree and he also accept when I go to Aru. The Bishop was favourable but no decision could have been taken without meeting the person we are talking about. The result was depending on the feedback from Mr Sosten in Aru.

Concerning the need to start a Clinic in Kasindi, the Bishop was favourable and suggested to contact the Arch-deacon about the availability of the Church land which is near the market in order to have the clinic in an active environment for the viability. He gave me the Arch Deacon’s number for follow up. 

But as mentioned before the main obstacle remains the human resource first of all, and if we are to be effective to serve the Uganda-Congo area of Kasindi which is becoming highly populated we shall need more equipments, instrument, and material than whatever we have in Beni as suggested with Medical coordination. In regard to all those aspects we said that Kasindi will require proper investigation on the ground before making the final decision. 

For a similar case as suggested in my previous message and approved by Graham, the idea of setting up a dental facility in Bunia, it will also require thorough investigation on the ground before making final decision, with the same consideration of getting a trustworthy human resource to serve the people in that place.

About the vision of starting the Dental section in the ISTM/Aru (The Medical school), we supported the suggestion of Dr Nigel Pearson of allowing for others to come in and be trained with the original two selected ie Ringo and Drumo.

The  most crucial suggestion is in relation to the high need of having our own staff trained with  more human resources needed in order to move ahead and reach out to more people in critical need of oral health services; 

The idea was to allow the dental section to start with the minimum funds that  we may have received by October, and this will mainly serve to give salaries to our staff members in particular, and others will benefit from the facilitation we shall make for the dental section to have teachers whenever needed and our coordination of activities, the equipping of the technical training facility (the Dental Clinic in aru) for regular practice for skills, technical advisory, etc. 

Other details to be discussed with the ISTM leadership in Aru, but the bottom line is to have them start this year if possible. 

A key thing prior to starting is to have a workshop with all the stake holders apart from the students, to discuss about how  the dental  section will function, distribute the roles of each staff member, with a clear description of their role and the average amount of funding  needed to kick start the project. In the same workshop we’ll set up priorities to have the first things first, and others will follow as time goes.

From  my point of view this was the most mind-opening meeting in relation to the big project of the dental school. In case this plan will not work, a workshop will still be the best venue to brainstorm and come up with another possible alternative plan.

The emphasis is therefore placed on organising a workshop prior to any final decision concerning the next move in relation to this major point. 

16. Timon's Report - Inequity of supplies

Next is Ringo posing, displaying the supplies he just received with the limited funding from CDSI. 

The next picture gives the reality contrast about running a Dental facility and another Health service provision facility.  

Here is the lot of drugs given to the health Centre. 

As I explained previously concerning the limitation of supplies in Butembo, I decided to leave everything I brought there because they are busier than the two other clinics in Aru and Mahagi. This is a boost because they struggle to get these things here, and also  the quality of products that we brought is better, said Ringo.

The contrast on the other side

At the Health Centre

The Congolese government so far does not run or fund health facilities therefore International NGOs are coming to the rescue of  the people of Congo who suffer from lack of health services by providing what is called essential drugs in health centres, which is good and we are really grateful for these charitable organisations that are coming to save lives.

The inequality, however,  is then visible when it comes to other health sectors like Dentistry where nothing is provided.

15. Timon's Report - Future Dental Training Vision

The Meeting with Dr Serge Mbuka Lolo

He’s the full time lecturer of the faculty of dentistry at the Rwenzori Official University in Butembo.

The purpose of the Meeting was to get to know him and get information about the Dental school, as well as to discuss his availability to be one of the visiting lecturers in Aru when we are able to start the dental section in the ISTM/Aru (The Nursing School in the Aru Diocese). 

Training human resources for oral health services in Congo is part of our vision. 

In this regard we are planning to work in collaboration with the ISTM in Aru, but specifically for the dental section only, and this will help us have our existing staff ie Ringo in Butembo and Drumo in Mahagi,  upgrade their qualifications as well as training more staff for the future clinics. 

In doing so we shall be able to monitor the quality training to march the standard we are aiming to achieve for the improvement of oral services.

The meeting was important because in order to have an accredited school we need at least three national lecturers who will work together to maintain the section apart from our visiting lecturers whom we are expecting from the Sydney University to boost quality and international standard. 

Of the three at least one is supposed to be full time to follow up the day to day academic activities, and the two others may be regular visiting teachers. But if we can afford, two full time lecturers on the ground would be much better.

The meeting was successful though was not an employment offer as we’ve not yet confirmed when the dream will become reality. Nevertheless we agreed that if time comes while he’s still in the same position, he may be consulted again for possible part time lecturing and we agreed. We made it clear that it was just a sharing of ideas on a vision to which is yet to be on move when time comes.

About the second person concerning the dental school I also contacted Mr Pharaon Kakule in Beni on phone to know his stand about being eventual part of the lecturers when the plan is confirmed. He directly confirmed his willingness to participate as a lecturer with us when time comes.

      

For the time being Mr Pharaon is the head of the Nyankunde, Evangelical Medical Centre’s Dental school but his not a Dental Surgeon.

About the third person for the dental school in Aru, I just heard that the Medical coordination in Aru is already processing the employment of a Dental Surgeon from Kinshasa but a native of Aru. That sounds good because if he’s from the area we can expect him to be willing to be the full time person residing in the area.

I believe this is the way to go if we are to train human resources for our vision of comprehensive oral health services in Congo. 

14. Timon's Report - Orphan School, dental needs

Here is the class room of the orphans to be visited for the oral health program from the clinic. A quick questioning revealed not many of them have got a tooth brush, it as good as a luxury, but do not mention about tooth paste, you may not find any who use it on a regular basis. So the least we can make, beginning with the oral health education will make a difference, there after more and more will follow.

Next is where we stood to pray with the orphans before we left. The one who is holding a rabbit is a pygmy orphan carrying this gift for the visitors. 

This is the African way of showing the gratefulness or courtesy to a visitor, and it’s not supposed to be refused because the visitor believes they are the needy ones. Rejecting such a gift will be interpreted as lack of respect, or dishonour we received the gift with thanks giving and Ringo’s wife took charge to make it consumable.

Please remember to mention them in your prayers as well.

The next picture is the school view from the compound. It is time for going back home.

13. Timon's Report - Running water

New achievement in the clinic:

For those who know our first class surgery in the clinic, it has never had running water but now Ringo has organised plumbing into the first class surgery and this has made a huge  difference because now there is no need to transit through the reception to access the tap in the Lab or the next room.

We know in Australia running water in a house or facility is one of the least things to think about, whereby for us here it is an event to have such a connection, reason why lacking it for 20 years was like a normal condition but imagine this is a surgery where patients always need to rinse out, the practitioner always need to wash hands, etc.

In Africa even the things which are considered to be small makes big difference and people appreciate.

12. Timon's Report - Orphans & the Slippery Slope

The visit to the orphans’ school.

It was a rain blessed day because from morning to the afternoon there was a nonstop rain but as it was planned we had to make our way to meet the goal. The interesting part of the trip was the amount of time spent on a short distance of about eight kilometres, it was almost an our because our vehicle was old and a two wheels drive, so we got stuck on a sliding hill and there was no one to help push for a while, till the rain reduced, then Ringo and Revd Kasereka’s wife (Mrs Mbambu) did the work. Never the less it was a good experience to know the reality of their condition. When we reached we were impressed by the staff and students welcoming and joy. The fact that they are not left alone but mixed up with other children from the village they look to have a good standard of self esteem. Our target was to visit their school and meet them personally so that we can integrate them in our school program for oral health education and even dental treatment when possible in order to give back to the community, but mostly the less privileged children in the society.

Having had that visit we discussed with Ringo and the school stakeholders to organise first of all oral educations in classes but not yet a promises for check up and treatment until we have a financial capacity to do so. Here are some picture of the journey and the school facility.

The picture below shows the place where we got stuck and waited for a while until the rain reduced then we proceeded to the destination. Congo is amongst the countries in the world with the worst road network, though the current government had tried some time back nothing much is done yet and everything is getting back to the former status.  

According to our plan I was supposed to travel by road from Butembo via Bunia to Mahagi and Aru but could not make it because of the road condition currently between Bunia and Mahagi being in an woeful status. After I dodged that trip to pass via Kampala, Mr Oscar the Aru Madical service supervisor and Mr Ezati the coordinator were in a conference in Beni, as they were travelling back to Aru they wanted to go through Bunia but they had to make a U turn from Bunia to Beni and took the road to Kampala then Aru because travelling from Bunia to Mahagi is about 160 Kms but it can take 3 days to get through as this is rainy season. Four wheel drive cars are the most appropriate means of transport for safaris in Congo but sometimes they have no option when a truck has blocked the way.

Back to our trip to the orphanage we were not far from the city centre but could not make it till some people had to push as I was struggling with the starring to keep on the road otherwise it’s very easy to be found in the trench on the road side where the small car had to be carried out. This is common event when travelling in Congo please be aware when coming to visit.

The next picture is of Ringo and Mbambu after they successfully manage to get the car out of the worse place. In such condition women are not spared, it’s the “Congolese way” and she did well; congratulations.