First Impressions

I arrived safely in Dar es Salaam on Saturday afternoon.  Collecting my luggage and progressing through the official business was the easiest I have ever experienced.  It is wonderful to be back in Africa - it has such unique feel to it.  However the humidity has hit me like a brick wall making me feel so hot I could die - thank heavens its not the hottest time of the year. I was pleased to see my friend arrive to take me to the house - although I did have many taxi drivers offer to take me if my transport didn't arrive. As well as Orzanna, two of the important staff members Semmy and Bright  came to collect me.  These men are the stalwarts of the GHAWA team here. If something needs doing they are the ones we turn to.

We seemed to drive for hours to get to the house in Msasani Village. I have been reliably informed that it can take as a little as 20 minutes and as much as an hour for the same trip. The traffic is incredible - cars, trucks, bicycles, motorbikes and people everywhere. The buses don't seem to stop to let people off.  I have seen a few launch themselves from a door or window to the side of the road, There appear to be no road rules and I even had to ask at one stage which side of the road Tanzanians travel on.  I'm getting used to it a little now but still find myself holding my breath and squeezing in occassionally.

The house is impressive.  It is on three storeys, the top floor being a wonderful large balcony with views of the village, and glimpses of the ocean. There are four bedrooms each with a double bed and its own bathroom.  The latter have some unique features such as a toilet in the shower. It is not nearly as big as the neighbouring house which is 4 levels and very sumptuous.

 

We sailed over to Bogoyo Island on a dhow on Sunday for a little R&R before the hard work started. It was lovely, white sand and warm calm clear water. We just lazed under the umbrella and had a few dips in the sea, a small plate of unexciting chips for Orzanna and  tasty very chewy grilled calamari for me total bill $6!  Added bonus - a bit of sunburn.  Then it was back to the house for a proper orientation ie where the fuse box is and how to turn the generator in the event of a power failure.  My first experience of these frequent events was on Monday morning at 5am.  The night security guard Hamisi was there to turn it on - what a racket. Certainly no need for an alarm clock.

 

We have been leaving the house at about 7 - 7:30am each day, as the trip to Armana Hospital takes anywhere between 20 - 45 minutes.  On the first day I had a quick tour of the maternity wards at the hospital.  The midwives manage with very few resources and and are very understaffed. They do everything as one rarely sees a doctor. I am in awe at the sheer numbers of women that are managed in this facility on a daily basis. 

 

This is meant to be a clinical week., but the other midwife in the house is away.  Without an orientation,  I am not sufficiently familiar with local practice to supervise participants yet.  In addition the clinical areas will not take a large number of particpants at one time, so the group has been split up and I am doing additional classroom activities with them.   The vagina pants have been taken out on their first excursion. They worked pretty well too. I have one or 2 adjustments to make but Im pretty pleased with them. They were a source of great amusement which has ensured the participants have thawed to me.  I feel honoured to have been invited to the neonatal unit at Temeke Hospital. So far so good.