Newsletter #6

Well, our most recent newsletter has now been sent out and added to the site.

Please have a read.

Thanks

Namibia failing to meet health goals

 

“NAMIBIA is unlikely to meet its Millennium Development Goals in reducing child mortality and providing equal access to primary healthcare.”

The article notes that “[a]ccess to primary healthcare remains highly unequal in Namibia … rural areas across the country are left without meaningful healthcare provision because of uneven service distribution … [and] lack of primary health care centres in rural areas resulted in high rates of poverty-related deaths, especially among pregnant women and children under five.”

It also notes that “20 per cent of all Namibians,especially in the rural areas of Kunene (where we are based) and Omaheke , lack access to primary healthcare [and] rural primary healthcare facilities were understaffed.”

A number of key facts and statistics from this article include:

• About six per cent of the country’s GDP, equivalent to US$77 per citizen, goes towards healthcare … far above the WHO-recommend US$34 per capita for low- and middle-income countries.
• The health sector spent the bulk of its annual budget on administration, “From among 10,000 health workers in the country, only 3000 are doctors and nurse, with the remaining 7000 being people employed in the administration of health,”
• Namibia is ranked 189th out of 191 countries in a World Health Organisation (WHO) global assessment of health sector efficiency, which compared spending on health with actual service delivery
• The per capita expenditure on health was the lowest in the north-western parts of the country, which also had the highest child mortality.
• The Government has failed to meet its target in reducing the mortality rate of children under five years from an average of 63 per 1000 to 50 per 1000.
• Most of the child mortalities were the result of malnutrition, a poverty-related cause of death that can be prevented at a low cost if the intervention was targeted at reaching the poorest parts of society.
• The north of the country is the area with the highest number of children with preventable non-lethal illnesses … because primary healthcare and vaccinations are the lowest there.

When you look at these it’s worth bearing in mind that we are working in the north-west of the country.

The whole article is available on line here

African Wildlife (5)

Well, here is the little beastie that I wasn't allowed to show you until the in-laws had left.

Ironically, we had been on the phone to Helen's parents re-assuring them that we hadn't seen any scorpions or snakes in the house, and then later that night we fond this guy in our bedroom, beside our bed.

He has a relatively thick tail, so I guess is a little bit dangerous!  I think he is a Western Granulated Thick-Tailed Scorpion.

The Canadians

Since we are taking the Canadians (Evan and Stephen) down to Windhoek this weekend as they are heading back to their homeland, they came around last night to cook us pancakes (the proper Canadian way!).

We thought it only appropriate that we show our thanks by posting a picture of how they were dressed when they turned up at the house.

I can only describe it as some blend of fashion from the Himba, Hawaiian, and possibly the Canadian cultures.

Grootfontein Soup Kitchen

On our way back up north, after the accident, we were able to stay overnight with Linda, an AIM missionary in Grootfontein, and see the work she is doing there.

She is involved in a church plant there and one of the other things she has done, in the ten years that she has been there, is to set up and run a soup kitchen at one of the secondary schools.

School here starts at 7.00am and goes until 1.00pm, with a break at 10.30am.  She has managed to get a bunch of the local women together and every morning at break time they make porridge for the children in two huge cauldrons (you can see one of them in the bottom picture).  It has become so popular that the local primary school kids now come over after the secondary school kids have been fed. They feed, on average, up to 600 children every day, guaranteeing them at least one good meal.

George & Bob

An interesting article in Time Magazine with Bob Geldof talking with George W. Bush about his funding for Africa.  Not something you hear too much about.

Helen has been on a couple of courses relating to MDR-TB and HIV/Aids while we have been here, which have been funded through his Global Fund.  They do seem to run a lot of courses in Namibia, which can only be good.

Although, when you read this, it is a sobering comparison.

African Wildlife (4)

We went for a walk last weekend, and came across these little fellas.

No idea what they are (but am not allowed to put any scary animals up until the in-laws have been and gone!).

Some reflections on the Accident

Both our phones "disappeared" at the scene of the accident, so we instantly lost the ability to communicate with anyone we knew in Namibia, including the hospital, church or friends in Opuwo and any of the AIM people in Windhoek.

What is really amazing , was that one of the passengers in the passing Combi must have recognised Helen as one of the "white doctors" in the hospital and rang up the hospital to see if she was OK.  The message was then passed to the Principal Medical Officer and then to the Regional Medical Officer that we had been involved in a car accident.

They somehow figured out that we were heading to the Medi-Clinic in Ongwediva and rang there and managed to speak to Helen, and from that we were then able to inform the rest of AIM and from there organise our insurance, medevac, etc.

In the three hour period that we were being driven to the hospital and wondering how we were going to get in touch with AIM and let them know what was happening, there was a parallel work going on that we weren't aware of.

There is no doubt that God, in His providential care, had the whole situation within His control.

Psalm 91 (Message)

You who sit down in the High God's presence,
    spend the night in Shaddai's shadow,
Say this: "God, you're my refuge.
    I trust in you and I'm safe!"
That's right—he rescues you from hidden traps,
    shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you—
    under them you're perfectly safe;
    his arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,
    not flying arrows in the day,
Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
    not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around,
    drop like flies right and left,
    no harm will even graze you.
You'll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,
    watch the wicked turn into corpses.
Yes, because God's your refuge,
    the High God your very own home,
Evil can't get close to you,
    harm can't get through the door.
He ordered his angels
    to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they'll catch you;
    their job is to keep you from falling.
You'll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,
    and kick young lions and serpents from the path.

Remains of the car...

After the accident, we had to leave the car where it was ... you know, urgent appointments with the hospital, etc, etc.

The next time someone we knew went to the car was on Monday morning (about 40 hours later).

As you can see from the photo they took, the car had been pretty well stripped.

 

Newsletter #5

We are aware that the site has been pretty quiet for the last wee while, but we a reworking to change that!

Our most recent newsletter has been added to the site, so please have a read.

Newsletter #4

Our most recent newsletter has been added to the site, so please have a read.

Africa Wildlife (3)

I found this little fellow in the toilet today.  Apparently he has been there for a few days (so says Helen) so I have only just noticed him.

He is a  "Tailless Whip Scorpion", because he has no tail but has a long leg which it uses as a whip.  It also has a very interesting elongated head!

Zambia (Day Three) - Vic Falls Micro-flight

   "Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight". This allegedly is what David Livingstone said  as he gazed upon the falls for the first time and Wednesday brought what for us has been the highlight of the entire holiday, when we each took a micro-light flight over the Falls and had an "angel's view". 

It was only about fifteen minutes each, but it was amazing to see the Falls from above, to look down and see the gorges where the Falls had been previously (the Falls are currently in Gorge 8) and see the fault where the new gorge is being formed.

Despite the short trip there was plenty of opportunity to chat with our German pilot. He was  interested in the work we are doing in Opuwo , having  himself lived in Namibia and is planning some flights up in the Kunene region next May so has our email address!

Zambia (Day Two) - Botswana Safari

On Tuesday, we headed across the border to Chobe National Park in Botswana for a day of game drives on land and on the river.

We left early to cross the Zambezi on a car ferry and make it through the border point but were running a little late by the time we reached the game park. Our guide had not been too optimistic regarding the animals we might see, but almost immediately we turned a corner to see three lions resting under a tree. 

Our good fortune continued when we moved further around the camp to see at least two herds of elephants (a total of about 70 or so) crossing the tracks in front of us.

At one point we were completely surrounded by them.

On top of that were kudu, impala, wart-hogs, buffalo and mongoose. 

Later in the afternoon, we headed out on a boat and down through the river section of the park and managed to see hippos and crocodiles.

The only downside of the day was when the heavens opened and it rained torrentially while we were on the boat - we then had to transfer onto land, drive to the border, cross the Zambezi in the open car ferry, check though the border on both sides and drive back to Livingstone.  By the time we were back, we were soaked through - but we had an amazing day!

 

 

Zambia (Day One) - Vic Falls Walk

Having spent a quiet morning at our back-packers accommodation we headed to the falls for our "Island walk".  This entails wading across the first half of the falls to reach the island where David Livingstone first stood to admire one of the eight wonders of the world. Obviously it can only be done in the "dry" season but it allows spectacular views of the falls from close proximity. Perhaps a little too close for some peoples liking! You have the opportunity to jump into "devil's pool", a 3.5m deep pool that is as close to the edge as you can get and which, because of the depth, is "safe" to swim in.  It was originally discovered by a hot and weary fisherman - I don't think it would have been my first choice of places to cool off!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, we made it ...

We left Opuwo on Friday and drove 3 hours to Oshakati, where we stayed Friday night.  Saturday we drove from Oshakati to Rundu, past Tsumeb and Grootfontein (about 7 hours) and then today we drove from Rundu, Namibia to Livingstone, Zambia in about 8 hours.  So a total of about 18 hours driving across Africa and how many animals ... 2; a kudu and a wart-hog. Very disappointing!

We also had a slightly hectic morning since we were told last night that we would need "Police Clearance" to get the car across the border.  Needless to say we didn't have it, it was Sunday and we had been told it can take up to a week to get.  We went to the Police Station with Rob (a doctor in Rundu with AIM) and managed to persuade the police to take us to house of the person who fills these in forms, wake him up, take him back to the Police Station, fill in the form and then drop him back at his house ... and all before 9.00am this morning!

When we came to it, we crossed the border relatively easily - signing out of Namibia and into Zambia.  We had to pay Carbon Tax, Council Levy, Customs, Importation duty (for the car) and Insurance but all-in-all the crossing only took about 30 minutes (and nobody asked about the "Police Clearance"!)

And now we are here in Livingstone again, after five years since we were last here, and it is very strange seeing the town and remembering what is was like and seeing how it has changed.

Tomorrow, we start the tourism with a return trip to the Vic Falls ...

Newsletter #3 - out now...

Catch up on our escapades over the month of November in our new newsletter.  Click the picture to open a copy.

The previous newsletters should be available by following the links to the side.

If you haven't received the newsletter by email, and you would like to, then please email us and let us know.

Orumahane School Visit

Having met Luke at the Thanksgiving dinner, we bumped into him again at the "OK" supermarket and had a cup of coffee with him.  Since he is with Peace Corps (and therefore isn't allowed to drive) and being very curious people, we gave him a lift back to the school where he has been working for the last two years.

Orumahane school is about 30km outside of Opuwo and has had Peace Corps working there for a few years now.  They have no water supply to the school but have about 500 children who stay there.  Recently the school made the papers as the hostel was voted best in the region- rather sad when you see where they are sleeping.....

The accommodation is very basic.  The picture shows the dorms where the kids sleep.  There is a shortage of mattresses and most of the kids will end up sharing beds, or sleeping on the metal frames.. 

 

 

The picture to the left is of the dining hall, where the kids get four meals a day (although most of these meals are just bread).

 

 

We'll possibly mention a bit more about this visit in our monthly newsletter, but the classes have about 40 kids in them.  Luke teaches grades 9 & 10 and has kids whose ages range from about 13 up to 25.

Thanksgiving

We joined about 27 people on Friday night (Peace Corps, VSO, AIM, etc) to share Thanksgiving at a lodge just outside of town. A very nice, but very remote, location with fantastic food, brought up from Windhoek especially for the occasion - turkey, cranberry sauce, all rounded off with ice cream!

The Canadians have arrived

The two Canadians, Steve (left) and Evan, arrived last Wednesday and we finally got to meet them at church on Sunday. Both are from Briarcrest college (somewhere in the middle of Canada), and they are here for six months to work with Every Home for Christ, through AIM, in their outreach programmes to the himba villages and in the schools. I think they will also help out in the church as well. Their first outreach trip started on Monday and they are heading out until Friday - sleeping under the stars and working through some of the villages beyond Opuwo.

They have only just arrived and were asked to preach on Sunday!