Health Caring

Back up the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro we went to visit Machame Lutheran Hospital.  There is an immediate realization that there is a vast difference between the medical care and facilities we take for granted in the developed world and what we are seeing here.  Paint is peeling from the walls.  Plastic chairs are fitted with wheels to create makeshift wheelchairs.  People sit on wooden benches waiting to be processed through admissions.

Even so, it is quickly apparent how crucial this hospital is to the entire region.  We see Masai women who have walked miles to receive care and even to give birth.  A man recovers in one ward after being gored by a Cape buffalo.  Another from being bitten by a hyena! 

Since healthcare is a hot topic at home, we asked what the entire cost of giving birth in the hospital would be.   The answer is fourteen dollars! 

Next we visited the new nursing school, which is part of the hospital campus.  We listened to the personal stories of a few of the students, which were each filled with tragedy and seemingly insurmountable obstacles to a hopeful future.  By the grace of God, each of these stories led to this nursing school where a new future has begun.  These are not great comeback stories, they are resurrection stories and members of our group have been inspired to support this incredible place.

We saw some brand new babies with their proud mommas in the maternity ward and then we headed off into the forest with Mr. Muro on his holy mission to provide palliative care to dying people wherever they may be found. 

Mr. Murrow leads the way.

We ducked into a small, dark mud hut where we were warmly welcomed by a man who had lost both legs to a mystery infection.  The man was a mason by trade and was thrilled to receive a baseball cap from Jack and Elaine and a bag of basic cooking supplies from our group.  Two things I noticed in that dark little house.  One was how happy the man was.  He had a joyful welcoming smile and was grateful for what he had in spite of his circumstances. 

The other thing I noticed is how important Muro’s work is on this mountain.  There are fourteen hundred such patients scattered throughout the area surrounding Machame Hospital and Muro knows exactly where each one of these people is to be found. You know flashier people than Muro, but you don’t know anyone doing more necessary or meaningful work than he is doing, day in and day out.

We ended the day hanging out with the family of assistant bishop, Rev. Dr. Shoo, at their lovely home.  Here the girls encountered the first African dog we would allow them to touch.  Dr. Shoo’s wife Janet made a lovely apron for each of the gals in our group.