Wind Blows Deeply

Unpacking

There are two quotes that I often think of when I return from Africa or any far away adventure.

The first: Coming home from very lonely places, all of us go a little mad: whether from great personal success, or just an all-night drive, we are the sole survivors of a world no one else has ever seen.
~John le Carre

I always find it difficult to sum up my experiences. This trip seemed to be fairly normal. I returned to familiar friends and colleagues, to familiar housing and transportation, to an ever increasingly familiar culture. Things happened more or less as expected.
Teaching the country’s first-ever class of pharmacy technicians was both an honour and a memorable experience. Being quite ill for half of my first week was frustrating but a good (forced) reminder that I need to slow down occasionally. ‘Remembering’ how to drive a) a standard, b) a LandRover, and c) in Africa was undoubtedly memorable for my passengers.

The second: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
~Margaret Mead

There was a mix of returning and new volunteers on this trip. Old friends who just ‘know how it is’. New friends who remind me to be excited and amazed at things that have become familiar.  The two University of Manitoba pharmacy students who began my trip with me remain in The Gambia for another two weeks.  They will be wrapping up their stay with some more continuing education sessions for pharmacy staff.


Class of 2013

One of my main projects in The Gambia was to teach the first set of lectures to the very first class of pharmacy technicians.  I shared on a variety of topics from ‘history of pharmacy practice’ to ‘pharmaceutical and medical terminology’ to ‘introduction to palliative care’.

Planning for this technician program has taken many years and I am very excited to see this first class graduate in a few years.



Recognition

I was honoured to receive a Commitment to Care and Service award in the category of ‘Charitable Work’ on November 29, 2011.
The award is “presented in recognition of exceptional volunteer work, contributions to charitable organizations, creation of a charity program, performance of a humanitarian deed or overall commitment to charity work by an individual or team.”
Visit the Commitment to Care and Service awards page to read more about my entry and the other award recipients.



Lend a Hand

It’s good to be back

I arrived in The Gambia one week ago.  Getting off the plane was the all-to-familiar smell of ocean, dust, diesel and burning garbage.  Perhaps not the most inviting of smells, but the familiar can be comforting.  Of course there was also the heat and humidity.  Fortunately, it has cooled done from a Humidex in the high 40′s to high 30′s.

It has also been good to see so many familiar faces.  Several past volunteers are also here, making it a bit of a family reunion.  My Gambian friends and family are also here — so wonderful to be seeing each other again.  There is my African grandma, the housekeeper and her energetic 4 year old, those living at or associated with a community development project, and many staff at the hospital (pharmacy and other departments).

Time for work

At the hospital, I spent a few days with the two pharmacy students (from the University of Manitoba) observing local hospital pharmacy practice.  One student began providing continuing education classes for existing staff on Wednesday.

Due to illness, the other pharmacy student and I have been at home the latter of this week.  Although we are much improved with the help of prayer and some antibiotics, neither of us our quite back to normal.  Walking a few blocks this morning was a bit too much for both of us.  Hopefully we will be in full health on Monday when the second student can begin her classes and I can begin teaching the inaugural class of Gambian pharmacy technicians.  It is so exciting to be a part of this program which has been in the planning stages for several years.

The importance of relationships

The more I volunteer in The Gambia, and hear the stories of other volunteers, the more I am reminded of the importance of relationships.  I have been returning to the hospital and The Gambia since 2006, and it is incredible to be welcomed back so warmly each time.  The Gambia, and much of Africa, is highly relationship focused rather than task focused.  At a basic level, there is great importance on proper, and sometimes lengthy, greetings — inquiring about all number of things before getting to the item at hand.  Likewise, time invested in a person or community is an essential component to bringing change.  Of course, other things like money, supplies, technology, and human resources are valuable.  Lasting change requires relationships.

I have seen real change in the pharmacy department.  Several suggestions/discussions that I was a part of in previous trips are now being routinely implemented.  One is the labelling of repacked medications — this helps to tell one white round pill from another.  The other is set stock days for the hospital — rather than departments picking up stock from the pharmacy on any day or time they wished, they are now limited to two set days per week.  This allows the storekeepers to update their inventory records and replenish their stock from the national stores.

Culture clash

We have been able to highlight the huge differences in culture that exist in The Gambia to the new volunteers.  On our second day, we ventured down to the pool at a local resort hotel along with a Canadian surgical resident.  (CVM has collaborated with Medicos en Action – a charitable organization associated with the Canadian Society of General Surgeons (CAGS).  Most of the team had left, except for this resident who was departing quite late the next day.)  While living at the CVM residence is more than comfortable, the sight of green grass (think of the water requirements), the variety of food and drink options, and the sight of tourists supposedly experiencing The Gambia was a significant contrast.  We did enjoy our time at the pool (free with purchase of a drink) and the opportunity to cool off.  Unfortunately, the ocean has been off limits this past week due to dangerous currents.

Our second culture clash was more of the same.  After remembering how to drive standard again, I drove our group to an upscale hotel/resort to hear members of the band Baatin play.  (I heard them play at the same location in 2009.  Watch the video)  One of the Canadian volunteers is good friends with the group and was able to play with them.  A bit more opulent than the first hotel/resort, our group was certainly aware of the difference from typical Gambian life.

Support a pharmacy student

You can still join the team supporting a Gambian student studying to become a pharmacist in another African country.  Emily is currently in her third year of studies.  I spoke with her mother earlier this week.  After this semester, the family no longer has funds to pay for tuition.  The total amount required for the remaining one and a half semesters is just under $17,000.  I know that it sounds like a lot of money — and it is.  But I am also so very thankful for those that have already contributed to the tuition support fund.  It’s not too late.  I will accept donations for as long as they come in, but would prefer them by early December to allow the student to continue into the second semester.

I hope to have more details from Emily about her studies and experiences as a student soon and will forward them to you.  I know that she does plan to return to The Gambia as a pharmacist on completion of her studies.  She has already volunteered (without pay) at the hospital pharmacy during her summer’s off.

In the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, time is always of the essence. Squeezing in extra time for old friends. Rushing to the store before closing. The hours in the kitchen preparing meals and treats. We glance anxiously at our watches, hoping not to be late for the next appointment.

Things can move a bit differently in The Gambia. When organizing any sort of project or gathering, an important factor is “Gambian time.” This means one learns quite quickly how to be patient. A meeting could be delayed by hours and then inexplicably cancelled. Public holidays are sometimes announced with only a day’s notice.

May this Christmas season be filled with peace, joy and love as you share time and memories with family and friends!

Things I’m working on in the next few weeks:

Finalizing travel and flight details

Follow-up of the November 2008 visit by a BC pharmacist
Confirming plans with Essa, the chief pharmacist at Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital in Banjul

If you are interested in contributing financially, an online option is available at Canada Helps [choose account 014 from the drop-down list]. For other options, please contact me directly.

I’m off to Africa this February with CVM. If you are interested, we’re still looking for some funds for the projects described below. (Click here for more info on giving to CVM … this is project CVM008)
Of course, your thoughts and prayers are much appreciated!
(Send me a note if you would like email updates.)

Royal Victoria Hospital Construction Project ($5000)
We will be constructing shelving for the hospital central pharmaceutical stores. Additionally, we will be brightening up the walls with a little fresh paint on a number of hospital wards.

Treated Mosquito Netting ($1000)
The center for malnourished children is in desperate need of new treated mosquito nets for the children. Malaria is the leading cause of death for children in the developing world and is largely preventable. We will be helping Sisters of Charity refurbish and replace old mosquito nets.

YWAM Discipleship Training School ($2500)
In addition to teaching a portion of the lecture phase, we have been asked to assist the all-African group to help cover the costs of the school. Cost covers books and housing.