On living here

Quite a few people have asked me what the living
conditions here are like. Basically they are pretty
comfortable and the social culture shock I was
anticipating has not really materialised. I've been in
temporary accommodation but am moving to my new home
next week. It's called a 'Park home' but in the UK we
would call it a 'Portacabin' or if it was by the sea
even a 'static caravan'. It has a hot shower and
toilet, a separate double bedroom, a fridge-freezer
cooker etc. You don't need central heating here.

There is not much around the hospital but there is a
shop for very basic things and a beer shop (called a
shabeen). The nearest place with a collection of shops
is 30km along a dirt road and it is a further 60km to
anything resembling a supermarket. If you plan well
however you can eat and drink very well.

Week nights are often spent socialising with the other
people living in the hospital compound, mainly
doctors, pharmacists etc. Some people have satellite
T.V. (not me) so it is possible to watch some of the
major sporting events as well. Weekends start at 1pm
on Friday so there is time to get away to the beach or
to a city whenever you are not on call.

Just an update on the strike- it seems to be getting
worse, everyone is spooked today because of a report
that a nurse was shot on her way to work quite near
here (no-one knows if it was related to the strike but
the rumours haven't helped). We are trying desparately
to get medication out to our HIV patients and those in
hospital are at least being fed and getting most
medications. Everything else is on hold though (a
woman gave birth unattended in a corridor yesterday
for example), the big hospitals we would refer on to
are not accepting any patiens at all. The end is not
even in sight at the moment and morale is generally
pretty low, again lets hope there is a resolution soon.


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