6. hospital beds
Richard, together with Daniel from the Naasa community, checked and assembled all the beds. The latter turned out not to be such a good idea, because from the Presbyterian church (to which the clinic belongs) they did come with a pick-up. So everything had to be taken apart again and put back together in the clinic.
Everything worked perfectly. There is one bed with a small defect, but we will solve that later. We keep that bed in our own management for the time being, to find out how everything works and later we will probably give it to the Naasa community who want to open a very small clinic themselves.
When Chief saw the beds for the first time, he didn't stop talking about it: so beautiful, so new! He even told the people of the Siniensi clinic that they were brand new! And he had also thought that there would be patients who are not sick, but only want to lie in such a bed! He was really overwhelmed! Nice to experience that!
When the last bed was transported, Kojo, Richard and I drove behind the pick-up to Siniensi clinic. Chief had been waiting there for a long time. The old beds were outside (see photo). When you see it, you understand Chief's reaction. I would almost say: what a poverty! In Siniensi the director of Presbytarian Health Service (Bolgatanga) was present. He asked me for a list of the donated items. I didn't have one, so I made it there on the spot. But yes, my knowledge of laboratory materials is completely absent. One of the items now has the name: glass stuff... Many photos were taken. A special one from Chief trying out a bed! Richard showed the nurses how to assemble the beds. Each ward now has 3 beds. That's all that fits in a room.
Siniensi clinic is small, but still growing. In 2006 it was a shelter and one building. Now there is a laboratory, men's-, women's- and children's ward and a separate department for maternity nursing. There are no beds there, only a delivery room. There are a few maternity nurses and a few midwives working there. Since last year there are toilets on the premisses. These were donated by Munck, the infrastructure organization that was in Doninga. There is really good work being done in Siniensi. Chief's wish is to get an X-ray machine and an operating room. And of course a doctor. Because there isn't one now. Everything is run by nurses.
So Marian, because you made sure that I could eventually take those beds with me: thank you on behalf of the people of Siniensi and Presby Health Service!
