June 11, 2013
Morning QT: Isaiah 49 (v. 13) Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O
mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
(v. 23c) ...those who hope in me will not be disappointed.
7:40am
Injera for breakfast (dulet)
8:00am
Found taxi to ALERT Hospital. Sat next to friendly driver named Biliam.
After getting off, I met Desalegn who was in the same taxi on his way to the hospital also. He is
a lawyer, with a younger brother being treated.
ALERT Hospital
The hospital is located on top of a hill. Very tranquil
8:45am
On time. I am to meet the doctor at 9am. Found Dr. Lambert's office but there were only
cleaning ladies sweeping the floor with alcohol. They said she'd be back at 9am. Waiting until
9am.
It's much much cleaner than Black Lion Hospital
Waiting for Dr. Lambert
10:55am
I waited for the doctor until 10am. Not seeing her, I left the clinic and walked around vicinity of
the hospital. Peaked into something like a workshop where I found out from a doctor that it was
where they made prosthetic limbs for leprous patients. On my way out, I ran into Dr. Lambert
who was looking for me. She told me she asked everyone if they have seen a Chinese-looking
boy. It was probably not hard for me to track down because I stick out so much here. Dr.
Lambert suggested I visit the shop where they sold various knit-work and crafts made by
rehabilitating leprous patients. Bought leather coasters as a souvenir for professor Choi.
At this point, I left the office wandering around the area
Still wandering
People waiting to be seen. Weather is always fair in Addis.
Constructing a building. A sign of growth I guess.
Very peaceful
This is the workshop I mentioned
11:00am
Dr. Lambert arrived and she proceeds to teach me the basics of leprosy.
Notes:
• Detecting leprosy (1) visually (2) by touch
• Leprosy is bacteria residing in nerves. Loss of limbs and such not directly from the
bacteria; rather from neglected injuries due to loss of sensation caused by bacteria.
• Spread via close contact (living together). Leprosy ceased to be a problem in Europe sort
of automatically with increasing living standards.
• Before 6 months, recovery and improvement of nerves and sensation is possible.
• Treated with antibiotics. Typically, there is inflammation of the nerves during antibiotic
treatment. Steroids are given to calm the body's “anger.”
He said he's been working here for over 40 years...or did he mean 14?
“Finally you call me”
12:17pm
We go to see a boy patient. Skin lesions on arms and legs. It's obvious that he's in much pain.
From what I could get, the boy could not sleep during the night because of a fever that
continues to persist. After some more talking, we went into a small office where Dr. Lambert,
an occupational therapist, and a nurse started talking to each other with a grave air. The boy has
had severe internal inflammation, left neglected by careless doctors. Nurses have been
concerned but have had no help or instruction by doctors. There was some talk of the boy
possibly dying.
1:06pm
The occupational therapist told me hopefully the boy will get better. The right medications have
been prescribed.
Found out Dr. Lambert is half Ethiopian, which is surprising considering that she is light
skinned. She grew up in Addis until 12, and moved to Zimbabwe. She studied in Scotland and
has lived in many other places around the world. I can't remember all of the countries she
mentioned. She says she had always wanted to come back to her homeland.
1:32pm
Dr. Lambert gave me a ride back home. I asked her what drives her to do this kind of work. She
told me that she feels tremendous satisfaction in seeing patients so moved by having someone
hear their personal stories of suffering, having someone not be afraid to touch them.
As parting advice, she said that medicine is not an end but a beginning—after four years of
studying, one is given another try at choosing what he/she wants to really focus on. It gives one
a starting base. Also, medicine equips one with great tools as a Christian to reach out.
Guard's name: Mulalem
Servant girl: Taba ye
Vocab:
• Sitain – give me (directed at male)
• Si tchin – give me (directed at female)
• Chigra le? - is there a problem?
• Chigrelem – no problem
• Centano – how much
Numbers
• Aund – one
• Hoolet – two
• Sost – three
• Arat – four
• Amist – five
• Sidist – six
• Sabat – seven
• Siment – eight
• Zeten – nine
• Assar – ten
• Assra + (aund, hoolet, sost, etc.)
• Haya – twenty
• Salasa – thirty
• Arba – fourty
• Amsa – fifty
• Silsa – sixty
• Saba – seventy
• Samanya – eighty
• Zentena – ninety
• Mato – hundred
• Ka Gabriel Mexico centano? - How much is it from Gabriel to Mexico?
• T'gur Ambasa Hospital – Black Lion Hospital
3:30pm
Met up with Sholae and his friend Elias Elisa. Elias is Sholae's fellow health student. He is from
Omo region, Hamar village. His father is a missionary for the native Africans in the rural
regions. Elias' grandfather was the first Christian of his family and village. Elias is bright and
possesses an encouraging air. We parted after coffee. Sholae helped me buy soap, water, a new
lightbulb, and bread. I returned home and began to wash my dirty clothes.
Menu at the small local restaurant:
• T'bs – 30 birr (meat chunks)
• Dulet – 22 birr (ground meat)
• T'bs firfir – 25 birr (T'bs mixed with rolled up injera, served with injera)
• Bwozana – 25 birr (Something like Mexican mashed pinto beans)
• Gomenbaziga – 30 birr (Meat and vegetables)
Bwozana. You eat it with injera...
...like this. The picture does not do justice. It was good I promise.
Finish it off with some Ethiopian coffee, prepared fresh. They roasted the beans in front of us.
Money Spent ($1 = 18.59 birr)
80 @ coaster souvenir
31 @ injera dinner and coffee
40 @ supplies (soaps, water, light)
4 @ bread
3 + 4 + 3 + 5 @ transportation
Morning QT: Isaiah 49 (v. 13) Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O
mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
(v. 23c) ...those who hope in me will not be disappointed.
7:40am
Injera for breakfast (dulet)
8:00am
Found taxi to ALERT Hospital. Sat next to friendly driver named Biliam.
After getting off, I met Desalegn who was in the same taxi on his way to the hospital also. He is
a lawyer, with a younger brother being treated.
ALERT Hospital
The hospital is located on top of a hill. Very tranquil
8:45am
On time. I am to meet the doctor at 9am. Found Dr. Lambert's office but there were only
cleaning ladies sweeping the floor with alcohol. They said she'd be back at 9am. Waiting until
9am.
It's much much cleaner than Black Lion Hospital
Waiting for Dr. Lambert
10:55am
I waited for the doctor until 10am. Not seeing her, I left the clinic and walked around vicinity of
the hospital. Peaked into something like a workshop where I found out from a doctor that it was
where they made prosthetic limbs for leprous patients. On my way out, I ran into Dr. Lambert
who was looking for me. She told me she asked everyone if they have seen a Chinese-looking
boy. It was probably not hard for me to track down because I stick out so much here. Dr.
Lambert suggested I visit the shop where they sold various knit-work and crafts made by
rehabilitating leprous patients. Bought leather coasters as a souvenir for professor Choi.
At this point, I left the office wandering around the area
Still wandering
People waiting to be seen. Weather is always fair in Addis.
Constructing a building. A sign of growth I guess.
Very peaceful
This is the workshop I mentioned
11:00am
Dr. Lambert arrived and she proceeds to teach me the basics of leprosy.
Notes:
• Detecting leprosy (1) visually (2) by touch
• Leprosy is bacteria residing in nerves. Loss of limbs and such not directly from the
bacteria; rather from neglected injuries due to loss of sensation caused by bacteria.
• Spread via close contact (living together). Leprosy ceased to be a problem in Europe sort
of automatically with increasing living standards.
• Before 6 months, recovery and improvement of nerves and sensation is possible.
• Treated with antibiotics. Typically, there is inflammation of the nerves during antibiotic
treatment. Steroids are given to calm the body's “anger.”
He said he's been working here for over 40 years...or did he mean 14?
“Finally you call me”
12:17pm
We go to see a boy patient. Skin lesions on arms and legs. It's obvious that he's in much pain.
From what I could get, the boy could not sleep during the night because of a fever that
continues to persist. After some more talking, we went into a small office where Dr. Lambert,
an occupational therapist, and a nurse started talking to each other with a grave air. The boy has
had severe internal inflammation, left neglected by careless doctors. Nurses have been
concerned but have had no help or instruction by doctors. There was some talk of the boy
possibly dying.
1:06pm
The occupational therapist told me hopefully the boy will get better. The right medications have
been prescribed.
Found out Dr. Lambert is half Ethiopian, which is surprising considering that she is light
skinned. She grew up in Addis until 12, and moved to Zimbabwe. She studied in Scotland and
has lived in many other places around the world. I can't remember all of the countries she
mentioned. She says she had always wanted to come back to her homeland.
1:32pm
Dr. Lambert gave me a ride back home. I asked her what drives her to do this kind of work. She
told me that she feels tremendous satisfaction in seeing patients so moved by having someone
hear their personal stories of suffering, having someone not be afraid to touch them.
As parting advice, she said that medicine is not an end but a beginning—after four years of
studying, one is given another try at choosing what he/she wants to really focus on. It gives one
a starting base. Also, medicine equips one with great tools as a Christian to reach out.
Guard's name: Mulalem
Servant girl: Taba ye
Vocab:
• Sitain – give me (directed at male)
• Si tchin – give me (directed at female)
• Chigra le? - is there a problem?
• Chigrelem – no problem
• Centano – how much
Numbers
• Aund – one
• Hoolet – two
• Sost – three
• Arat – four
• Amist – five
• Sidist – six
• Sabat – seven
• Siment – eight
• Zeten – nine
• Assar – ten
• Assra + (aund, hoolet, sost, etc.)
• Haya – twenty
• Salasa – thirty
• Arba – fourty
• Amsa – fifty
• Silsa – sixty
• Saba – seventy
• Samanya – eighty
• Zentena – ninety
• Mato – hundred
• Ka Gabriel Mexico centano? - How much is it from Gabriel to Mexico?
• T'gur Ambasa Hospital – Black Lion Hospital
3:30pm
Met up with Sholae and his friend Elias Elisa. Elias is Sholae's fellow health student. He is from
Omo region, Hamar village. His father is a missionary for the native Africans in the rural
regions. Elias' grandfather was the first Christian of his family and village. Elias is bright and
possesses an encouraging air. We parted after coffee. Sholae helped me buy soap, water, a new
lightbulb, and bread. I returned home and began to wash my dirty clothes.
Menu at the small local restaurant:
• T'bs – 30 birr (meat chunks)
• Dulet – 22 birr (ground meat)
• T'bs firfir – 25 birr (T'bs mixed with rolled up injera, served with injera)
• Bwozana – 25 birr (Something like Mexican mashed pinto beans)
• Gomenbaziga – 30 birr (Meat and vegetables)
Bwozana. You eat it with injera...
...like this. The picture does not do justice. It was good I promise.
Finish it off with some Ethiopian coffee, prepared fresh. They roasted the beans in front of us.
Money Spent ($1 = 18.59 birr)
80 @ coaster souvenir
31 @ injera dinner and coffee
40 @ supplies (soaps, water, light)
4 @ bread
3 + 4 + 3 + 5 @ transportation
