Africa Vision 21

Africa Vision 21

Bebedja, December 14, 2007

N’Djamena time

It feels goods when the kids in the courtyard rush up to you as if you a loved uncle who has returned far a journey far away. Four little monkeys were using me as their play tree and I enjoy it. Coming from the tranquility of Bebedja it is great to be back in the hustle and bustle of N’Djamena. It seems it is relatively calm for a country in the midst of civil war. Remember the fighting is taking place in the far East an drive by car of at least 16 hours. What you notice in the city is an increase of military checkpoints and frequent checks of cars for possible gun smuggling.

All it takes to avoid this hassle is a driver who knows the back routes. It saves harassment en route to the local disco’s. The road back from Bebedja showed again how dangerous traffic can be. Besides animals aplenty a young boy had been run over at night by a truck. Awaiting the parents before this issue can be solved the body was still lying on the road.

But first back to Bebedja to tell you about some more or less typical patients arriving at the emergency department. First we received two young nomadic Bororo. A girl about 7 years and a boy of about 12 years. The trek from Niger all the way down to the South of Chad with their herds of cattle. Theft of cattle is common and although the parents did not tell what exactly happened what we received were the two youngsters with bullet wounds. The girl received a shot with a Kalashnikov automatic riffle in her neck. Miracles still exist as none of the vital structures were hit. The boy was less lucky. He received two bullets in his buttocks for which he needed surgery. Even if it must have hurt our young man did not flinch when his wounds were cleaned.

The day before one of the visitors of the patients went out after dark to return home and in the unlit road she got hit by a motorbike with two passengers. All three lie next to each other. When I left to return to N’Djamena she was still in a coma and one of the men on the bike had bled from his ear. This a sign of fracture of the skull. Not good news when neurosurgery is not available but for the capital.

Traffic accidents and gunshot wounds are pretty common. When you see and experience the use of the roads you understand why. Protective gear, helmets, seat belts are rarely used. A pickup is used to transfer up to 20 people at one time. Sometimes with beautiful contraption adding another 20 goats on top of several people. No lights on the road, no lights on may vehicles. Cars without brakes rolling around the countryside. The state of the road may be rapidly improving once you leave the main road you leave the asphalt and entry potholes, manholes, bumps, grinds, slides and all kinds of animals on the road using the road in their on unique way. In a way it reminds we of India. Kids playing on the road, animals crossing left and right, shops on the road side or on the road, maintenance in progress. Dust from dusk till dawn and beyond. The red dust that envelops you when you travel.

Next week when I am back in Bebedja I can report back on the wounded. As one of the sisters said it is amazing to see the recovery some people make here despite our limited treatment facility. One other man who was in a coma after another motorbike accident is ready to go home. Let us hope for the others as well.

Namaskar,

Ashis