Saturday-Sunday 24-26 Aug.
We drove up to Kasese, for an afternoon lunch at a Safari Lodge followed by a boat ride on Lake Edward in the Queen Elizabeth National Park. We saw plenty of hippos and buffalo, along with a crocodile and more than our share of birds. Oh yes, a couple elephants also! During a game drive afterward, we chanced upon a lion, some local deer, and a leopard. Although we are ok, our cameras fell prey to too many pictures (without enough power) but our driver saved the day with his. Oh my!
We eventually arrived at Kagando, the hospital where David & Helen Lyth serve. These are missionary friends of Mark and Lori from Bahrain days, whom we last saw 17 y/a. Helen served us a delicious dinner which was followed by a nice evening of “catchup” and reminiscence. Dr. Dave, (a urologist) is currently battling a Typhoid epidemic and has been sleeping very little. The disease sets up a significant immune response and lymphadenopathy results in creating bowel ischemia, which leads to gangrenous gut perforations. These need immediate surgery.
Dave told about an energetic volunteer from America who, with the help of an equally bright Australian, gave great assistance in the design and execution of a research study. It turns out that the young man is Chris De Boer, from NW IA....”small world”!! The study involved personal visits to the families of the last 100 bowel perforation patients, resulting in proof that typhoid was the causative factor, and also which “risky hygienic practices” led to the epidemic. As a result of the study, Dr. Lyth and his team are now calling in both national and international groups to combat it. This was much more exciting than spotting a lion lying on a stone! We were again reminded of Uganda's 55 yr life expectancy as we walked around the hospital.....Malaria, Typhoid Cholera, etc!
Up & At'em Sunday morning for 8:00 am worship at the hospital's chapel! Again the good music was the only saving grace in a 2 hr. long unintelligible (language wise) service. This was followed by “tea”, (remember we are visiting “brits”) and a tour of the (another) hospital. Originally a converted Leper Colony, it has grown to a significant health ministry of the Anglican Church. Dave was invited there 2 y/a because of his expertise in repairing vesicovaginal fistulae. These are a result of complicated OB deliveries of the small village women and are especially common in that particular ethnic group of Ugandans. After lunch, Helen brought us to what she thought would be a quiet stream and a nice walk. Local youth, however, had set up a tented disco and were blasting their music and driving about in motorcycles--- development? We also happened upon a coffee cooperative, where one of Sarah's Peace Corps colleagues worked. An example of grass- roots development, it showed how local coffee farmers pooled their resources to have greater control of their market, ultimately producing wonderful coffee, too!
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