After the storm is over

 

It has taken several days to clear up after the storm last week. It only lasted for about half an hour but managed to do a lot of damage.

Although only one house was damaged by a fallen tree, some trees were blown over and destroyed the electricity cables and transformer to Malcolm’s house side of the hospital site. This meant there was  no power to those houses for five days. Because the water tanks are dependent on electric pumps to be refilled it also meant that by Thursday there was no water to some houses. The electricity is supplied to the hospital and the nearby villages from a hydro-electric generator operated by the hospital so the technical staff worked hard to restore the system.

Sadly, in light of the storm and to prevent the potential of further damage some of the large trees have had to be cut down including a tall palm tree that has probably stood in front of the Finance office since the hospital was first built.

This week the new chaplain, Rev Collins, moved to the hospital. He was fortunate that he was able to move his furniture using a Diocese lorry. He introduced his family at the Sunday service.

Kisiizi Hospital is in a remote mountainous area surrounded by hills and forests. It was located here in 1958 to serve the rural community of peasant farmers who live in isolated houses in nestled in the hills.

Since then small villages have formed near the hospital, with people attracted by employment in the hospital, or to open shops to serve the staff.

Early each morning Malcolm walks 2 to3 miles before breakfast through one of the local villages and back. Lower Kisiizi sits on the road at the bottom of the valley that leads,  eventually, to the main road from Kampala to Rwanda. The village ‘high street’ is a group of small shops, some made of wood or mud, others of concrete blocks.

Next weekend the Hospitals Management are holding  a one day Retreat to consider the future strategic needs and direction of the |Hospital.