The Cat Lady Returns – and other shocking developments

A few weeks ago we reported Irene’s once-in-a lifetime experience when a cat gave birth on her lap. 

And it has happened again (that’s twice in a lifetime).

The house cat has been pregnant and this week lay down on Irene’s lap. After a few minutes she started to strain and before long gave birth to the first of 4 kittens. I think we have found a new career for Irene as a birthing partner – but maybe it only works with cats!!

 

 In previous year’s we have talked about some of the eccentric electrical arrangements to be found in East Africa. Malcolm’s problem is he is too accustomed to the safety standards in Britain.

This week there was an electrical supply problem and one of our large carpentry machines was not working. When Malcolm inspected the plug there was what seemed to be a normal 13 amp fuse. Closer inspection revealed that the fuse was blown, and underneath was a spiral of wire. 

It seems that fuses are unnecessary parts of electrical equipment. Malcolm did try to buy spare fuses from a local electrical shop and the best hardware store in Iringa, but failed. Why use a fuse when a bit of wire will do?

 

To be fair plug fuses are a British ‘thing’ – 2 pin continental and American plugs do not use them. However, what was more worrying was that the main fuse protecting the building had also been replaced by a piece of copper wire. This is the large 100 amp fuse that in UK houses is sealed and should only be opened by someone from the electricity supplier.  This fuse is the last defence against a major electrical short circuit – or would be if it is in place.

But then, electrical problems don’t happen in Tanzania………………..

The final 'shocking' report is Malcolm's latest culinary disaster. You would think even he could manage to use an automatic bread maker. And yes, it tasted as bad as it looks!!

Doing his Bit for World TB Day?

March 24^th each year is World TB day, when we are reminded that of the 9 million who contract TB each year, 3 million are ‘missed’ and are therefore untreated, and most of whom die. Many of these are from poor communities such as in Uganda.

http://www.who.int/campaigns/tb-day/2014/event/en/

Malcolm had assumed that as he had been given a BCG vaccination at school he was safefrom TB. Not so, apparently. About 5 weeks ago he started coughing, and after 4 weeks he was advised to get a chest X-Ray to make sure it was not caused by a lung infection,such as TB.

Fortunately the hospital has an X-Ray machine which, although 30 years old is still working well. This means it produces traditional photographic X-rays unlike the digital images we are used to in England. The Radiographer, Bernard, quickly manoeuvred Malcolm into the correct position, having decided the rear was his best view.

Just a few minutes later the image had been printed, and we are pleased to report that no problem was found. TB? Just another case of man-flu. (Malcolm's comment is 'Cough Cough, splutter splutter' - he would say that! )

 

However, the contribution from the Daily Mail this week may mean it’s a type of cat-flu!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2590699/Two-British-people-contract-tuberculosis-contact-cat-recorded-cases-cat-human-transmission.html)

Looking for further advances in medical science and maybe find a cure for TB Malcolm went to cut a piece of bread and discovered the loaf was a potential source of new mould, or perhaps penicillin replacement? Perhaps not.

 

There was more excitement this week when a container arrived from America from one of the hospital’s funders. For many years ISIS have funded the maternity and baby Intensive Care Unit. Part of this support is to send a container of essential equipment and supplies which is gratefully received and attracts a crowd of interested people.

 

 

This week’s Proverb from the BBC Africa web-site is from Somalia: “The absence of knowledge is the absence of light”