Care for Africa Online Journal

Allison Bassano with one of her students, Marguretta. Marguretta is a 13 year old girl that was studying for her end of year exams, when her parrafin lamp ignited causing extensive burns to her torso, L) arm, leg and lateral neck.

Marguretta was admitted to hospital and treated with profolactic antibiotics and diclofenac for pain relief. By the time we saw Marguretta, her burns were dry and starting to contract. We dressed her wounds with home made vaseline gauze dressings to soften the scabs for a series of days until they were ready for debridement.  Dr Joe and Dr Lisa debrided the wounds which allowed for good wound healing and lessened occurance of contractures. Dr Joe dressed Marguretta’s burns with the vaseline dressings until they healed.

We provided a high protein diet to Marguretta, consisting mainly of degar (tiny fish), milk and eggs. Prior to our arrival she had only been eating one bananna  a day.

Marguretta spent 3 weeks in the Tarime Goodwill Hospital under our care. She went home with a hat and clothing from our container to protect her fragile skin African. Dr Joe bought a specially designed elasticised top to prevent contractures from Ausralia, which Marguretta went home with.

The knitting project from Tasmania to Tanzania has been hugely successful, cosequently being most welcomed and needed by the impoverished childre of Tarime.

We see the major water supply for the Surubu community is now non existant. The girls and women walk twice a day, a minimum of 5kms to the Mara River to collect the house hold water in 20L containers which the girls carry on their heads. The girls tend to miss a great dealt of schooling due to the need to carry water.  Diana

I wrote an epilogue in my Daily Diary while flying home from Tanzania. Here it is…

I’m halfway home, Leaving the unique culture of Africa, Heading to the Western multi-culture of Australia.

Sitting in a Bangkok lounge, Eating Pizza and drinking Chianti, Asians are eating Pasties and drinking Frappe’.

I stop and observe,The myriad nature of Human Identities, Skin color, dress, language and Religions.

I start to reflect upon, How our Identifying Culture is so often used, To separate, dominate and to justify abuse.

I listened on the plane, To a Christian Evangelist who preached his Brief, To build Churches in Africa and spread his Belief.

Then to an unassuming, Elderly woman in Muslim headdress, Wanting just to be accepted as she is, no less.

I’d come to Africa, With thoughts of only what I could give, I had no intention of changing the way they live.

What I discovered was, That in giving without judgement or expectation, We open the door to a deeper connection.

We create a path for, Two-way flow of love and appreciation, A shared culture without any Identity!