This is the initial post for the Tenth Annual Shoulder to Shoulder sponsored Ilula Lutheran Hospital (ILH) Winter Rotation (2020). In this space you will see essays written by our Travelers, Learners and Faculty. The writing will be reflections on the experience - perhaps there will be guests. At least I hope friends and relatives will chime in and think about what we are experiencing. For some of us, me included this will be multifaceted - a pilgrimage, a chance to visit longtime friends in Ilula and Iringa and, of course, an incredible opportunity to learn and perhaps teach. We are always a bit wary to make sure we are doing more good than harm while we are on the ILH campus and elsewhere. As wazungu (white people) we often blunder culturally. The best we can hope to do is to be genuinely curious and humble. This is not always easy to do when we see things that are so different from what we are used to, e.g. medically. I invite you as readers to offer your thoughts, concerns, co
16,948 miles, 25 days, Minneapolis, Amsterdam, Dar es Salaam, Ilula, Iringa, Tungamalenga, Ruaha, kipaduka and many stops along the way with countless hours spent in a coaster bus that had far exceeded its nine lives, yet miraculously navigated deep ruts, washed out roads and overflowing bridges. The license plate, DNA, was aptly named and perfectly descriptive. Regardless of our geography and resources we are the same in our humanness, including joy and pain, heartbreak and hope and the desire to care for family and friends. I’m grateful to Shoulder to Shoulder and the generous and kind staff at Ilula Lutheran hospital for sharing their time and knowledge, always with a welcoming smile “Karibu.”  
I have come around to a clearer understanding of why we should consider alternatives to the X-ray package. Splitting the PACS system off to do later makes sense to me if it is doable and brings the price of the X-ray machine proper to within our grasp. Kikoti and Chota are driving to Mbeya tomorrow to see two installations and get a first-hand take on Dominic’s company support. I asked if this could be via email, however, Benjamin did not think so, being too easy to disregard an email. Questions of course include what it would take to switch horses in this stream and how far back this would set us by getting more bids, site visits and other social as well as financial investments. I assume the new visits after those a year ago will satisfy the recurrent need for more information, hence, what would it take to spoil the deal now? The prices will doubtless trend upward regardless with more time spent. We will need to know from Valdi the consequences
Comments
Post a Comment