Bill's Journey

Bill, Gary, Jessica, Lianne, Fay, Dr. Sitali, and other health officials in Mongu

Hello, this is Bill Nelems reporting live from Mongu, Zambia.

It’s November 9, 2008, and I’m here with Fay Karp, Gary O’Connor, Diana and Mike Barker. We have come here to offer support to Lianne, Jessica and Cameron for their outstanding contributions to Western Province, and, in particular to the students who are enrolled in the Lewanika Nursing School. We have also come to evaluate their contributions, to meet with senior Ministry of Health officials and with the Deputy Permanent Secretary to evaluate and plan our next steps.

Let me start by telling you what you already know from following their blogs – Lianne, Jess and Cameron are magnificent human beings. They bring with them their inherent humanity and their intense compassion. They have changed forever the life of faculty and students here in rural Mongu, because with them they bring hope and courage to a part of the world ravaged by a disease pandemic not seen since the great plague of the middle ages. They bring with them their communication skills, their ability to understand and to teach their own nursing students how to care for their people.

As Fay Karp told Lianne and Jessica’s students; “You are most important resource that Zambia has to keep your families healthy. You are it! What you need to know is that we are here to support you.” I completely agree with Fay.

Thanks to an invaluable letter written by Dr Linda Hawker, Family Physician in Kelowna to Dr Andrew Silumesii, Executive Director of the Lewanika Hospital in Mongu, we will make a multi year commitment to support a Clinical Teaching Unit here. We received major support for this concept from every level within Western Province. This will be lead by Nursing and Family Medicine. This unit will support not only the hospital but also the nursing education initiated by Lianne, Jessica and Cameron. Through this unit will flow surgical teams, specialists in Ophthalmology, Obstetrics, Paediatrics, male circumcision programs and whatever else this community directs as core needs. It is through this unit that Gene Krupa could develop his community health workers, his e-learning programs and telehealth. Of course, it will take time and it will be directed through our Zambia working committee in Kelowna. It will take time to line up funders, support persons, and the like.

Bill's new career as the official camera man!

One very senior medical administrator, paraphrasing and adapting a biblical parable, said that living in Western Province is like the old woman who was barren. But then, an angel appeared and she bore children. He went on to say that Lianne, Jessica and Cameron are the angels who have arrived in Mongu!

Having visited Mongu twice, I can see why life in Mongu is like the old infertile woman. It is the poorest region in Zambia, and most likely the most challenged by illness. Because of its remoteness, no one, either internally or external to Zambia, makes this region a priority.
Our angels will return here some day, flanked by more nurses, physicians, therapists and technicians. This has become our passion and we will always remember that it was Lianne, Jessica and Cameron who began this journey.

Bill with the children at the orphanage

Thanks to the three of you for making this epic journey.

Bill