By Sr. Rosalinda Gonzales, MMM

Sr. Rosalinda first met the Medical Missionaries of Mary when she worked as a lay doctor in Nigeria, West Africa. She is at present the Filipino member of this International missionary congregation founded in Drogheda, Ireland.

Study the Language
I was missioned to Tanzania in 1986. After finishing six months language course I was assigned to work in Makiungo Hospital.

Malaria
Makiungo Hospital is a 140 bed hospital but, at any one time, the actual bed occupancy is a far in excess of this figure. At times the situation is critical. The most notable feature has been the high incident of malaria. There is a peak period of about three months early in the year when the number of inpatients becomes almost unmanageable.

Wretchedly Poor
Makiungo Hospital and similar institutions are not income generating projects. They are essentially voluntary institutions providing health and social welfare services. Further, they are providing those services for the vast majority of people who are poor and many of whom are destitute, lacking of basic necessities of life.

Khwema
Among many patients with burns admitted to Makiungo Hospital throughout the year was Khwema, a woman of great determination and strength of character.

She won’t Live
Someone said: “I don’t think that she will live beyond twenty four hours!” Looking at the frail old lady of sixty years, I was ready to agree with that ominous statement. But as we always do in the face of seeming helpless, wee do our very best in rendering medical and spiritual care, then we really in God’s help of everything beyond our capabilities.
Khwema’s injuries were so extensive that her right arm was disjoined and hanging limp at her side. Her clinical course of treatment was not smooth, but the dedication of our nursing staff, plus her courage and great attitude to life, kept her going. When her condition was that much better, she had wasted limb amputated. She had several appointments in the operating theater for surgical cleaning and skin grafting on her head, shoulders and chest.

Flying Doctor
A month late, the general surgeon, a volunteer from the volunteer Flying Doctors Team based in Nairobi, Kenya, who visits different hospitals in East Africa at appointed intervals, did as much ‘trimming’ as he could from what we had already started. After another drafting, no more could be achieved surgically.

No words of Complaint
Through all this harrowing experience, no words of complaint passed her lips. Every little service rendered by us was rewarded with a smile and ‘Asanti’ (Thanks). Her undaunted spirit and sense of hope were an inspiration to all of us. After a stay of less than a year, she was happy to go home to her family.