After a breakfast of cornflakes, papaya, fresh peanut butter and toast, we set off to tour the surrounding area, leaving for the first time the fenced in Malaria Institute at Macha (MIAM) compound and stepping into Macha proper. We met many of the locals along the way, stopping in the town market, and browsing through the produce, bread and miscellaneous wares found within. Every one we met was extremely friendly, greeting us with a “hello!” or “mwabuka buti?” (meaning “how are you this morning?”). Some of the children stopped and stared, unaccustomed to the pale skin of foreigners.
From the market, we walked through the “fires” where families of those who are admitted to the Macha Mission Hospital, founded in 1957, stay while their loved ones receive treatment. The “fires” is appropriately named for the small cooking fires lining the road where each family prepares supplemental food for their loved one, who gets basic nourishment at the hospital.
The Macha Mission Hospital, once one small building, is now a compound of many buildings including a men’s and women’s ward, a children’s ward, a maternity and delivery ward, and numerous other buildings for labs, offices, and facilities. The hospital serves over 140,000 people in the surrounding area and is very basic, staffed by a few doctors (our host Dr. Thuma being one of them) and many wonderful nurses, who at times care for up to 50 patients at a time. The families of these patients help with much of their care while in the hospital so the nurses can tend to those most critically in need. (The original mission was started in 1906 by Brethren in Christ missionaries Francis Davidson and Adda Engle.)
We then visited the MIAM offices and met some of Dr. Thuma’s colleagues who assist him with the malaria, and now TB and HIV/AIDS, research they are doing there. Dr. Thuma told us that in the past number of years, the number of people dying annually from malaria in the area has drastically decreased. This year so far, only one has passed away, a remarkable change Dr. Thuma attributes to the greatly improved medications, some of which were tested at the MIAM facility.
We returned to a lunch of yams and salad (with some PB & J on the side!) and had the afternoon to spend as we so chose. Some of us decided to stay at the compound and do some reading, journaling, emailing, or napping, while nine of us adventurous souls (myself included!) decided to take Dr. Mylin up on his offer of a walk around some of the beautiful country surrounding MIAM.
We walked up the road to the Macha Brethren in Christ Church, to the two schools surrounding it (the girls climbed the tree pictured below!), and then set off to find the local dam and reservoir.
What started out as a nice stroll around town quickly turned into a bushwhacking expedition as we found ourselves “off path” as Dr. Mylin put it (though I called it “lost”!) and making our way through the bush, trying to side step the prickly plants and quickly encroaching growth along the way! After much laughter, a few little scrapes, and a lot of walking, we finally found the dam and took a few moments to soak in the beautiful sky reflecting in the calm water.
We then started our trek home, passing numerous houses, chickens, goats, and cows along the way! We stopped by Gideon’s store and were highly amused to find the movie “Juno” playing on the TV above the counter! We arrived back at the compound two hours (and two or three miles!) later, our feet extremely dirty but overall invigorated by the exercise and the scenery.
Dinner is in an hour, after which Dr. Thuma will lead us in a discussion of more of the history and culture of Macha and Zambia. Tomorrow morning is church at the Brethren in Christ Church, followed by lunch and a visit to the local soccer (or football, as they call it here!) match.
The student’s spirits continue to be high. Our enjoyment of each other, and of this beautiful country, only seems to grow with each passing day! I look forward to what tomorrow holds!
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