When we left Maseru to go to the Red Cross clinic of Mapholaneng the car’s thermometer was telling us that it was 0 degrees, as we approached the mountains these temperatures drop to as little as -5, however by the time we had climbed up to the top (with a little pause for a small snow ball fight) and fulfilled our inspection of the clinic the exact same thermometer was now showing 24!
It felt really nice to be back in a T-shirt after a week of freezing cold. We had gone up to visit this clinic to assess the needs for its refurbishment, as a charity had offered to pay for it.
When I say us (or we) I mean Harper, representing Sentebale, Silas, for Lesotho Red Cross, George, a friend of the Brown Family that was brave enough to come here on a 3 week work-experience, and me.
The trip to the clinic was once again a beautiful one, this time sprinkled with patches of snow, left over from the previous week. The Clinic itself was in better shape than expected, apart from two buildings (one of which is not included in the refurbishment), and the works will be simple paintjobs, roof maintenance, and floor tiling.
The nurses insist that we install Burglar-proof bars, however I do not feel that this should be a priority specially when you have roof leakage, water problems and a building with serious structural damage!
The building which is damaged has one of its corners in eminent state of collapse, which is also causing the ceiling and roof to come down with it. I’m not sure how we will juggle the budget, but this is an issue that should not go unattended. All the other problems are in one way or another easier to solve.
One other major problem that we encountered here, which seems to be a common practice in Lesotho, was the facility being wired for electricity but no electricity. This happens because the Fee for the connection is too high for these institutions to pay. Some times the wiring can be fitted up to 2-3 years before they can find someone to fund the connection fee.
This was one of the same problems we encountered at a school at Butha-Buthe for disabled children. One knows how hard life can be for some of these children back in Europe so one can only start to imagine how much worse it is here.
Lack of facilities, toys, and educators are only some of the problems that the school faces. “We could spend loads of money on this place” and all of it would be well spent seemed to be the idea on everyone’s mind, when we left the premises…
Just a final note on the LCCU, still no compressor, however Ntate Sello and his men have nearly finished breaking the slabs by pure force! Thank you to all of them… Tomorrow I will try and go and check the progress and I will also meet the Director Mr Linakane as there are some issues that still need to be discussed.
It felt really nice to be back in a T-shirt after a week of freezing cold. We had gone up to visit this clinic to assess the needs for its refurbishment, as a charity had offered to pay for it.
When I say us (or we) I mean Harper, representing Sentebale, Silas, for Lesotho Red Cross, George, a friend of the Brown Family that was brave enough to come here on a 3 week work-experience, and me.
The trip to the clinic was once again a beautiful one, this time sprinkled with patches of snow, left over from the previous week. The Clinic itself was in better shape than expected, apart from two buildings (one of which is not included in the refurbishment), and the works will be simple paintjobs, roof maintenance, and floor tiling.
The nurses insist that we install Burglar-proof bars, however I do not feel that this should be a priority specially when you have roof leakage, water problems and a building with serious structural damage!
The building which is damaged has one of its corners in eminent state of collapse, which is also causing the ceiling and roof to come down with it. I’m not sure how we will juggle the budget, but this is an issue that should not go unattended. All the other problems are in one way or another easier to solve.
One other major problem that we encountered here, which seems to be a common practice in Lesotho, was the facility being wired for electricity but no electricity. This happens because the Fee for the connection is too high for these institutions to pay. Some times the wiring can be fitted up to 2-3 years before they can find someone to fund the connection fee.
This was one of the same problems we encountered at a school at Butha-Buthe for disabled children. One knows how hard life can be for some of these children back in Europe so one can only start to imagine how much worse it is here.
Lack of facilities, toys, and educators are only some of the problems that the school faces. “We could spend loads of money on this place” and all of it would be well spent seemed to be the idea on everyone’s mind, when we left the premises…
Just a final note on the LCCU, still no compressor, however Ntate Sello and his men have nearly finished breaking the slabs by pure force! Thank you to all of them… Tomorrow I will try and go and check the progress and I will also meet the Director Mr Linakane as there are some issues that still need to be discussed.
more pictures from the mountains on this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/pck.clarke/SnowUpClose
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