HOW TO SPEAK 'MASINDI'

IDIOMS - HOW TO SPEAK ‘MASINDI’

A few days ago I realised that I’d said to someone “You are lost”. It was only then that it occurred to me how I’ve not only become accustomed to the local idioms but that I’m also using them myself!

Here are a few I regularly hear:

I’m going for a short call - I need a pee
I’m going for a long call - I may be some time, I need to find somewhere to defecate quietly!
It got finished - I forgot to order any more
It got spoilt - I can’t be bothered to fix it
I am through - I have finished eating, you may clear my plate
Now - I’ll do it tomorrow or possibly some time next week
Now now - Today
Yes - I don’t really understand what you’re saying but I’ll agree to it anyway
It’s behind - You’ll find it in the kitchen
Are we together? - Do you have any idea what I’m talking about?
I’m somehow - I could be feeling better
I’m fine - I’m still breathing
I’m a little bit fine - I’m at death’s door
I’ve got Flu - My nose is running
I’ve got Malaria - I think I might have had a temperature
The day is somewhat okay- No problems today
He’s around - He hasn’t come to work yet
Let me struggle - Of course I don’t know how to do it but I’ll work it out somehow
Can you assist me? - I’d like something from you (money)
It is disturbing me - It’s a conundrum
Ugandans are time bad- Expect a meeting to start 2 hrs later than scheduled
Greet me to ………… - Please give my regards to……..
You are lost - I haven’t seen you for a day or two

MAGGIE



The four pictures of hospital vehicles covers the whole fleet of vehicles. Unfortunately only one of these vehicles is driveable, I will not say roadworthy because it would not be in the UK.
The maternity ambulance has had its two front wheels stolen several weeks ago. The British ambulance kindly donated by a rotary club has a flat tyre and leaks oil, the pick up is leaking oil and is jacked up on rocks, the old ambulance does travel but you have to stop now and again to reconnect the battery.
The Pajero which we managed to get back on the road a couple of months ago has two flat tyres and has been parked in a police compound at Kyrandango for the last three weeks. The tyres need replacing and there is no budget.
The hospital is waiting for its allocation from central government which is 2 months late. At present they are 60 million ugandan shillings in debt. This means that vehicle maintenance is low priority.
Travel in Uganda is a challenge and visiting the community health centres and home visiting of patients is difficult. I should have learnt how to ride a motorbike!

CHRIS

Blame the visitors

We seem to have neglected the blog and all I can do is blame the visitors.Dan flew home yesterday after a short visit. It was great to see him and we enjoyed showing him Masindi and Murchison Falls. Emma a medical student has also been heretaking a look at medicine in Masindi before travelling to Bwindi for the rest of her elective.
Having visitors is great as it makes you look again at things you have begun to take for granted. Showing people around the hospital is always interesting seeing the response of pateints and nurses as well as the visitors. Dan could relate to the hospital after his elective in Malawi but Emma was quite shocked especially by the nursing situation.This week end the female ward where i work has moved to a new ward. This ward was built £ years ago but has never been opened. It is better than the old ward but why would any one design a hospital ward with not a single sink. There are some toilets in another part of the building and some sinks there but they are not functionning! I am becoming obsesswed by hand washing and the lack of facilities. A new Medical Superintendant has arrived this week and he seems to share my concerns. He did however point out that the hospital is 60 million ugandan shillings in debt at the end of the financial year and that they had not received there money from central government for the last 2 months. It is not surprising that the system is in decline.Every one blames the fact that all the money goes to HIV/AIDS and there is none left for the routine work. That is a factor but only part of the picture.
This week I went out ot a village and saw 5 patients with leprosy. This is a disease which should be relatively easily managed in Uganda. There is a programmme, the drugs are cheap and in the country but why was only one of these patients on adequate treatment. Next week I have a meeting with the Leprosy lead for the district and I will try and find out what is happening.
On a happier note the child with dislocated knees is back from Kampala and appears to have been sorted. That is one small achievement but great for him.
We spent the weeekend as tourists at Murchison Falls. As Dan was with us we treated our selves to 2 nights at the Nile Safari LOdge. This was a great place to stay overlooking the Nile. The noise of frogs and hippos at night was unbeleivable and Maggie managed to add another 20+ birds to her list. She is becoming quite a twitcher.

Tme flies

Tuesday morning and we have not done the blog again. The plan was to do it on Sunday night but UMEME the local electicity supplier had other ideas.We were subject to electicity switching on and off, lights flickering and power surges. That is not good for computers so we sat in the dark and watched Gavin and Stacey on the laptop.
On Saturday we did the "walk for a cause" a charity walk around Masindi organised by VSO Masindi.Thank you to every one who sponsored us.The walk attracted over 250 people, mainly school children but a number of adults joined us. The walk was to show support for people living with HIV and to raise some money for a local HIV support group.We plannned to start at 8.00. Three weeks before we had checked with the police who said no problem. We called in to remind them on the morning and they said we needed an escort which they would provide at 9.30. At 10.00 after another visit to the police an escort arrived and organised us to walk around Masindi.It was good to get going but by that time it was really hot. We managed the walk and did not lose any one.It was interesting to show some of the local children historical sites around their town which many had not seen. The main monument is to record the meeting between Sir Stanley Baker and the King of Bunyoro. The king refused Bakers terms and preferred to retain sovereignty.I am not sure how much money was raised but even small amounts can make a difference here.
On Sunday we went up to Budongo forest to look for chimps. There is a problem with the chimps raiding farm land and eating crops. A group of chimps can do a lot of damage and it is hard to manage the needs of both. One farmer close to the edge of the forest has real problems. His land is full of fruit trees all providing the chimps favourite foods.We did not see any chimps but there were some nests where they had been sleeping. Sally was involved in a village meeting to discuss the problem. The villagers were not anti chimps but wanted some help to manage the situation.It was a positive good natured meeting so hopefully a way forward can be found.
We did not see chimps but did see collobus and blue monkeys as well as a group of beautiful Turacos.