| Circular -
September 2013 |
| In the last
website update I referred to a problem – well it’s
been resolved for now. But I’m afraid no sooner has one
problem been dealt with than another one appears. |
| First, the
earlier problem. Our difficulty was the number of children
coming to clinics in the north who were in urgent need of
surgery. Acheru was taking as many as possible, but we couldn’t
take them all. We refer our surgical cases to CoRSU for
orthopaedic operations or plastic surgery, and as they also have
rehab facilities we wondered if we could send children direct to
them when Acheru is full. Although CoRSU is a charity and their
charges are heavily subsidised, we still have to pay. With
recent rising numbers in Acheru, and a limited budget, we were
concerned about the implications of this. We explained our
position to CoRSU; neither of us wanted to see children turned
away so they have offered us significantly reduced charges for
some things. Treatment for cleft lip and palate was already
free. |
| This is an
encouraging development in our relationship with CoRSU. We
depend on them for surgery but they also depend on us to find
children and bring them in. They have a big investment in their
hospital and want to see it used to maximum effect and we all
want to see children from the north, an area neglected for so
long, receive the care they need. |
| One of our
committee members, Steven Gregg, was at Acheru with his family
in August and wrote: “Even though I know the work that is
carried out here and have seen the pictures, nothing can prepare
you for seeing it at first hand, as the nurses removed the
dressings on each child to reveal what can only be described as
horrendous injuries and wounds. It was almost beyond what I was
able to watch. When I look at Acheru I see happy children on
crutches or wheelchairs playing games, and it gave me a false
sense that they are like other children playing. It is only when
you see their wounds and hear their stories that you start to
understand the immense suffering and pain they experience.” |
| We don’t
yet know the full implications of our new arrangement with
CoRSU. I’ve told all at Acheru that no child is to be
turned away because of cost; if Acheru can’t take them,
they can be brought to CoRSU. Even with the CoRSU concessions,
our costs will rise. Transport alone will be costly because of
the distances. But you as donors have given us money to treat
these children, and that’s what we will do. We can evaluate
it all in a few months, but we have no doubt this is what needs
to be done in the interests of the children. |
| Now to the
other problem I mentioned. The Acheru staff see children at
their clinics, and assess their suitability for treatment.
However, it’s not as simple as loading them up and taking
them to Acheru or CoRSU. For a start, each child needs an
attendant and it’s not always easy for someone to come with
them. They might be away from home for a long time and many
people in the north, on the other side of the Nile, can be
apprehensive about travelling so far from home to an ‘alien’
environment. The staff do everything possible to deal with this;
including if necessary trying to make alternative arrangements
for the child’s care, perhaps with another patient’s
relative ‘adopting’ them. We also need parental
permission and that can be very difficult given attitudes to
disability. Some may be afraid that it will cost them money –
and why spend anything on a ‘useless’ child? Others
question our motives for taking the child. Another problem,
thankfully not encountered often, arose recently when Sam
followed up on a disabled girl who lived with her grandmother.
The old woman wanted us to give her money! Possibly opportunism,
possibly because a disabled child can earn money from begging
and treatment would put an end to that. Either way, it’s an
indication of what they think of the child. |
| It’s still
very early days for the work in the north. I’ve told you
some of the problems but I don’t want to be too negative as
a lot of progress has already been made with many children
already taken for treatment – and each child who returns
home becomes an ambassador for Acheru. |
| Thank you for
the continuing prayers and support which make this possible. |
| Brian Dorman |
