Well the rain is still coming down. I really wanted it to stop for at least a few days before Ian’s plane touched down as the tracks out of here are terrible & the road to Juba is impassable - still no trucks can get through, which means the food situation in the market for the local people is quite desperate.
Ground nuts they now have if they got them out of the ground, but sugar and oil comes in from the south. What there is in the market has doubled in price. Even here supply and demand operates. The cooks and cleaners get paid only about 180-220 Sudanese pounds a month, which is about $67-$80 US. They get advances in the market, so as soon as they are paid they have to pay up their ‘slate’ and are left with nothing to start the month.
Nurses and teachers do get paid a bit more, but not a lot. The government pay them, but last month they did not come until half way through the month, so most of the staff were hungry. That is when the hospital introduced beans and bread for all the staff at around 11am, free, and instead of just tea and mandazi. It has helped a little. But energy levels are still quite low! ‘Nurses must be quick’ does not exactly apply here..................
Long day yesterday. Started teaching at 8am until 1-30pm. Came from teaching thinking I can rush home and do my washing and grab a drink before the next session, but the rain came in buckets - trapped for 1hr in the office!!
Thought the coast was clear, when yet another baby needed a blood transfusion. Father was the donor and he had good veins, so it did not take too long to do.
Then back to class for another 2 hours.
It’s not like this every day, but the other tutor was having malaria so had to double up a bit.
Only 4 more days before Ian arrives, so am quite excited to see him, and the staff that were here last year keep asking about him, so he will be greeted well when he arrives.
Brothers
Tabitha's Shop
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