Lacor Hospital 16

Sono fuori dal Lacor prima delle otto, per vedere la fila di pazienti che si forma ai cancelli ogni mattino. Questa volta, oltre la compostezza, mi colpisce un altro particolare, la distanza reciproca.

By eight o’clock, I was outside the hospital to watch the queue of patients which forms every morning at the gates. This time, I was struck not only by the composure of the people but also by the distance kept one from the other.

Non c’è praticamente nessun vuoto tra ognuno di loro, anche se lo spazio intorno è grande. Sono tutti a contatto fisico, cosa che da noi sarebbe socialmente inaccettabile.

Despite their being plenty of room, there was practically no space between each person. They are all in physical contact, one with the other, something that in our society would be unacceptable.

Intanto le persone continuano ad arrivare.

In the meantime, people continued to arrive.

All’interno dell’ospedale la vita riprende con il solito ritmo. Le pazienti cucinano, stendono i panni, lavano i neonati. Non tutti sono entusiasti della pratica.

Inside the hospital grounds, life got under way, as usual. Patients cooked, hung out the washing and bathed new-born babies. Not everyone was happy with the job at hand.

Dopo tante creature piangenti, c’è questo Piccolo Bhudda, perfettamente soddisfatto di sé. Non è difficile predirgli un grande futuro.

After so many crying babies, I came across this little Buddha who was perfectly happy with himself. Not difficult to predict a great future for him!

Abbiamo appuntamento per le nove alla Dental Clinic, ma al nostro arrivo c’è solo un tecnico che lava i ferri. Intanto vi mostro le due sedie a disposizione. Una è buona, l’altra da cambiare, oramai viene usata solo per interventi minimi. Qualche dentista in ascolto?

We had an appointment at the Dental Clinic, at nine o’clock but when we arrived there was only a technician washing the instruments. Let me show you the two dental chairs; one is in good condition and the other, which is only used for small jobs, needs to be changed. Any kind-hearted dentist out there?

In attesa del medico, andiamo nello studio di fronte, dove c’è l’OPD, che riceve i pazienti non ospedalizzati. C’è un portico dove si aspetta,un piccolo ingresso per l’accoglienza, e poi lo studio dove i tecnici fanno i prelievi e le analisi, e  dove i bambini urlano.

While we were waiting for the dentist to arrive, we went into the OPD (outpatient department). There is a portico, where people wait, a small reception area and then the surgery where technicians take samples and carry out analysis and where the children howl.

Questa foto della sala d’attesa apparentemente non dice molto, ma se l’avessi presa dieci anni fa sarebbe stata diversa. Si può notare, infatti, come l’abbigliamento di tutti sia ben curato: camicie stirate, scarpe nuove, piccola bigiotteria, capelli ben tenuti. Tutto ciò era impensabile allora.

This photo of the waiting room may not say much to you but, if it had been taken ten years ago, it would have been completely different. You can see here that people are dressed well, shirts are ironed, shoes are new, hair is styled and there are even some bits of jewellery to be seen. Anything like this was impossible at that time.

Veniamo accolti col sorriso, mentre i bambini sono più sospettosi. Qualcuno approfitta dell’attesa per rifocillarsi.

We were welcomed with a smile but the kids were a lot more suspicious; some decided on a little refreshment while they waited.

I bambini avevano ragione ad essere sospettosi, qui dentro è pieno di aghi!

The kids were right to be on the lookout, this place is full of needles!

Al posto del dentista atteso, è arrivata la sua assistente, la dottoressa Proscovia, “ma tutti mi chiamano Prossy!” La seguiamo mentre lavora, prima su di un collega, e poi sul giovane Patrick, accompagnato dalla mamma.

Instead of the dentist, his assistant, Dr Proscovia, arrived and told us that everybody called her “Prossy”. We followed her as she worked, firstly on a colleague, and then on young Patrick who was with his mother.

Intanto sulla sedia affianco è arrivato un piccolino, cui viene rimosso un ascesso.

A little lad was then seated on the nearby chair, to have an abscess removed.

Tornando dalla Clinica Dentale passo davanti al reparto Chirurgia. Ho ancora del tempo, e decido di entrare. Ad accogliermi c’è Paul, che mi riceve manco fossi l’ambasciatore italiano e lui il console ugandese. Mi porge la mano con fare sussieguoso, annuendo col capo. Ha due anni e mezzo, le gambe in trazione, e un aplomb invidiabile.

On my way back from the Dental Clinic, I passed Surgery. I still had some time to spare so in I went. Waiting to greet me was Paul, who treated me like I was the Italian ambassador and he the Ugandan consul. He held out his hand with a haughty air and nodded to me. He was two and a half years old, had both legs in traction and possessed a composure that was enviable.

Dopo le presentazioni del caso, e qualche lancio di palla, cerco il medico al momento in reparto. Anche lui si chiama Paul, Paul Okinor. È giovane e simpatico, lo trovo che sta visitando un altro bambino in trazione. Al primo approccio, fa un bel sorriso e del solletico sulla pancia (non a me, al bambino), che è una terapia sempre gradita.

Once the presentations were over, and we had thrown the ball to each other, a couple of times, I went to see the doctor in charge. He was another Paul, Paul Okinor. He was young and pleasant and I found him examining another child in traction. His first approach was to give a big smile and then a tickle on the tummy (not to me, to the child) which was an enjoyable type of therapy.

Questa bimba invece è di tutt’altro umore, continua a gridare la stessa frase all’infinito, piangendo. “Andate via!”, mi traduce l’infermiera.

This young lady was in a very different mood. She was crying her eyes out and shouting non-stop: “Go away”, as the nurse explained.

 

Più tardi abbiamo appuntamento con Santo, per continuare il lavoro alle officine. Passiamo prima dal cantiere edile, per poi spostarci dal meccanico, che sta revisionando un’ambulanza.

Later we had an appointment with Santo to continue in the workshops. First, we went to the construction site and then on to the mechanic who was busy overhauling an ambulance.

Questa è la Distribution room, la stanza dei contatori, dove si controlla tutta l’energia utilizzata al Lacor, per quanto ne so. Santo me l’ha spiegato bene, ma ormai l’avrete capito che quando scatto mi si scollegano i neuroni.

This is the Distribution room, where all the metres are kept and from which all energy consumption at Lacor is monitored, if I have understood. Santo explained it all very well but, as I’m sure you have all understood by now, when I am shooting, my neurons cut out.

Poi Santo ci dice che le foto fatte ai depuratori sono buone, ma ci manca un pezzo, quello del passaggio finale con l’acqua ormai limpida e depurata. Questa è Valentina quando comprende che ci tocca tornare alle lagune.

Santo, then, pointed out that the photos of the purifiers were good but a vital shot was missing i.e. the final stage when the water is clear and purified. This is Valentina when she understood that we would have to return to the lagoons again.

In queste due foto si capisce il lavoro dei depuratori. Si passa da uno stato melmoso e puzzolente a un’acqua limpida e inodore. Provo a sostenere con Valentina che mi occorre una foto per la Fondazione con lei che ne beve un bicchiere, ma stranamente si rifiuta. Farò rapporto ai capi.

From these two photos, it’s easy to understand how well the purifying system works; the effluent is transformed from a slimy smelly liquid into clear and odourless water. I tried to explain to Valentina that I needed a photo of her drinking a glass of this water, for the Foundation, but for some strange reason, she refused. I’ll have to write a report to her boss.

Quando torniamo alle officine, trovo gli ingegneri persi in strani conciliaboli con gli abitanti delle palazzine poste dietro la Guest House, tutti dipendenti del Lacor. Hanno un’aria da cospiratori, e più tardi scopro che stanno provando a capire di chi sia il gallo che gli allieta le nottate. Hanno deciso di acquistarlo, e organizzare una cena con capeletti in brodo, come suggerito da Davide, l’ingegnere romagnolo. Ma la comunità difende il pennuto, evidentemente molto benvoluto tra i condomini,  e tutti negano di conoscere il proprietario.

On my return from the workshops, I came across the engineers engaged into a secretive meeting with the inhabitants (all of them Lacor employees) of the houses which are behind the Guest house. They all had a conspiratory air and I only discovered later that they were trying to figure out who was the owner of the rooster which sweetened their dreams, every night. They had decided to buy it and to organise a dinner of capeletti ( a type of ravioli filled with meat) in broth, as Davide, the engineer who came from capeletti country had suggested. But the community defended the bird, which was obviously popular among the dwellers and nobody could identify the owner.

Spero che il caso si risolva presto, ché tra poco partiamo e mi spiacerebbe perdermi i capeletti!

I hope the case is solved quickly, as we will be leaving soon and I would hate to miss the capeletti!

P.S.   Come donare? Facile!

PS How can you donate? Very simple!