July 10, 2016

Olen, Danae, Lyol, Zane, Addison, and Juniper all arrived back here Friday evening July 1. So glad to have them back. Addison and Juniper have had a fever. Not sure if malaria or just some virus. They are being treated and are doing ok. Our hospital census is up especially in Pediatrics which is usual for July. Lots of malaria and typhoid. We have a pediatrician from Brazil for 3 months so she is taking care of Peds. We also have a medical student from Loma Linda and an OBGYN from Texas (friend of Danae's) and a Family Medicine from California for a short term visit.

Last time I mentioned the "prefet" was here with his military and guns snooping around the hospital looking for expired meds that he said we were killing people with. In fact there is no evidence that any expired med has killed anyone and previously we had gotten rid of expired meds but he also calls short dated meds the same way. But the next day he went on the local radio and then national radio in NDJ saying we were killing people by selling expired meds. For whatever reason he does not like "Adventist". Then the same week the regional Delegae (government doctor over this region) came with his entourage looking everywhere in the hospital even in some back dark corners and said he found some expired meds and "verified" what the "prefet" had said. The Delegaie's visit, including 2 hours of meeting after the exploration, lasted most of the day. The local MCD (government medical director for the area) accompanied both visits and only referred to me as "the old man" or "that old man". The Delegae never acknowledged that I was even present even though I accompanied them most of the time. They were very negative about Olen and Danae about them "not being cooperative" and telling the MCD when they were coming or going etc which actually was not true at all. They knew Olen and Danae were not here then so they came then. The Delegae kept saying that Olen and Danae or the administrator were not in charge of the hospital but the MCD is to be. Today I hear that the "prefet" was sacked and he is not in his house. I don't know if this is true or not.

Today we had a strangulated hernia with dead intestine (terminal ilium, cecum, and part of the ascending colon) that we had to take out and reconnect the intestines. The maternity has been fairly quiet since Danae returned. We had plenty before. We had 4 different patients with bladder stones this past week.

We have had no rain the past 2 weeks and some of the grass is starting to wither or turn brown. It is supposed to be heart of rainy season now to bring up the crops especially the rice. It could be bad if it does not start raining although it is nicer for the "roads". Tonight we got 1.6 inches (40 mm) of rain so better now.

Is it true that Donald Trump states he would make all who claim to be Muslim register in some sort of national data bank? Could it be extended to another minority group also? It sounds dangerous in America.

Jesus will soon come to take His people home. The signs are all around us. Pray that it will be very soon. Pray for our situation here in Chad.

Our emails are drbland@sbcglobal.net and dfbland01@gmail.com.
Love

Rollin and Dolores Bland
Hopital Adventiste de Bere
Boite Postal 52
Kelo, Tandjile, Chad, Afrique
Blog www.weareamissionarybland.blogspot.com