News is out (the bright side)
Another baby in the house is more fortunate – older already and past those initial vulnerable stages – her mother is alive and well and her (large) family can feed and care well for her. So its not all bad news – just too much of it in some quarters.
It was her work during the 1960s/70s that led to Maria Cunningham being known as the ‘mother of Degan’. The ‘rules’ were that every mission station had to have a school and a clinic attached. I’m not sure if this was ‘mission control’ ruling or Ethiopian government, but will ask for clarification on this. Anyway, the upshot was the founding of Degan School and a small clinic that people travled for many miles to get to. As a qualified, experienced and relatively well equipped midwife. Maria saved the lives of many mothers and babies in similar circumstances. Not to suggest she had ideal working conditions or 100% survival rate, but she was a good step ahead of the traditional pre, post and neo natal care game in what was then a very remote and undeveloped rural area. It is still a whole day’s journey by road from the capital, 20 kilometres from the nearest town and 70 from the nearest major hospital.
The situation is improving all the time, the people are creative and resourceful, but the government has limited resources and a huge country to bring into the 21st century (which started here on September 11th 2007 according to the Gregorian calendar which Ethiopia does not follow). This is one of hundreds if not thousands of small population centres that have to be served. Census figures soon to be released are expected to show an overall population moving towards 80 million spread over a land area of 1.1M km2.
While there is a significant drift of population from rural areas into the cities, (the percentage has almost doubled over the past 30 years) it is estimated that 84% still live in rural areas. The drift to cities gives rise to a different set of problems as the industrialized world knows from experience, and the visible mix of abject poverty, rapid development and affluence in the capital bears witness. Perhaps familiarity breeds indifference or something less dismissive but equally powerless. To the unfamiliar and observant eye, it appears tragic.
But back to the country for now. There are still three more eventful days to report on before we head back to Addis Ababa (meaning new flower) to conclude our business, and I feel I need to balance some of the gloomy aspects with what is really beautiful here, and full of hope and potential. There is much on this side of the scale. Beautiful, caring people with simple, meaningful and fulfilling lives in which nothing is extravagant or wasted. A powerful sense of community that I hope doesn’t fall victim to the ravages of industrialization. This is what allows us to connect with the politics and dynamics of the community and know how to work effectively within it. All of the group except myself speak the language and have lived here long enough to have a good grounding in the culture. Their relationships are clearly established and involve total trust and respect on both sides. For up to date knowledge, insights and depth of understanding of the situation we are currently working in, this is essential, and thankfully available. Herein may lie one of many differences between the DESTA Project and major aid organizations. They work on a different scale and probably don’t have this kind of history as the basis for local initiatives, though clearly they have resources, economies pf scale and bigger picture perspectives. My thought is that a model could still be derived from the DESTA initiative and replicated in other areas. Initial suggestion of this doesn’t go down too well. Perhaps the concept is too new to the listeners. It’s interesting being a first timer and observer and I’m happy for my ideas to be shelved if that is the best place for them. This sense of community seems strong enough to survive anything, but then it probably seemed that way in pre-industrial countries everywhere. It seems well worth focused effort to defend and preserve.
The final point I’d like to make on this day is that the people are incredibly beautiful. Africa is such a vast continent with many races and religions. By reputation, this area, Ethiopia, Sudan and perhaps more so Somalia, has the most beautiful women in the continent, if not the world. Would you agree?
The end of the day is a trip back to Kombolche in time to catch the Concern office where we pick a copy of the MOU with comments from the person allocated to the task of drawing it up in the first place. A few changes need to be made before it goes up for final discussion, and, hopefully, signing.
It was her work during the 1960s/70s that led to Maria Cunningham being known as the ‘mother of Degan’. The ‘rules’ were that every mission station had to have a school and a clinic attached. I’m not sure if this was ‘mission control’ ruling or Ethiopian government, but will ask for clarification on this. Anyway, the upshot was the founding of Degan School and a small clinic that people travled for many miles to get to. As a qualified, experienced and relatively well equipped midwife. Maria saved the lives of many mothers and babies in similar circumstances. Not to suggest she had ideal working conditions or 100% survival rate, but she was a good step ahead of the traditional pre, post and neo natal care game in what was then a very remote and undeveloped rural area. It is still a whole day’s journey by road from the capital, 20 kilometres from the nearest town and 70 from the nearest major hospital.
The situation is improving all the time, the people are creative and resourceful, but the government has limited resources and a huge country to bring into the 21st century (which started here on September 11th 2007 according to the Gregorian calendar which Ethiopia does not follow). This is one of hundreds if not thousands of small population centres that have to be served. Census figures soon to be released are expected to show an overall population moving towards 80 million spread over a land area of 1.1M km2.
While there is a significant drift of population from rural areas into the cities, (the percentage has almost doubled over the past 30 years) it is estimated that 84% still live in rural areas. The drift to cities gives rise to a different set of problems as the industrialized world knows from experience, and the visible mix of abject poverty, rapid development and affluence in the capital bears witness. Perhaps familiarity breeds indifference or something less dismissive but equally powerless. To the unfamiliar and observant eye, it appears tragic.
But back to the country for now. There are still three more eventful days to report on before we head back to Addis Ababa (meaning new flower) to conclude our business, and I feel I need to balance some of the gloomy aspects with what is really beautiful here, and full of hope and potential. There is much on this side of the scale. Beautiful, caring people with simple, meaningful and fulfilling lives in which nothing is extravagant or wasted. A powerful sense of community that I hope doesn’t fall victim to the ravages of industrialization. This is what allows us to connect with the politics and dynamics of the community and know how to work effectively within it. All of the group except myself speak the language and have lived here long enough to have a good grounding in the culture. Their relationships are clearly established and involve total trust and respect on both sides. For up to date knowledge, insights and depth of understanding of the situation we are currently working in, this is essential, and thankfully available. Herein may lie one of many differences between the DESTA Project and major aid organizations. They work on a different scale and probably don’t have this kind of history as the basis for local initiatives, though clearly they have resources, economies pf scale and bigger picture perspectives. My thought is that a model could still be derived from the DESTA initiative and replicated in other areas. Initial suggestion of this doesn’t go down too well. Perhaps the concept is too new to the listeners. It’s interesting being a first timer and observer and I’m happy for my ideas to be shelved if that is the best place for them. This sense of community seems strong enough to survive anything, but then it probably seemed that way in pre-industrial countries everywhere. It seems well worth focused effort to defend and preserve.
The final point I’d like to make on this day is that the people are incredibly beautiful. Africa is such a vast continent with many races and religions. By reputation, this area, Ethiopia, Sudan and perhaps more so Somalia, has the most beautiful women in the continent, if not the world. Would you agree?
The end of the day is a trip back to Kombolche in time to catch the Concern office where we pick a copy of the MOU with comments from the person allocated to the task of drawing it up in the first place. A few changes need to be made before it goes up for final discussion, and, hopefully, signing.
posted by Cathy Gunn at
October 20, 2007
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