28th August 2008

On the 27^th August, after more than two weeks of walking, I came around a dusty, rocky corner of the mountains, and was greeted with a sight that brought tears to my eyes.  Way down there in the valley below was the Tebellong Hospital.  The moment I’d been waiting for - the purpose of my trek, the purpose of this website, the purpose of the fundraising.  Suddenly I was overwhelmed with emotions.  Excited, about reaching such a milestone and being able to meet the people that I'd travelled across the planet to come and help.  Nostalgic, as it’s 19 years since I lived here as a small girl with my family.  And nervous, about how I would react to the daunting task of helping this small, poor and isolated hospital overflowing with HIV/AIDS patients.

A photo taken nearly 20 years ago, when I spent several years of my childhood at Tebellong (I'm in the back left corner - click image for enlarged picture)

I spent 3 years at Tebellong in the late 1980s with my parents, brother and sister (that's me in the red dress up the back)

Tebellong in summer 20 years ago (click image for enlarged picture)

Tebellong in winter 20 years ago (click image for enlarged picture)

Tebellong today

There was one small challenge to overcome before reaching the hospital – the Senqu River crossing.  It was a flashback in time seeing this characteristic river in the distance, and it made my body tingle with excitement. 

The Senqu River

Wind in the face, at the Senqu river crossing

 

 

I had spoken to some of the staff at the Tebellong Hospital on several occasions.  My first contact with them was in May, 2 months before I left Australia, when I called up to introduce myself and to let them know how keen I was to help.  I spoke to a nurse called Pauline, who was very excited when she heard what I was setting out to do… but she found it hard to believe I was going to trek to the hospital from Mohale’s Hoek, let alone the remaining 600 kms around the country!  The superintendant of the hospital, Mr Musenga, was on holiday in South Africa at the time – and when I contacted him on his mobile to let him know this young Australian woman would be raising money for his hospital, he too was very excited!

So a few days before arriving in Tebellong, I called the hospital again to let them know I would be there in a few days – and called them again on the morning of my arrival to let them know I was walking, and would be there that afternoon.  I was finally on my way!

When I arrived at the river crossing, there they were waiting for me.  They had a car.  Unexpected - but still exciting!!!  After a long wade across the river, their excited faces lit up – it was an incredible feeling to be back amongst the people of the Tebellong Hospital.  They asked me why I had taken so long, and I reminded them that I’d told them on the phone that I wouldn’t be in until the afternoon because it was a long walk.  “Walk??? What do you mean??? You didn’t walk hear, did you???”.  None of them could believe that I had actually walked with the horse (rather than riding it) from the last village – let alone all the way from Mohale’s Hoek!

Larlie and Ntate Tsepo after the river crossing to Tebellong 

Arriving at Tebellong (to a dusting of snow behind the Tebellong Hospital)

Whilst at Tebellong I stayed with a missionary called August Lefont, who I had met in Mohale’s Hoek and spent 4 relaxing days in his guest house - which even had a hot shower.  Plus I had a double bed that I was able to lounge in in my own privacy - YEHAA!!

The Tebellong Hospital in the 1980's (click image for enlarged picture)

It wasn’t long after I arrived that I met Mr Musenga – the hospital’s medical superintendant.  That was very exciting… but almost more exciting was meeting the old ladies in the hospital who knew me when I was a child and used to ride my horse everywhere.

Snapshots of my childhood in Tebellong (click image for enlarged picture)

I had an interview with Mr Musenga for the documentary I am filming - which went well, and I even got a chance to talk to the Tebellong Hospital management team about the hospital's main struggles, and where the money that Treading the Forgotten Sky is fundraising could be spent...

Tebellong Hospital management meeting - with Ntate Musenga on the front left (black and white shirt)

The hospital is struggling.  Currently it’s funded by the Lesotho government for wages only, but must rely on external donors for maintenance and new supplies.  From rusty beds to torn vinyl stretchers, it was clear that the facilities were centuries old.  It was hard to see all those patients not only suffering from HIV/AIDS, but also having to be treated in such an overcrowded and poorly-funded hospital.  90% of the hospital’s patients are HIV positive, which adds strains to the already overwhelmed hospital and staff.  Walking around the hospital’s interior, it would seem that just a lick of paint would add life to the atmosphere a bit.  The ceilings are grey, and the hall - which is the artery of the hospital - is a lifeless dull green.  If only we could do it all - *sigh*.

The dull hallway of the Tebellong Hospital

The women's ward

HIV/AIDS patient in the women's ward

The men's ward

I like to be optimistic, but even if we don’t raise enough for a new generator, then the Tebellong Hospital management team have suggested another project where the money could be well-spent.  The hospital also uses a small amount of solar power in addition to the diesel generators.  However, these are also pretty old, don’t hold power any more, and therefore are useless.  A quote to have the solar power system working again was done by an organisation several years ago, who in the end couldn’t come up with the funds to fix it.  Although the quote still needs to be tracked down, we’re confident that Treading the Forgotten Sky would have enough money to fix the solar power problem.  I think this is an absoloutely fantastic back-up idea if we can’t raise enough for the generator – plus this idea fits in very well with my environmental ethics.

So Treading the Forgotten Sky says "WE WILL GIVE YOU LIGHT, MY FRIENDS!!!

All donations received via this website go directly to the Tebellong Hospital.  Donations can be made online via Paypal by clicking the DONATE button towards the top left of screen.