Another day in the archive: the beauty of the source

For today I give you two snapshots from my research at the Tanzanian National Archives. The first one reflects the sheer beauty of an archival collection. The second one a testimony to the fact that it the mission was also the most able and powerful building company in Ulanga. Not more than 500 meters from the small hospital of Sr. Arnolda, the mission was employed to build another 'hospital' which was in fact a dispensary of the "Native Authorities".

Dar es Salaam and sources on Ifakara 'hospital' in the 1950s

I am back in Dar es Salaam and have already spent a couple of hours in traffic jams. The reward for this is the time I can spend in the National Archives. I found some new documentes on the government support to Capuchin medical work in the 1950s. These documents prove the case that - especially if compared to the other mission societies - the Capuchins were, at that time, really a small outfit in the medical dimension. Furthermore their services were not considered to be of a particularly high quality by the administration - rather the contrary. For example this document shows that the old Ifakara hospital in 1953 "was not a good unit as regards building and accommodation". At that time, Ifakara hospital really was more like an old stable than like a modern hospital building.

Among other things I found this interesting map from the end of the 1920s (which includes leprosy care centres in the area - click the image to enlarge).

Back with Interviews in Ifakara

I am back for interviews in Ifakara. Today an old man and an old lady told us about the changes of circumcision techniques and a lot of other interesting things.

I am looking for people who can transcribe the interviews from spoken to written Kiswahili, in case you know of somebody?

Asanteni sana! And care for Wazee!

These 5 men* not only remembered a lot about the history of mission health care in Ifakara, they also insisted that I tell, back in Switzerland, how much there was a need for Switzerland to assist with health care, especially for the elderly.

Our senior research team member, Piet van Eeuwijk has an interesting research project that looks exactly at the question of the care for elderly people in Tanzania.
Klick the title of this post for more information on Piet's project.

* Saidi Chamamba, Saidi Mfalimbena, Casian Msaraka, Clarence Mikaeli Mfeite, and
Saidi Lumbanga, the Mwenyekti Vitongoni V/60 in Ifakara (from left to right)

Ifakara: old men know a lot of things!

My second group interview was as interesting as the first one. These old Wazee remembered a lot about the history of St. Francis and other health institutions in the area. Even Dr. Alois Gabathuler, who was in Mahenge from 1939 to 1946 was remembered well.
So I thank the Wazee: Athumani Mohammedi Timbanga, Abdu Mohammedi Lubiki, Ramadhani Omari Mpalangondo, Aido Raffaeli Mng'etu, and Juma Lifulana. Also I would like to thank the Mwenyekiti wa kitongoja Ifakara mjini, Michael p. Ngalyoma; and the shule ya msingi Mtoni, Ifakara for their support.

Again, the old men were singing a song to praise doctors and nurses (I joined just a small little bit, since I should not be spoiling the tapes).

Asante Wabibi! Asante Phemy!

These lovely ladies have helped me a great deal today: they have shared their view about the history of SFH with me, and even sang a song related to the moment when Dr. Calo Schöpf left Ifakara (not translated yet). Thank you: Amina Mtengela, 70
Mariam Ngonimtela, Brandina Ngalyoma, Miriam Liseki, and Hadjia Mwitende, 67.
Phemy is the lady who has done a great job organising and moderating. Great!

Privat: zwergenvelos

Was soll man sagen, sogar die kurbeln sind höchstens 165er. Kaum fahrbar für mich ohne grössere Schäden an den Knien zu riskieren. Inzwischen habe ich gewechselt und Lukas ehemalige Schrottkiste erhalten, deren Gabel nicht unbedingt dem Geradeausfahren dient.

Miss Kilombero and Kipogoro

This poster says it all. The candidates have visited here yesterday to have a look at mosquitos and labs. I don't know yet whether they have also greeted the patients at the hospital.

I wrote yesterday on being made fun of. Now, I know I was. What I ruled out most, the fact that I was being teased in Kipogoro, was what actually happened. Haha!

Since we are loughing here is a joke (told to me by a cleric): Hier wurde mal ein Kind gefragt, ob es wisse, warum man in der Kirche still sein soll. "Ha, klar! Weil die Leute doch schlafen." I'll go to witness the service at the church here in Ifakara tomorrow.

Nimefika Ifakara

I have arrived in Ifakara for the second and longer leg of this field-research phase. The notoriously flood-susceptible parts of Ifakara were flooded yesterday, when the Lumemo River left its basin. I have witnessed this in 2008 and it is a very unfortunate situation for the vicitims of the floods. It also means electricity cuts and difficult transportation and communication.
While I am waiting I can do other things, like updating this blog (and more research related activities as well). The paper on Ruaha is not yet uploaded but advances quick under these conditions (thank you IHI,TTCIH and SFH for generated electricity).

While my Kiswahili is ridiculous, i just made a very funny experience: somebody spoke to me in 'English', however I understood much more from the Kiswahili translation given by his friend, than from the 'English' original. Now, there are two explanations for this: a) I guess that is similiar to most people here when they experience my Kiswahili, and ask themselves what language I am using. b) What is really interesting is that a similar story was reported to me yesterday. Therefore I am left with the suspicion that this is the latest joke to be played on Wazungus in Ifakara.(There is a small chance that the language was Kipogoro).

Privat: alles gut in Ifakara

Hier in Ifakara ist alles gut im Moment. Ich habe grossen Spass hier zu sein. Andererseits ist die Lust, über die hiesigen kleinen Erlebnisse und Bekanntschaften zu erzählen, gar nicht so gross. Schlecht, wenn man wenig Neuigkeiten produziert, daran bin aber auch nicht nur ich schuld, sondern auch das Leben hier. Kein Wunder an einem Ort, wo man zwar immer nach den "Neuigkeiten" fragt und die Antwort doch immer nur ein zwar emotional manchmal erstaunlich ernsthaftes, aber doch inhaltlich bescheiden aussagekräftiges (und newswertiges) "gut" oder "sehr gut" ist. Die Forschung selber befindet sich noch immer in der Vorbereitung und was sich nicht schlecht anlässt, wäre doch zu früh zum kommunizieren. Ifakara und die Menschen hier zeigen sich wirklich sonnig. Ein grosses Dankeschön geht an Karin Gross, die mir hier einen ganz wichtigen Kontakt vermittelt hat. Auch ein Dankeschön in der gleichen Kategorie an Elisabeth Rotzetter von Solidarmed. An Lukas geht ein Dankeschön für den regen Austausch. Gefreut habe ich mich auch über Jamie Monson, einer ausgezeichneten Historikerin und an Maia Green, einer ausgezeichneten Ethnologin über diese Region, die beide auf eine Email von mir nicht nur rasch, sondern auch sehr konkret und weiterführend geantwortet haben.

Privat: alles bestens in Ifakara

Liebe Freunde,

Die Busfahrt hierher war eines dieser nicht aussergewöhnlichen Abenteuer. Eine grossartige Reise, aber auch nicht ganz einfach. Belohnt wurde die Fahrt im Höllenbus mit der grossartigen Landschaft, die sich darbot: hier ist nun alles grün und blüht, dass es eine grosse Freude ist.
Mit meinem Kollegen Lukas sitze ich ausgiebig zusammen und wir diskutieren und parlieren produktiv, wenn auch nicht immer nur bezüglich der Forschungsarbeiten.

Wenn ich noch ein bisschen Werbung machen darf: ich war heute mal wieder in der Solidarmed Support Unit hier in Ifakara. Diese unterstützt eine ganze Reihe von spannenden Projekten im Gesundheitssektor hier in Kilombero und nicht zuletzt in Ulanga. http://www.solidarmed.ch/index.php?id=76

privat: morgen geht es weiter nach Ifakara

Morgen Sonntag geht die Reise weiter nach Ifakara. Über DSM gibt es nicht so viel zu berichten, es ist "heiss und staubig" wie hier alle sagen.

Dr. W. Müller, Mission Doctor in Ifakara, 1951-1952

Doctor Müller has not yet featured prominently in my sources on the history of Ifakara's St. Francis Hospital. Today I have found at least some documents telling me, that he was there. It seems he was expected in May 1951, (I have proof of his actual work in October the same year) and he probably has left services again in September 1952.

Many thanks here also to Father Meinhard Inauen, who told me, who might know more about Dr. Müller.

Doktor W. Müller war lange mehr Mysterium denn Person mit einer Stimme. Auch wenn ich noch kein Dokument gefunden habe, das seine Unterschrift trägt, immerhin zeigt sich nun, dass Bischof Edgar Maranta, schon mit ihm als Missionsarzt einen Neubau des Spitals in Ifakara anvisierte.

Here is an extract from the archives:
>"As regards our medical unit in Ifakara I wish to point out that in 1951, when Dr. Mueller arrived, we had the firm intention of building up this place into a medical centre which would comply with regulations and be of a real servie to the district around Ifakara. It became, however, soon apparent that Dr. Mueller would not stay and the plan was therefore abandoned, much to our regret. During next May another doctor, Dr. K. Schoepf, is expected to arrive and will be posted to Ifakara." (Maranta to Director of Medical Services, 28.04.1953).

It might also be important to say, that the Capuchin's were the only Mission that was refused Government grants-in-aid in 1953 due to the lack of services and the location of their services.
Kein Wunder, ein Neustart in Ifakara war 1953 wirklich nötig.

GDR support for Ifakara

In the 1970's a student group from Marburg, Aktionsgruppe Tanzania, has been sending substatial material support to the Leprosarium Nazareti in Ifakara through the international red cross. Gregory Witkowksi, who researches the history of this student initative has presented a research paper on this topic at last weekend's conference "Towards a Global History of Development" held at the ETH Zürich.