It has been said that there are
two sides to every story. In most cases, there are more than two sides. For the
past several days, we have been covering the tragic events of the last year at
The Salvation Army Howard Hospital. The information presented was drawn from a
number of sources; the Zimbabwean press, the Canadian press, broadcasted
podcast and YouTube video interviews, online blogs authored by supporters of
Dr. Paul Thistle and Howard Hospital listing first-hand accounts of patients, visitors
and volunteers at Howard Hospital, email exchanges from those with first-hand
knowledge, and from press releases issued by The Salvation Army International
HQ and Canada HQ.
We freely note that we have not
had any direct input from either Dr. Thistle or any one in Salvation Army
leadership. It is understandable that Dr. Thistle would refrain from speaking
out directly. Zimbabwe is a country that faces many difficulties and challenges,
and for Dr. Thistle to speak out directly could likely have serious, if not
dangerous, repercussions from certain people within Zimbabwe. However, Dr.
Thistle does not speak out mainly because he sees no reason to defend himself,
nor does he speak out because he doesn’t want to give the impression that he is
speaking badly of anyone.
We also recognize that there
are certain aspects of this issue that The Salvation Army must withhold comment
on in order to maintain good relationships with the government of Zimbabwe, in
order to be able to continue the work of the Army and to maintain a positive
environment for the tens of thousands of its soldiers in Zimbabwe.
Additionally, we recognize that there are personnel issues that remain to be
settled between Dr. Thistle and The Salvation Army.
However, The Salvation Army has
shown a disturbing lack of transparency, accountability and truthfulness about
this issue. We find these actions to be wholly unacceptable, as there are
several points that should have been addressed that would not have compromised
the relationship between The Salvation Army and the government of Zimbabwe. Not
only has The Salvation Army been haughtily silent, they have also issued the
equivalent of gag orders to officers involved in and aware of this issue.
The dishonesty displayed by The
Salvation Army is unacceptable, period. There is never a reason for dishonesty.
It is no secret that there are difficulties working in countries where there is
wide-spread corruption. The Salvation Army should never deny that problems have
arisen, nor should they deny that solutions take time. Such denials lead to a
lack of trust.
Our intentions have been and
will continue to be those of holding The Salvation Army accountable for their
actions, or lack thereof, and a call for a change in the leadership methods so
that such tragedies never occur again.
So, what do we actually know?
Let’s begin with some background information about the places and people.
Howard Hospital
The Salvation Army Howard Hospital is located in the rural Chiweshe communal lands, approximately 80km (50 miles) north of Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe. It serves a population of over 270,000 residents of all ages and health conditions.
Howard Hospital was established in 1923, and from its inception provided some types of medical care. The Howard Hospital roots started in 1918, when Major Bradley was providing medicines and medical care in the bush. The facility grew into a hospital slowly as the need for a regional health care provider became apparent. The early Howard facility of a clinic with four wards was built in 1928, and the core of the present facility was constructed in 1958. The Howard's full-fledged expansion into a semi-modern hospital in the 1960s was started by Captain (Dr.) Jock Cook, who arrived at the Howard in 1967. Captain Cook added X-ray capabilities, an operating suite, and TB and isolation wards. Although surgeries were performed prior to Cook’s arrival, Cook began to do quite complex surgeries. Assistance for Cook came in the persons of Dr. Pedersen in 1969, and Major (Dr.) James Watt (Retired) in 1970.
With a 144-bed capacity, Howard Hospital provided a vast number of services to the community; in-patient and out-patient, newborn to elderly, primary care and advanced surgical procedures. In addition to the on-site health care practice, a mobile clinic supported an area ranging up to 100km from the Howard, providing immunization programs, pediatric & obstetric care, and family planning.
On-site at Howard Hospital, other associated programs were running with a nurses’ training school and a school for training midwifes. The epidemic of AIDS in Africa was being addressed with a comprehensive counseling and treatment center, including antiretroviral therapy. The children left orphaned when their parents died from AIDS could receive a sponsorship at the The Salvation Army’s Chinyaradzo Children's Home. Chinyaradzo is an orphanage in Highfields, a suburb of Harare.
After the fight for Independence, Zimbabwe struggled with staggering inflation. Inflation has been under control since the introduction of the US dollar and the Rand as currency. However, the overwhelming increases in the cost of health care often puts needed medical care out of the ability to pay of many Zimbabweans. To provide a comparison, farmers in the areas surrounding Howard Hospital live on an average of $1 per day.
A recent account was shared about the X-ray machine which had broken down at Howard Hospital. A young man came in with pneumonia and was sent to Harare to obtain an X-ray. This cost the patient US$250, which represents over 4 months of salary.
Minor operations performed in Harare costs US$3,000, and that does not include tests or hospital admission costs.
In contrast, the fees charged by Howard Hospital under Dr. Thistle’s administration were small when compared to what private doctors and hospitals charge. Howard Hospital charged $2 for a consultation, between $1 and $5 for medication and between $5 and $100 for surgery. Children and seniors receive free health care. The hospital has a serve first, pay later policy. It asks families to pay for surgeries in installments after the fact. Most families do their best to repay the debt, but non-payment is not a barrier to future treatment.
Before Dr. Thistle was transferred from Howard Hospital, the hospital was seeing an average of 300 people a day and reached 75,000 people through its in-patient and out-patient departments a year. About 2,700 babies were born at the hospital each year and thousands of patients relied on it for life-saving HIV treatment in a country with staggering infection rates.
The reputation of Howard Hospital was well known and well respected. In fact, on many occasions, the private and government-run hospitals referred their patients to Howard Hospital.
Dr. Paul Thistle
A Canadian, Dr. Paul Thistle graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree Medicine in 1989, and completed further training as an obstetrician and gynecologist. He acquired extra training in general surgery, oncology surgery, urology surgery and complex wound management. He has spent time in Indonesia, Pakistan, and in the mid-1980s, in Afghan refugee camps, working with the Salvation Army.
In 1995, Dr. Thistle came to Howard Hospital, where he served under Major (Dr.) Watt, who passed the title of Chief Medical Officer to Thistle in 1999.
During his first years in Zimbabwe, Dr. Thistle met his wife Pedrinah, a Zimbabwean-born nurse and midwife, who served as an educator at the hospital. They married in 1998. They have two sons, James, born in 2001, and Alexander, born in 2004.
In 2005, The Salvation Army invited the Thistles to become Salvation Army officers. They attended the Booth University College and the officer training facility. They were commissioned in 2007, with the ranks of Captain.
On June 11, 2008, the Chancellor of the University of Windsor conferred on Dr. Paul Thistle the Degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.
The Salvation Army issued marching orders to the Thistles the beginning of August, 2012, ordering them back to Canada. The community which depends on the Howard Hospital protested and the Territorial Commander, Commissioner Venice Chigariro, responded by giving the Thistles a 24-hour notice to leave the Howard Hospital and a 48-hour notice to leave the country of Zimbabwe.
The Thistles were stripped of their officership in November 2012 for refusing to leave Zimbabwe.
Dr. Paul Thistle began working in his new position in Karanda Hospital in July, 2013.
Donors and supporters
Interfaith Friends of Howard Hospital (IFFH) – A group of concerned doctors and other professionals formed this group, worked as volunteers on-site at Howard Hospital, and facilitated millions of dollars' worth of medical equipment, medicine and funds, including grants from international aid agencies, Canadian registered charities, and faith-based groups. Dr. Michael Silverman and Sarah Zelcer met with Salvation Army leadership and wrote articles published in the press and conducted interviews broadcast on the Internet about the situation at Howard Hospital. (Dr. Michael Silverman, MD, FRCP, FACP. Global Scholar, PAS Center for International Health, Mount Sinai Hospital; Sarah Zelcer, Director of International Programs, Ve'ahavta: The Canadian Jewish Humanitarian and Relief Committee)
Brian Nichols – Psychotherapist/Specialist in Grief and Trauma Counseling. He worked with a fund-raising group who contributed over $210,000 for Howard Hospital, and who visited and worked at Howard Hospital a number of times.
Donors and supporters
Interfaith Friends of Howard Hospital (IFFH) – A group of concerned doctors and other professionals formed this group, worked as volunteers on-site at Howard Hospital, and facilitated millions of dollars' worth of medical equipment, medicine and funds, including grants from international aid agencies, Canadian registered charities, and faith-based groups. Dr. Michael Silverman and Sarah Zelcer met with Salvation Army leadership and wrote articles published in the press and conducted interviews broadcast on the Internet about the situation at Howard Hospital. (Dr. Michael Silverman, MD, FRCP, FACP. Global Scholar, PAS Center for International Health, Mount Sinai Hospital; Sarah Zelcer, Director of International Programs, Ve'ahavta: The Canadian Jewish Humanitarian and Relief Committee)
Doug MacLellan – Friend of the Thistles and professional photographer. MacLellan previously photographed Howard Hospital in 2001, 2006, 2008 and 2010. These photographs raised thousands of dollars for Howard Hospital and inspired many doctors to volunteer. Additionally, The Salvation Army has published his photos in their magazines and books in four countries.
Brian Nichols – Psychotherapist/Specialist in Grief and Trauma Counseling. He worked with a fund-raising group who contributed over $210,000 for Howard Hospital, and who visited and worked at Howard Hospital a number of times.
Dr. Norman Fenton – A frequent donor and volunteer at Howard Hospital. A member/volunteer with the SHUMBA Foundation.
END PART ONE
The remaining pages of this report are available by request
only, and only to those persons who share their name and reason for their
interest. Send your request to: Dr. Sven Ljungholm selmoscow@aol.com marked HH REPORT
The report is a compilation of reports, private and public, written by former SA officers.
44 comments:
Thanks for this, Sven.
Your coverage of this sad situation has been marked by sensitivity, courage, honesty and integrity.
If only others had displayed similar qualities...
Terry
Thank you for bringing this situation to my notice and also to a wider group of people. Your articles have been well presented and balanced. Replies and comments have added to your reporting. How many people who have read this blog I have no idea but no one could not have read it and failed to have been moved by compassion. This situation must never be allowed to happen again and if anyone reading this blog can bring about a change in 'Leadership styles' now is the time to begin this change.
Please remember in Prayer Dr Paul Thistle, Pendrinah, James and Alexander
Sven
For the sake of clear transparency, integrity and openness in on going dialogue, why not publish the report in full on your open blog for all to see and for people to make up their own minds - as you have done thus far?
Why the sudden shroud of secrecy if the whole truth is being told here and limit it those who are willing to be identified and wave their anonymity and so could become easy targets by those whose viewpoints may not necessarily agree with others? Cyber blog bullying is notorious and destructive at that. (I am not saying that for one moment of your blog (thus far - but the potential is certainly there!)
I realise and respect that this is a privately owned blog and you as the owner can of course set the conditions and terms for participation.
I was surprised that the remaining part of the report was not to be made public. On second thought, I came to the conclusion that it was a stroke of genius.
Some of the posters hiding behind the privilege of anonymity have alluded to post-modern arguments that there is no such thing as the truth, or for that matter any absolutes at all, only shades of grey.
It is only an intuition on my part, but I get the impression that some people are playing a little game, suggesting that some of the statements and comments are lacking in substance, and thus more emotive than rational, and are therefore to be discounted.
If the remaining parts of the report supply a date by date chronology of the events as they happened, and can be backed up by the concrete evidence of those with firsthand knowledge, the inferences will die a natural death.
What is more, if those making them are curious enough to ask for the remaining pages, and submit their names and e-mail addresses, the mask of anonymity will be lifted, and I suspect there will be some surprises.
On the other hand, if those in positions of power request to read them, we can take hope that there are some people who care enough to seek a resolution.
It seems in every organization, and that does not exempt the church, there are always those who like to play the role of manipulator in an attempt to withhold "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth".
Why they are afraid of the truth is anyone's guess. Sometimes they are only acting on orders from their superiors, puppets who cause us to pity them. Every politician has one or more lurking somewhere in the shadows. We call them spin doctors, and we have already seen them at work in three different continents throughout the whole Thistle debacle.
"Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an everlasting stream". Amos 5:24
John
There is no 'hiding' behind anonymity here- it is much more to do with a lack of trust to make oneself too vulnerable to cyber bullying. Anyone not agreeing with is in a lose- lose situation on the web!
Would it not be forcing people to show their hand and refusal to play that game would lead to another accusation of cowardice of not caring enough to engage publicly in debate through this medium? 'See, we told you so'?
Concrete (rock hard)evidence is hard to come by since the two principal parties, Dr Thistle and IHQ have wisely decided not to go this way. This must be terribly goading for some as the 'whole truth and nothing but the truth' juicy details remains elusive to the wider world.
As to the contents, there is a whole mixed bag of all sorts on display here, rationality, emotiveness, bloody mindedness, manipulative generalisation and even threat. This especially in the responses to some of the more personal postings that show a measure of desperation/ disappointment because of the deafening silence being observed by officialdom and being kept out of the information loop.
To engage would be suicide as the demands and pressure will persistently increase as the appetite is insatiable.
Response to "Anonymous" responding to John:
I can infer from your postings that you are one "in the know" about the Howard Hospital situation, and quite possibly one of the principle players in the issue.
There is a lot of fear in your response to John. Just looking at statements in your comment - "too vulnerable to cyber bullying", "accusation of cowardice", "to engage would be suicide" - those are strong feelings of fear.
As I am an American, I was not quite sure I understood the phrase "bloody mindedness", so I had to look it up. The definition I found states the following definitions:
Noun
perversity; doggedly obstructive and unhelpful behaviour ⇒ "I wouldn't be surprised if she decided not to go out of sheer bloody-mindedness" ⇒ "a rare mixture of courage and bloody-mindedness"
Adjective
(British, informal) deliberately obstructive and unhelpful
Thank you for adding that word to my vocabulary. Now that I know the definition, I see it fits in quite well with the tone of the rest of the words used in the accusatory stance.
I find it interesting that your opinion of the contents (which I assume you mean of the blog entries on the HH situation and not the document to which Sven is referring, as that document has not yet, to my knowledge, been distributed to anyone at this time) is negative in nature, and very much in the minority.
In the overall view of the covering of the Howard Hospital issue, the response from the vast majority of those who were inclined to comment was one of disappointment with the leadership of the Army, and not ones of "how dare you" or "this doesn't happen in the Army I know". Sadly, it has been recognized as another failing of the leadership of the Army that the Army has tried to sweep under the rug. And even more, they feel that a terrible injustice has been done to the people of Chiweshe and to Dr. Thistle himself.
As for the "demands and pressure" - I can only see that as a call for full accountability of the leadership to right the wrongs done, and to apologize to the people of Chiweshe, the Thistles, the donors and the soldiers of the SA.
Perhaps one day the full report will be posted, either in a multi-post blog series or a published, downloadable document. I'm sure those decisions are still being discussed.
So, until such time, you are free to maintain your anonymity and not request the document.
But rest assured that enough people will, both inside and outside The Salvation Army.
And they will do their own research on the information provided. They will reach their own conclusions.
They will talk about it - in their corps, in their donor group meetings, with their friends and neighbors and relatives.
To paraphrase Dylan Thomas, this will not go gentle into the good night. We will continue to rage against the dying of the light in the leadership of The Salvation Army.
Well said Jolinda
Well said John
As a mere soldier, I am confused and a bit disappointed that the whole report will not be published. Does it contain information that has not appeared in any of the articles published so far?
I have followed all the articles and have made many comments, as well as circulating the information to others – my comments have all expressed concern, disappointment, shock, disgust, amazement, despair – the list is endless – at the EFFECTS of TSA’s decision-making on the HH issue and my fear for its future.
Where is their compassion for the sick and needy when they withdrew the volunteer support scheme? For those relying on antiretroviral drugs? For the orphans whose parents died? Where is the accountability for all the missing funds that were given in good faith to help these people? Where was the vision that failed to see the effects these decisions would have on these poor people?
And to the person who wrote about ‘the responses to some of the more personal postings that show a measure of desperation/ disappointment because of the deafening silence being observed by officialdom and being kept out of the information loop. To engage would be suicide as the demands and pressure will persistently increase as the appetite is insatiable.’
– I don’t know what your problem is – I didn’t really ‘get’ what you wrote about - I found your obfuscatory style confusing - but I do know that for myself, as one who IS disappointed over the deafening silence from TSA leadership over HH, the issue is not a desire to engage in salacious gossip – the situation with the Thistles, TSA and the Zimbabwean government is private, and must remain so.
No - what is more is important to me as part of TSA’s rank and file membership is being aware of what TSA leadership is doing in my name, and reacting to it. I have been a member most of my life, and have trusted the leadership to do the right thing. Indeed, I have RELIED on that trust, and naively believed that they have acted according to the Holy Spirit’s guidance in all their activities, because that is what they have led us to believe.
I have supported financially – in tithes and offerings, as have other members, as our Christian duty. Our contributions we give ‘unto the Lord’, to build up the church and to further its ministry. The leadership has a moral duty to use these funds wisely, and be good stewards of all monies they receive. This has not happened – they have thrown away/wasted substantial sums of money through gross mismanagement - some of this money was given by very poor people themselves. The way TSA has dealt with this issue is by cocking a snook at the membership and the public and have acted in contradiction of Biblical teaching, regardless of the human consequences in this sorry saga.
It was a bitter pill to swallow when these facts emerged, and actually the manner of their emergence should be troubling to everyone. IHQ/THQ should have been open and honest in acknowledging the errors that were made. There should be contrition for the suffering caused to those who most needed their support.
But no – we’ve had to rely on this website for the truth to emerge – that is reprehensible in a Christian organisation which expounds Christian values but which dupes not only its members, but also the public into supporting it monetarily.
So yes, I was disappointed to learn that the HH subject would not be covered in its entirety, and I have no real reason for needing to see the report, other than I have followed it from the start and wanted to see it through to the end, so that I can make my own mind up about TSA and my future in it – or not.
Would it be possible to give the website links to statements by IHQ, THQ, Doug McLelland, the Canadian and Zimbabwe Press articles etc that have been the source for the published articles so that at least people can read them and make up their own minds? I have done that myself, and have analysed them before my response to each article published.
UK Soldier
Having visited the High Council website I have to say I was disappointed that Commissioner Vinece Chigariro has been chosen to be a member of the Tellers and Questions Committee. Excerpt below:
*****With the …. election of permanent Tellers and the Questions Committee, whose members prepare the questionnaire for which each member may submit one question. Commissioner Clive Adams (United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland) was elected as chairperson, and the other members are Commissioner William Cochrane (International Headquarters), Commissioner Marie Willermark (Sweden and Latvia Territory), Commissioner Kenneth Hodder (Kenya West Territory) and Commissioner Caroline Seiler (USA Central Territory). In addition the President can appoint two members – in this instance Commissioner Malcolm Induruwage (Sri Lanka Territory) and Commissioner Vinece Chigariro (Kenya East Territory).
Each nominee for the office of General will be required to answer the same set of questions. In this way the High Council works towards the nomination of candidates for election as the 20th General later in the week – the sole reason for the High Council having been summoned.
*******
Having read all the threads concerning the Howard Hospital on this website, and the commissioner's role in the situation, I think it displays a breathtaking insensitivity by the HC, despite the fact that TSA auditors found nothing amiss. There is growing 'army' of SA members who sense that TSA decisions regarding HH matters were gravely wrong, and the failure to appoint independent auditors rather cheapens the exonerations from wrongdoing by anyone involved.
Pray for the HC - prayer is desperately needed.
According to the report, Commissioner Chigariro was not elected to the committee by the HC but given one of the 2 places that the president - Commissioner Roberts I believe - can allocate.
Some of us may well feel it was an error of judgement - but, nevertheless, it is an error of judgement by one man, not the whole council. For the moment we must just pray, wait for the new General to be in place and then watch for any sign of action. There are some good people on the High Council. I still have faith!
Gosh, I feel rather disappointed and misled by some posters. I was under the impression that all SA leaders were below contempt, corrupt and rotten to the core by association with this inhumane system...Confused as to what and who to believe now.
"Disappointed and misled", it appears you enjoy using hyperbole. I have never got the impression that all the leaders of TSA "were below contempt, corrupt and rotten to the core" by any poster on this blog. Have you had your glasses changed lately?
There are systemic problems with the hierarchical system of TSA - a system which is vulnerable to power abuse no matter what organization uses it. In the case of TSA the system lacks accountability and transparency at the highest levels. For a large charity, we have no external Board of Directors, when things go awry- internal not independent external investigations are done, the chain of command is always supported, and the number one value operative in TSA is loyalty to the which implies obedience by officers. Loyalty/obedience is rewarded and disloyalty/disobedience is disciplined sometimes to the point of termination of officership.
It was intended to be this way from the beginning days of the movement. Just read William Booth's book "In Darkest England and the Way Out" (1890). He says training officers to be obedient, to accept and give orders is the #1 aim of officer training. His concept of this was modeled after Napoleon whom Booth says in the book that he admired.
In the 1800's with the benefit of hindsight, I don't know many British people who would have admired Napoleon but Booth did and wanted his Army to be as efficient as Napoleon's Army built on sheer obedience. Notably Napoleon had no features common to Jesus and Christians - particularly caring, compassion and humility.
All the worst features of the hierarchical autocratic military system are blatant in this debacle of the HH. Indeed I can say it is the worst situation in TSA that I've seen in my lifetime with decisions of leadership resulting in such a humanitarian tragedy.
I am sick of all of this. The entire report should be published. Anonymity should be respected. Stop playing God Dr. Sven L. Let the readers decide for themselves and we should be able to do so anonymously. Some readers and commentators still work for TSA. To withhold the rest of the report is to be just like TSA in its 'don't ask because we won't tell mentality.' The public has the right to a full and entire disclosure and accounting of this whole mess. TSA has messed up big time and needs to be held accountable.
Former- Canadian Territory
You will need to have some patience. You may have missed Sven's comment which promised more information is still to come. Be calm and carry on.
We all need to wake up and smell the coffee....as horrible as this whole situation is, we have clear indications that nobody on the HC will ever risk their popularity to bring justice to the Thistles. The scary thing is that this stuff goes on all the time, and as long as the Army leadership is devoted to feathering their own nests, protecting their own positions, reform is impossible.
"Disappointed and misled", it appears you enjoy using hyperbole. I have never got the impression that all the leaders of TSA "were below contempt, corrupt and rotten to the core" by any poster on this blog. Have you had your glasses changed lately?
My point has just been proven - again!
No need to change specs nor to have my eyes tested.;);)
'....it is the worst situation in TSA that I've seen in my lifetime with decisions of leadership resulting in such a humanitarian tragedy'.
I couldn't agree more - and having seen the nominations for General, I do pray that whoever is elected will stem this tide and offer reparation for the damage done to everyone who has been adversely affected by it.
Another writer said 'we have clear indications that nobody on the HC will ever risk their popularity to bring justice to the Thistles'.
Unfortunately this, too, is very likely. In my opinion, the Thistles are well out of it. Have you seen the website of Karanda hospital? It is full of spiritual content, with spiritual needs being met as well as physical - exactly what TSA set out to do at its beginning. Contrast this with the HH website - barren of any spiritual activity at all. The love of God and compassion for suffering humanity have been at the core of all that we do within the ranks of TSA, but when compassion and empathy for human suffering is no longer a consideration when defending reputations, then there needs to be a radical shift and a return to core Christian values before things will improve.
People learn from leaders - what messages are OUR leaders sending out in this sad episode?
But I do pray that the new General will address this sorry mess - I do believe that if he doesn't, there will be a mass exodus by the rank and file, who are watching and waiting to see what will happen.
Is this really a matter for a General to be or become actively involved in? He could easily be accused of micro managing the whole SA world - a humanly impossible task and certainly not desirable. That is why there is the CoS, Zonal IS, TC, CS etc etc
In the business world, as a manager I would want to be actively involved in any decision-making by my team, and I would put trust in my team leaders to 'produce the goods' to good effect and to maintain a workforce who were content in their jobs.
If my team leaders made a hash of things, would I stand idly by, do nothing and watch them repeat the process? I don't think so - I would soon be out of business and their jobs would be lost too.
No - I would want to know the reasons that things had deteriorated, and I would call each of them to account, and I would have to look at the losses - and ask - were they acceptable? I'm sure you understand where this analogy leads. Losses in business are bad enough, but when the losses in this HH situation are human lives,along with unnecessary suffering, these losses are tragedies. Did not Jesus go look for the one lost sheep? He cared about one lost soul. He didn't write off the lost sheep as an acceptable loss - he aimed for a 100% success rate.
So yes - in this particular case I WOULD expect a General to get involved and lance the festering wound that this has become.
UK
I'd like to remind everyone that right now Sven is on a missions trip in the Ukraine, so I'm sure his response time to comments and emails is quite limited. I'm sure this will also affect how often he is able to post.
We'll have to wait and see.
Re. "...lanc[ing] the festering boil.
There seems to be an assumption nothing is being done re. HH.
So let us look at this logically.
It seems to me the only reason we are currently in the middle of a HC is that General Bond resigned due to a pretty major issue, and clearly her replacement cannot then just take up the reigns and have that issue dealt with in the same manner.
I know that LB is still worshipping at the Army, so she has not had a faith issue or a massive doctrinal issue. I assume if there was a health issue we might have had some info, asked to pray, etc., and we have not. So the issue seems to be one within SA operations. If there is a bigger current operational problem in the SA than HH at the moment I would be surprised.
Therefore I think HH was probably part (or the whole) of why LB resigned. I also think, due to the speed, lack of thanks and no final meeting, that the change was forced on her. This would have had to be by current HC members.
So the current HC members know the issue needs addressing, and I believe they will do so.
My only sadness in this is that I think it will be too late to get Paul Thistle back to HH, but you never know.
Let's just pray that the outcome will be positive, and allow us to move on from this debacle.
Active UKT
Active UK... good rational post!
I for one do not think it would be a positive thing to see Dr Thistle return to HH, too much has happened for that to be effected for all involved.
It is time to move on - as Dr Thistle has obviously done over the past 12 months to where he is now. Many here still seem to be stuck in August 2012. To return would be a mistake even IF it would look as justice has been seen to be done.
HH will be able to manage to succeed now and in days to come as it surely does or should not rely on one single person anyway - as has been made out here to have been the case.
'Many here still seem to be stuck in August 2012.'
I'm not sure this statement is correct, although I wholly agree with the summary regarding Linda Bond and the rationale given, and congratulate 'Active UKT' for the balanced viewpoint.
I don't think the people contributing to this series are stuck in August 2012 - there is so much frustration in the postings because the LEADERSHIP still seems stuck in this timeline. Most of the contributors here think things should have moved on by now. Surely they could have secured a replacement for Paul Thistle in almost 12 months - especially if you believe one of the statements form IHQ which said they had planned his move from HH for 2 years?
My personal frustration is the apparent lack of care or regard for the suffering people of Chiweshe by people at the top who could make a difference, but seem frozen in time.
My frustration is further exacerbated by the fact that I am unable to do anything about it on a practical and personal level, and cannot see how it will all be resolved for the Chiweshe people.
Also, at the moment I am unable to share your confidence in senior leaders, as I cannot reconcile the unfulfilled and contradictory statements of intent (regarding HH) with a position of moving forward. I do hope I am wrong, and I pray for a general who will have the will to resolve this very sad humanitarian crisis. Dr Thistle seems to be an amazing and skilled person, and I do admire him for his refusal to be brought into this debate. But I agree with the writer who said it would not be good for him to return to HH. IHQ should make good on their promise to send a surgeon there as soon as possible, to confirm their commitment to the people of Chiweshe.
UK Soldier
Just a thought came to my mind: I am actually wondering as to whether Dr Thistle really wants this on going debate on his behalf....did anyone ever ask him?
He's not speaking. And, much as I'm concerned about Dr Thistle, it's not all about him, is it? Of course, TSA has an unresolved issue that's between the both of them, but the reality is that TSA has abandoned the people of Chiweshe and left them with no sustainable healthcare, and have seriously harmed the ongoing health of these poor people by withdrawing the volunteer program set up by Dr Thistle. AND - they don't seem in a rush to restore it, which I find quite callous for an organisation whose main headline (and source of income) is caring for the marginalised in society.
UK
There's a sense in which this is all about the tragedy for the Chiweshe people - the loss of human life and their very compromised health care. One cannot look forward and forget that. At the very least there has to be an apology to this community.
What caused this tragedy though is systemic problems in TSA and wrong values. Where loyalty and obedience to a system/policies and procedures/chain of command/power/control are valued more than human life itself, there's something very wrong. That has to be repented of not only by individuals, but also by the highest levels of leadership that made and/or supported the decisions which resulted in this tragedy.
The Thistle's may or may not even wish to return to the HH, but they should receive an apology from whoever is elected the next General and be given the opportunity to return to the HH if they wish to. Notably Dr. Thistle is a volunteer at Karanda. Could he perhaps be waiting to see how the HH debacle is resolved before accepting a position at Karanda?
There is no reason why he could not be offered the opportunity to return to HH. His bridges are not burned and if the replacement Dr. is already in Zimbabwe, so what? There's obviously enough work for two doctors.
My prayer is that whoever is elected as the new General will have the courage to do what is right in this situation. Must say though that the appointment of Chigariro to the questions committee seems to signal the covered wagons are forming a circle around the vulnerable to protect them from outside attack.
Doing the most good?
What does 'Doing the most good?' mean on its own?
To the writer above this comment, I would like to say I wholeheartedly agree with you about commissioner chigariro and her inclusion on the questions committee. My heart sank when I saw her name, and I,too, feel that the leaders' circle will just close ranks on this issue and try to keep it buried. If this happens, I hope there will be a groundswell of opinion which forces them to reconsider, because of their abandonment of the chiweshe people. The following sites may be worth reading.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201210060031.html
http://relzim.org/forum/religion-and-society-blog/5785/
One of the articles says that no-one lost their job as a result of the (internal) investigation, except Paul Thistle. Whitewash comes to mind.
Could anyone on this Forum give a factual, up to date -( 1 August 2013) verified, unbiased report on HH hospital treatment and other services provided? That would be very helpful to determine as to whether HH is still in the vacuum of 12 months ago or whether it is largely back to normal with the local people still being provided with basic healthcare.
My guess is you'll only get this info from IHQ, and they are not talking. I would imagine that senior SA leaders have been following this series, and if there was a progression they would be only too happy to supply us with details. The only update I have found is by reporter Alex Bell, who said on 2nd April 2013
'....The Howard Hospital meanwhile is facing collapse, with no chief surgeon, patients being transferred to other facilities and critical funding drying up. - See more at: http://www.swradioafrica.com/2013/04/02/convicted-howard-hospital-nurse-granted-bail/#sthash.8WN8R8J0.dpuf
The fact that ordinary people were prepared to protest to keep the Thistles at HH, and to risk imprisonment, speaks volumes to me.
UK
'Doing the most good' is the motto of The Salvation Army in the USA, a motto which at best is arrogant and certainly does not hold much credence in the HH incident. I was merely pointing out the irony.
What I'd like to know is if the new doctor did arrive at HH las week. Does anybody know?
HE HAS APPAREBTLY NOT ARRIVED YETNOT ARRIVED
Signing in from southern Ukraine - I'm the team leader of a FSAOF mission group conducting a SA music and Bible camp in Simferopol.
Today I am updating the HH story, with an edited update of the conclusion to be available on August 5th.
'Doing the most good' - now I understand. Thank you for the explanation. I must be out of touch - I thought that in the UK we used 'with heart to God and hand to man', but I've just checked a variety of headed correspondence, and there is no logo at all on any of it.
The 2013 Harvest altar service envelopes have emblazoned on them ‘Harvest of Justice Rooted in Righteousness’. Make up your own minds on that one.
The Big Collection resource material poster states ‘Every day we help thousands of people in need”,
and just a tick representing the Fundraising Standards Board. Doesn’t mention God anywhere.
In answer to the questioner who asked if anyone had an update on HH, this website published the following information on 4th July 2013 under the heading:
Are SA Medical Officer Missionaries routinely Shuffled across Territories? Part One
It states…..Dr. Thistle shared earlier this week with FSAOF: “Pedrinah and I remain deeply disappointed, that in official correspondence from IHQ, and in official Salvation Army press releases, no one ever wondered if people might be suffering. When you abruptly reduce the physician staff from 3 to 2 including removal of the only surgeon, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist or any health care experience to deduce that people will suffer. Surgeries booked weeks and month in advance were cancelled. When you receive phone calls from relatives stating that their mother or sister has died for lack of medical care at Howard, it is devastating. The people, poor and disempowered, have had a basic human right withdrawn over a ‘routine transfer’ without stated reason. There has been no hint of an apology from the Salvation Army and very little has changed on the ground since August 2012 in regards to the delivery of health care services.”
Major Dr James Watt, the previous CMO at HH also said:
Nearly a year has passed since he (Dr. Paul Thistle) was removed from Howard Hospital; no suitable replacement has been found, and the hospital is in financial difficulty. Furthermore, patients continue to die at Howard (over 10% mortality), among those referred to Harare, the capital two hours distant, for care (no money, no treatment), and at home, seeing the uselessness of coming to hospital.
Many of these are Salvationists. Many of them are known to me by name. My chief concern has always been the welfare of the people of Chiweshe. From my perspective, the health and well-being of the patient in the community is paramount."
I think this may answer your question. I agree it’s not up to date as at 1st August, but I doubt that anything has been done since 4th July.
UK
Even if as of today the HH were back to 100% - which it is far from, IHQ still should be making a public apology to the community of Chiweshe for the terrible decision making which has resulted over the last year in deaths, and disruption to the regime of the antiretroviral AIDS drugs for many people.
Correcting things, who knows when, down the line does not eliminate the need for a public apology to be made from IHQ for bad decision making resulting in a humanitarian tragedy.
It would be interesting to know what the mortality rate at HH was before August 2012 - did all people survive admission or what percentage did not?
I think the greatest human tragedy in Zimbabwe for the Zimbabweans is to have a regime in place that does not give one hoot for the lives of the poor and dispossessed of its own people (approx. 80% unemployment rate) and will not provide even basic medical/ educational provision to its population as a basic right. That is the greatest scandal with various NGO's ( including the SA)trying to do a patch up job with very limited charitable external resources.
Sorry - I beg to differ. I agree the political situation in Zimbabwe is appalling, but the greatest tragedy IS the wilful withdrawal of the only surgeon in HH hospital, which has left the Chiweshe people without significant healthcare.
Zimbabwe's vice president is a uniformed salvationist. I'm sure she could have lobbied for change at some time in her long political career.
Organisations like TSA exist to plug the gap between the deficiences of care which are the result of mismanagement by governments. And their self-imposed withdrawal in this sad situation is scandalous.
I know it isn't up to us to judge the heart but, despite being a uniformed Salvationist, the VP has a very unprincipled past to say the least (use google). Wearing a Salvation Army uniform does not make one a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car - old, I know but true.
I certainly would not trust someone who is content to serve in government with someone so evil, divisive and unscrupulous as the current President. The VP couldn't care less about the poor folk of Chiweshe and I don't even need to use 'probably' in the same sentence.
Army meetings planned around the time of the election were postponed so that they weren't hijacked by church members as a political rally in order to drum up votes. Hmm, wonder who they might have been referring to?!
I read about the elections in Zimbabwe and researched the VP as she hasn't said anything - strange, I thought, as she's the VP. What I found was that her political career may be in the balance, as there are people who want her out. Apparently it was her husband, who commanded much respect, who was responsible for her political rise, and following his untimely death she no longer has the support she once had. Also, I believe she wanted to launch an investigation into his suspicious death, which sat uncomfortably with some people there. That's what was on the Zimbabwean news yesterday.
God does not sleep, neither is He mocked.
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