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| PETERBOROUGH, CANADA |
FSAOF Commentary
Tariro – An ongoing story of hope
Part four
Bright Hope for Tomorrow
This final section of the Tariro article opens with a discussion about the “new” Howard Hospital facility. The impression that is given is one of a long-term project, with multiple phases, and that the project is now moving into a new phase. Research on this issue does not support the view presented.
The original project for the
new facility had issues from the start that resulted in a completed facility which
was deemed unfit for use by the Zimbabwean government. Project costs overruns brought in the
original project in at twice the estimated cost. Because it has never been
used, and because its construction was not supervised properly and it was poorly
constructed, this “second phase” should be more accurately thought of as a
large-scale project correction.
A date for completion of this
project is given as a hoped-for date of sometime in 2014. However, on October
26, 2012, Major Dean Pallant stated in a published press release Q&A that
there was strong hope that the project would be completed by the end of 2013. No
indication was made as to what has caused the delay in moving forward with the
project.
What the article fails to note
is the status of current building projects at Howard, particularly the project
to construct a duplex residence for use by visiting medical professionals. The Army
has staunchly defended their position that none of the donated and already
paid-for materials are missing. If their statements are factual, one would
think that an indication of the completion date, past or future, for this
residence would have been mentioned in the article.
Furthermore, the article
indicates that this project will be bringing the Howard in line with “an agreed
sustainability plan”, which is to be supervised by the Canada & Bermuda
territory. No mention is made regarding who developed this plan and what, if
any, input was requested of and received from the local community surrounding
Howard.
Yet, just a few paragraphs
later, mention is made that changes will be made to improve the quality of
sustainable care, and that the plan for these changes will be made locally.
There is no indication as to the definition of “local”, and no indication of
how a territory halfway around the world will manage this program standard. One
has to wonder which sustainability plan actually exists – the “agreed upon”
one, or the yet-to-be developed one in the future.
…to be continued
Jolinda Cooper
FSAOF USA
39 comments:
In a parody of the popular saying, there are lies, damned lies and in this case, no statistics to back up the claims made. TSA has a lot to answer for already. If these claims are not substantiated by actual deeds, the leadership will lose even more credibility.
I have heard this new hospital has 4 operating theatres. They claim to be completing this hospital for future use (2014), but how does a hospital with 4 operating rooms fit with Major Dean Pallant telling Dr.Michael Silverman that IHQ's decision was to revert to primary care in Africa and that there was no future need for a Dr. Paul Thistle at the HH. It would seem with 4 operating theatres that they would need 4 Dr. Thistles.
At best this is a contradiction but frankly it sounds like yet another lie from someone at IHQ.
The original new hospital had 4 operating theaters. My take from the Tariro article is that under "phase two", the hospital will be reconfigured for only two operating theaters.
CBC 2008
"Those who dedicate their lives to this place are nothing short of heroes. They all do so much with nothing, and one cannot help but be inspired.
They rely on foreign doctors and nurses who come for two to six months at a time to volunteer. They are the lifeline, both for Thistle and for the hospital. Many are return visitors from across Canada. They do try to train Zimbabwean doctors, but the last two bolted to Botswana and Zambia soon after they were finished their residency. The wages in Zimbabwe are just too low to keep doctors there...
Some walk for days to get to the hospital. Pregnant women sometimes spend days walking from their villages when they sense their due date is near. You see them outside the hospital's perimeter or sitting on the grounds, waiting for their delivery day to come. More than 2,300 babies are born there each year.
Thistle, who is from Scarborough, Ont., is known by everyone in this area. He is married to a Zimbabwean nurse and the couple have two young boys. It would be so easy for them to move back to Canada for a much better life. But it is not that simple. Deep down I think he fears that if he left, there would be no doctor to replace him. The hospital would have to close…
Over dinner one night at Thistle's home he told us about the struggles he faces every day to run the hospital without money.
His sense of duty and respect for the people he cares for and operates on is simply remarkable. It is almost like a calling for him to be here. It is simply inspiring to be around him and to hear his tales — both good and bad. I found myself feeling guilty because I have no medical skills, and no way to offer what he so desperately needs — help.
Perhaps the saddest thing that we saw during our visit lies about a five-minute walk outside of the hospital. It is the new Howard hospital: about three times as large, bright, wide hallways, lots of windows with glass, a large operating theatre and much more space for patients. It is actually quite impressive.
The hospital was dedicated in 2003 — there is even a plaque telling us so — yet the hospital lies empty, crumbling slowly. There is just no money to finish it and no electricity, no plumbing. It is such a terrible shame. We all thought, if only the people of Canada could see what is becoming of this country, there would be more people coming over to help and businesses investing in it.
But Zimbabwe is too far away for most of us, with a political situation too rotten. And its stories are simply not told."
LONDON
CBC 2008
"Perhaps the saddest thing that we saw during our visit lies about a five-minute walk outside of the hospital. It is the new Howard hospital: about three times as large, bright, wide hallways, lots of windows with glass, a large operating theatre and much more space for patients. It is actually quite impressive.
The hospital was dedicated in 2003 — there is even a plaque telling us so — yet the hospital lies empty, crumbling slowly. There is just no money to finish it and no electricity, no plumbing. It is such a terrible shame. We all thought, if only the people of Canada could see what is becoming of this country, there would be more people coming over to help and businesses investing in it."
Who was held responsible for this incredible blunder? The Zim government, contractors, SA Harare, IHQ, THQ Toronto, HH, and were any funds recovered?
The fluctuating currency exchange rate coupled with a decade of Inflation means the cost may well increase ten fold, or more. Shoddy stewardship to say the least: it's little wonder why HH donors and volunteers have followed Thistle to Karanda Hospital
THE ZIMBABWE BULLETIN May 2007
HOWARD HOSPITAL …
‘‘I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.’ Psalm 121:1,2 NIV
This Zimbabwean bulletin … will be a little shorter than our usual letter, and more focused on our upcoming travel as the Thistle tribe hastily prepares to return to Canada…..
The chief reason for our visit is to study at the Salvation Army College for Officer Training followed by commissioning as Salvation Army officers. ….. For Pedrinah and Paul who’ve been serving full time at Howard for over a decade, officership is a high mark in our careers, a confirmation of our calling to fulltime Christian ministry. Some things will remain the same: we are appointed to Howard Hospital. Some things will change. Officially, we’ll be called captains.. ….
The Howard we’re leaving behind .. is in a healthier state, a shining example of local and international cooperation in a landscape of suffering and sorrow. Yes, HIV continues to rear its ugly head; economic indicators may be worse .., and living conditions continue to decline. But our friends have rallied behind the cause to provide a quality standard of health care to the underprivileged in this corner of Zimbabwe. In 2007, we’ve received medicines from Holland and Norway, a container of groceries from Canadian Food for Children, and another container of hospital supplies from the Nazarene Compassionate Resource Warehouse. As we write, two more containers of medical supplies and equipment are en route overland from Mozambique thanks to the combined efforts of Trillium, Ve’ahavta, Hope International and Rotary Clubs in Ontario. Our primary and secondary schools have been inspired by exchanges with schools in Toronto and Peterborough respectively. Our community care ministries such as Home Base Care and AIDS education remain strong thanks to a motley crew of caring individuals and groups. We’re always afraid of leaving out someone when we begin our vote of thanks. Please forgive us. For of equal importance are the dollars and cents of understanding people, ie, the smaller gifts that we glue together in respond to the emergencies and pressing needs each day in the hospital and community.
And we’ve forgotten to mention our local chief and village headmen who have been collecting grain from the recent harvest to feed our patients in hospital. Maita basa! You have all done work!
Pedrinah and I are blessed by the interest and intercessions of folk for Howard Hospital. Some of you are able to visit us at Howard, re-directing your flights … in order to spend your vacation time at Howard. Your volunteer work fills in the gaps in the provision of services at the hospital, school and community, beside your efforts in our home at subduing our over-enthusiastic boys! As such, Howard can move from strength to strength, but only within the will of God for our hospital, community and nation.
Please continue your assistance in praying for:
• Economic stability in Zimbabwe
• The expansion of our AIDS Education, and HIV/TB Treatment programs. Our Tariro Clinic requires a constant supply of medicines, dedicated workers and resources to reach 5,000 people with ARV treatment
• Our community programs such as Home Based Care, child sponsorship and micro-enterprise projects.
• Our new staff housing. Our thanks to donors and builders for the work accomplished, but we will need wisdom to see it to completion in hyperinflationary Zimbabwe!
• Support for the completion of the new Howard Hospital. Our old building is groaning with the congestion of patients, programs, and the occasional wandering chickens.
• Our health and safety, especially during our travels.
• The Gospel of Jesus Christ, that it may be demonstrated by word and action through our lives.
…
God bless you.
Paul, Pedrinah James & Alexander
Such high hopes - brought to nothing by TSA.
How tragic for such optimism to be snuffed out by the very people who initially encouraged them to become officers. They didn't have to - they were already serving God in their capacities as Doctor and midwife. It makes you wonder if TSA had a long-term strategy to get rid of them in pursuit of their 'primary care' objective. The Dr obviously could not contemplate complying with this, as his focus was actually on TSA's own mission of 'serving suffering humanity'.
"It makes you wonder if TSA had a long-term strategy to get rid of them in pursuit of their 'primary care' objective."
What absolute rubbish! Such a dubious strategy would have to have been devised at high level and the absurdity of the accusation must come from a person with a devilish intent.
Granted, Thistle cannot be as outspoken as perhaps he'd like to be. But, surely he can shed some light on the new hospital construction fiasco -
Every person of any consequence under the African sun has shared a view, now how about the person who's been the focus of so much support?
Boston
I have brgan to think whatever the SA does to move forward with this issue will be wrong in the eyes of Sven,Jolinda ,Andy and co!even if it were exactly what you wanted to happen!
To say the article is lies is appalling to say the least.For goodness sake General Cox has only been in office a matter of weeks and is obviously onto this case despite fulfilling previously made specialling arrangements and was only officially welcomed yesterday !I note also that Dean Pallant is visiting Howard Hospital in the next few weeks.
Is this really a matter for the General to get involved in anyway? He could well get accused of micro managing his staff if he did. He has got sufficient capable staff under his ultimate direction to deal with this run of the mill problem that has been blown out of all proportions by a few folks.
pressed the button too quickly:
and kept artificially 'live' with old articles being reposted again and again, all under the guise of desperate concern for the local population as that pulls the heart strings and gives the excuse for some petty ( def not pretty) personalised remarks that could be classed as slanderous and defamatory. All this with biased third hand, indirect 'information'.
You should hang your heads in shame and ask God for forgiveness.
"pressed the button too quickly"-
Are you really suggesting that leaving 270,000 people without local, affordable healthcare on 24 hours notice is a "run of the mill" problem for the SA?
One of the reasons this situation has resonated with me, and with many Salvationists I know, is because it prompts the question "How often does this occur?". Perhaps this has always been the way the SA operates and this just happens to be the one that has seen the light of day. If that is the case, I will no longer be able to be a part of this organization.
Sr. Soldier of 37 years,
4th generation Salvationist
At his welcome meeting the General referred to wanting to organise SA funds more efficiently. Since you don't fix something unless you know its broken I think the General is becoming involved -albeit behind the scenes - in the very matter which seems to have sparked the Zimbabwe debacle. Although I have lost faith in many in leadership roles - and I also deplore the suggestion that what has happened at Howard is "run of the mill" -I think, for a while, I will continue to watch and pray rather than attempt to judge the new General after such a short tenure.
Jolinda, don't miss this trite nonsense from an obvious biased, naive and directed middle manager type:
"I have brgan to think whatever the SA does to move forward with this issue will be wrong in the eyes of Sven,Jolinda ,Andy and co!even if it were exactly what you wanted to happen!
To say the article is lies is appalling to say the least. For goodness sake General Cox has only been in office a matter of weeks and is obviously onto this case despite fulfilling previously made specialling arrangements and was only officially welcomed yesterday !I note also that Dean Pallant is visiting Howard Hospital in the next few weeks."
Some undeniable facts:
1. Thistle was dismissed with General Linda Bond's full knowledge and approval.
2, Barry Swanson was the Chief of the Staff.
3. Swanson was replaced by Andre' Cox and served for six months and would have been fully aware of the HH controversy. The non-factual report report submitted to IHQ was under Cox's direction.
4. Cox was provided many updates of the many HH unsettled questions in the weeks leading to calling a High Council.
5. The team(s) sent to investigate allegations of missing funds - equipment, and abuse of power were 'insiders' provided an agenda that would guarantee a white wash. Did the team(s) interview Captain Paul Thistle?
6. What changes will one find in Pallant's next fact finding journey? Let me guess: things are better, almost back to normal…
7. Plaint, we are waiting your verdict on the new hospital building. Will the two theaters now become laundry or storage rooms?
8. Can we ever expect an open, transparent report by non-biased professionals? Or would that simply be too much exposure of the true state of affairs?
9. Why not ask Dr. Gote Lindgren, the recently arrived Swedish CMO, for his impression/ assessment? Or would that simply disprove the party line?
Jolinda, the public HH records and the SA's muddled reports make for a most unique reading of facts and fiction. Please compile it for next Monday's HH update. More and more truth seeking bloggers are sharing the FSAOF reports.
Thank you FSAOF for not accepting the official line and for helping an ever widening group of Salvationists and SA supporters see the light on this African 0tragedy of ethical reporting and behavior.
Former officer-missionary
How can anyone describe the events of the HH as ‘run of the mill’? Perhaps you could cite some other similar incidents which have arisen by Salvation Army leaders which have had such an instant deleterious effect on humanity and community? I certainly don’t know of any, thankfully, and that is why I am keeping faith with my SA membership at the moment, albeit tenuously.
One would hope that the disastrous nature of the leaders’ discussions which led to this fiasco would be a ‘one-off’, and I sincerely hope that lessons have been learned by it.
I am disappointed, though, at the ATW article. It’s not a question of not being able to ever please Jolinda, Sven and the blog contributors – it’s about righting a grave wrong to a dedicated doctor, to his family, to his medical team and to the whole community, and to my mind TSA has failed to do this in its article. It was a golden opportunity to repair some of the hurt, and Jolinda in her article has generously acknowledged this, but whereas it is commendable that efforts are being made to address some of the issues at Howard, the article did not go far enough in ‘grace’ to make it comfortable reading. Not once did they even mention the man who built up the hospital into an acclaimed medical centre in the middle of the bush, nor his predecessor, who set those wheels in motion. How can a Christian organisation not mention them? It would have cost the organisation nothing, and would have helped to build a gracious bridge. And however much you WANT to believe that these IHQ plans will come to fruition, if you read the article carefully, you will see its inconsistencies and it is these that cast a doubt whether the planned progress will ever happen.
And I am not filled with confidence to learn of Major Pallant’s forthcoming visit there. His previous reports were not exactly unbiased, and contained some inconsistencies. IMHO he is much too close to the situation, and I would have hoped that TSA would have learned by past mistakes and sent someone more impartial.
And to the person complaining that ‘old’ articles are being posted again and again, the Zimbabwe newsletter 2007 has not appeared here before – at least I haven’t seen it. Yes, it is old, but the HH situation is now a historical event, and nothing can change that. I doubt if there will be any ‘new’ information, as TSA has put a lid on everything – no visitors, no websites, no photos (except those carefully stage-managed by IHQ, and very few of the hospital). What does that tell you about TSA? If there’s nothing to hide, why are they doing this? And deleting ordinary people’s questions from a website set up to ask for concerns – what’s that all about?
And, after all, if you are so bored with the ‘old’ information, why are you reading it? You really don’t have to.
And to the person who said the general has got sufficient capable staff under his ultimate direction to deal with this run of the mill problem – I would dispute that – if he did, this whole situation would never have happened.
Disillusioned UK Snr Soldier of 45 years service
"I have brgan to think whatever the SA does to move forward…"
Your merda taurorum animas conturbit. Latin for your BS baffles the brain-
Dr. Who
Pray tell, what has been slanderous and defamatory in this commentary?
Exactly. These blogs on the Howard Hospital receive the most comments by readers – most of the comments express just anger and frustration at TSA. I cannot conceive how anyone who professes an active faith in a loving God who cares for His creation in its entirety could possibly defend what The Salvation Army has done in Chiweshe.
People criticise our comments when we ask for TSA to somehow begin to rectify the tragic consequences of their actions. These people say we should ask God for forgiveness. For what? For standing up for the sick and marginalised in society? Surely that’s what Jesus would have done? He threw out the moneychangers from the temple because their motives were evil. I can’t honestly see Him defending the questionable ‘rules’ of an institution over real lives in peril.
Dean Pallant going there again?? What for? - so he can spin more tales no doubt.
Andre Cox by now could have ordered an independent investigation by professionals. He refuses and continues to send officers who obviously have a total conflict of interest because they are covenanted to TSA.
Apparently the General is coming in June 2014 to do a territorial congress in Canada. I wonder if the non-SA donors and professionals who worked at Howard Hospital will organize another public demonstration to protest what IHQ has done and sanctioned when General Cox comes to Canada, as they did when Linda Bond came to Canada last November? I bet this time they won't call their demonstration off as they did last time. They may take the attitude "Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me."
A Nation's Strength
by Ralph Waldo Emerson
What makes a nation's pillars high
And its foundations strong?
What makes it mighty to defy
The foes that round it throng?
It is not gold. Its kingdoms grand
Go down in battle shock;
Its shafts are laid on sinking sand,
Not on abiding rock.
Is it the sword? Ask the red dust
Of empires passed away;
The blood has turned their stones to rust,
Their glory to decay.
And is it pride? Ah, that bright crown
Has seemed to nations sweet;
But God has struck its luster down
In ashes at his feet.
Not gold but only men can make
A people great and strong;
Men who for truth and honor's sake
Stand fast and suffer long.
Brave men who work while others sleep,
Who dare while others fly...
They build a nation's pillars deep
And lift them to the sky.
By June 2014 it will be nearly two years from the HH riot that led to the 48 hour notice to be issued. The momentum has already passed a while ago and by then it will have moved out of sight.
I concur with the notion that it will be in the best personal interest of Dr Thistle and TSA that a lid is kept on this as neither party would want their parts in the whole issue become public knowledge, nor should it.
Each have played their active, cumulative part that led to the transfer away from HH of the good Dr. Neither party would come out of this clean. Where there has been a mutual breakdown of trust in an employer - employee (covenanted or not) relationship, with accusations and counter accusations having become increasingly personal and vindictive then there has to be an amicable parting of the ways. For reasons only known to both parties,this apparently was not possible. Had it not become so entrenched and vindictive over a prolonged period of time then, I believe Dr Thistle would still have been the CMO at HH today.
So, move on FSAOF folks, get off your hobby horses. The main parties involved appear to have already done so successfully and they must be wondering what all the present day blog fuss is all about.
In a secular world I would agree with you, but we are a Christian church, and should live by God's rules. We (TSA) have not.
'By June 2014 it will be nearly two years from the HH riot that led to the 48 hour notice to be issued'. What timeframe is this supposed to be? (I'd hate to be accompanying you anywhere - I wouldn't know what time to turn up!)
Fact - it is just over a year.
What is time, anyway, in the light of both history and eternity? A wrong is still a wrong.
I would def not want keep time with you! 2012 - 2014 = ??? With my humble maths this equals two years? I stand corrected of course if you can prove otherwise.
If you think that Canadian donors will forget from August 2012 to June 2014, you're dreaming in technicolour. People have given hundreds of thousands of dollars to TSA specifically for the HH. When their money disappears or is wasted, it is not easily forgotten.
The loss of life and life saving programs resulting from IHQ's decisions re the HH is even more indelible in the minds of Canadians and will not be forgotten either by June 2014. Perhaps by then many Salvationists will be joining the non-Army friends of HH in a demonstration against IHQ.
Remember the Vatican did nothing about sexual abuse/pedaphilia without intense and prolonged public pressure. Making decisions that result in loss of human life is right up there in the hierarchy of wrong-doing.
Ethical secular and religious organisational management principles are largely inter-changeable in practice. Neither have an edge over the other and each are profitable in common management terms.
Yet with all this going on around him, right under his nose, dr Thistle wanted to stay on just as before and carry on his cmo role for the salvation army in such a corrupt set up riddled with theft and misapplication of goods and funds! What would have happened if he had not received farewell orders after all the vindictive personalised utterances as supposed to have been expressed between the main parties?
It looks that his position had become untenable and there had to be a parting of the ways. As said earlier on, without this, he would very likely still be in post today.
'What would have happened if he had not received farewell orders after all the vindictive personalised utterances as supposed to have been expressed between the main parties?'
Perhaps the leaders would have been forced to practice Christian principles - love, grace, honesty, humility (now there's a thought) instead of their apparently self-serving defence of the realm of TSA. Indeed, a healthy dose of honesty and humility could have worked miracles, or do we no longer believe in them?
To '2012 - 2014 = ???'......my maths is probably more basic than yours, but my point was that you stretched this event into 2 years in the minds of readers when in fact it is only a year old. That is playing naughty mind games.
By June 2014 when General Cox will be visiting Toronto the riot matter that led to the 48 hour notice will be nearly 2 years old! Correct? Talk about playing mind games.....doh
To 'doh' (so eloquent!) I'm not disputing that you are correct - it's all rather indirect, though - and unnecessary. IMHO. But I will agree to differ in the interests of harmonious blogging.
But - I couldn't resist this little quote -
“So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads.” Dr Seuss
Probably makes me as bad as you.
Have a good evening.
Well said.
Thanks
Thanks
Like anyone else I am allowed to comment,and others are allowed to comment back but I do object to being told my comment is a load of Bullshit.
You see,some of us were taught Latin at school!
So I suggest Dr Who,your comment is removed.
I agree. There is no need for rudeness or coarse language.
But as my comment is still on here I am guessing the admins of this group think it is OK?
I don't think they take many comments out - just console yourself with the fact that the use of bad language generally denotes a lack of vocabulary.
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