The Plaster House

After a couple hours of rest or whatever, we assembled in the hotel lobby for our evening activity. When the Bethel People were in Tanzania two years ago, they toured Selian Lutheran Hospital here in Arusha. Their "tour guide" was a woman from Australia named Sarah Wallis. Selian is building a second hospital, right next to the existing one, and it's not really a good time to try and take another tour. Fortunately, Sarah is still in Tanzania, and has moved on to a new project, which she described to us over dinner. She is an Occupational Therapist by training, and her new project is called The Plaster House. When people break an arm or a leg out in the bush country, they come into Arusha and have it set here. The hospital uses plaster for making casts, unlike the fiberglass versions we are familiar with in the States. The hospital discharges them almost as soon as the plaster is dry, but the patient shouldn't go home right away for several reasons – one, the cast is a great place for bugs to live, and often the patient doesn't make the tip back to Selian to remove th cast or have a follow up. On the other hand, mama is the one who will likely come into town with a child to take care of the break. If she is gone for the six weeks of convalescence, the home will suffer. Enter Plaster House, a place where the patient can stay while the break heals.

Plaster House opened recently – she had a handful of patients there as we spoke.
For more info on Plaster House, and to see some pictures. navigate over to the Selian Hospital website, click on the Orthopedic Institute link, and scroll down to the "slideshow" link in the text. Sarah is the curly-haired Mzungu.
website: www.selianlh.habari.co.tz

Sarah was a fascinating dinner guest. She has been in Tanzania for five of the last seven years – after her first two year tour, she went home to get back to a "Normal Life". After a year at home, she realized she missed Tanzania, and the good she was able to do here, and found a way to come back. She just signed on for another two year hitch, so, if were lucky she will still be here for Bethel's next Tanzania trip.