Our first day: Departure from Zaventem airport at 10.40 hours, arrival in Bujumbura at 19.40 hours local time. We were awaited by the sister in charge of the Ijenda hospital. Bujumbura is a bustling town, with heavy traffic and very warm. The sister took us to the hotel for the night and we had a meeting with the responsible person of Handicap International.

Day 2: In the morning, we went shopping because in Ijenda, there are only few facilities to buy food and to exchange money. EUR 1 = BIF 1,650. In the afternoon, we travelled to the hospital in Ijenda. Ijenda is situated in a mountainous area, 40 km away from the capital. We drove for more than an hour by jeep.The climate was cooler and rainy; it was 15-20°C. We were warmly received.
During our round, we saw the first patients with cleft lips. Among them, there was 1 little patient of less than 6kg in weight. These were not included in the operation list, due to the high anaesthetic risk. The others did come into consideration. Later, a third patient arrived.

Day 3: The materials that had beendispatched in advance were unpacked and checked. Everything was complete. At 10.00 hours, the first operation could begin. The operating room is spacious and equipped with an efficient aspiration and coagulation device, an evaporation pot for the anaesthesia and 2 large oxygen bottles. When an oxygen bottle is empty it has to be refilled in the capital. This means a trip of 2:30 hoursby jeep.
Surgical lamps do work, but some of them are broken and these are not available in the capital. The first 3 patients were operated on and all went as desired. In the evening, the local hospital doctor took us for a tour through the village.

Day 4: Only 2 patients to do. The first was postponed due to an urgent (caesarean) section.Eventually, the first operation could begin at 09.00 hours and the second was finished at 12.30 hours. Oops, there were no more patients.
At 13.00 hours, the jeep of Handicap International arrived, with 7 new patients, children, all with cleft lips. The doctor consulted them immediately: 5 for the operation dayon Thursday and 2 for Friday.

Hoping for more...Gert, Barbara, Lucien, Christine