Bringing essential community services to rural Liberia

CHATS WITH QUITA

SELECTED SEGMENTS

May 1 & 2, 2012

Daniel Zayzay

Quita Mamie Bemah

I am here with baby Daniel.

Steve Bundy

There in the cafe? That must make if more difficult to chat. And your neighbor lady who said she might help us? Cecelia. What about her?

Quita Mamie Bemah

She no where around, I learned that she went to find her son that was lost since the war.

Steve Bundy

There in Monrovia?

Quita Mamie Bemah

no, she went to Kakata,

Steve Bundy

What is Daniel doing right now?

Quita Mamie Bemah

Laying down in here.

Steve Bundy

Is he quiet for now?

Quita Mamie Bemah

I just give him his milk,

Steve Bundy

I expect Dr. Camanor to be in touch with Dr. Golden after the visit. Is that what you think?

Quita Mamie Bemah

Yes.

Steve Bundy

I think we need more information to help people better understand Daniel's condition.

Quita Mamie Bemah

Okay what are those informations?

Steve Bundy

It would help to know what it means to do nothing. Hopefully that is what we will be getting from Dr. Camanor on Wednesday. And we need a decision about where to take him for treatment.

Quita Mamie Bemah

okay,

Steve Bundy

I don't know how you can keep up with your school work as well as take care of Daniel.

Quita Mamie Bemah

Yes, It is not easy. If there is anything that Dr, would want us to do I will have to really tell her about my school. So, I will please tell her that if there is anywhere to take Daniel, it will be in late August. Because my graduation, will be on the 9 or 10 August

Steve Bundy

On that topic, Dr. Golden believes the best approach is to treat Daniel as close to home as possible.

Quita Mamie Bemah

okay I understand. Let wait and see tomorrow, how it will be after I finish meeting Dr. Camanor,

Steve Bundy

One issue that will not change no matter what they say about Daniel is your school and your need to prepare for your thesis.

Quita Mamie Bemah

That is it. Okay, let's say if Daniel was to come to America for his treatment, and it is urgent, I could allow someone else to bring him. Or, if Daniel's treatment will be approved for the US, I will only ask UMU for permission, to give me some time, till after my graduation in August.

 

Quita Bemah as Sudent

Steve Bundy

Let's deal with the school situation and your needs for right now. How often do you need to be up to campus?

Quita Mamie Bemah

I go to school every Tuesday and Thrusday, 10am to 3pm. I am actually working hard on my thesis so that I can be finish soon. 

Steve Bundy

What do you do on those days? Are there meetings?

Quita Mamie Bemah

I go carry my questionaries to the community where I am doing my research,

Steve Bundy

On Tuesday and Thursdays?

Quita Mamie Bemah

My case study is in Soniwen Community, very bad community where the community dwellers suffer from sanitation problem the most. Yes on Tuesday and Thursday.

Steve Bundy

How do you get to your research site?

Quita Mamie Bemah

I take car to get there.

Steve Bundy

Does anyone go with you?

Quita Mamie Bemah

no, I do it all by myself, and report all of the chapters to my surpervisor,

Steve Bundy

What about Daniel on those days?

Quita Mamie Bemah

If I don't have anyone to leave him with, I take him along. And because of his story, most people are willing to help me with informations. I am telling, I have gotten my chapter 1,2,3, our total thesis is limited 5 chapters. And every time I carry, my work, my advisor, tells me it is good work.

Steve Bundy

How often do you meet with Supervisor?

Quita Mamie Bemah

Every Tuesday and Thursday,

Steve Bundy

What is your Supervisor's name?

Quita Mamie Bemah

Yes One is Joel Bima, and Julius Mcgill

Steve Bundy

I assume they teach at Methodist University. Is that right? Are they professors, or what?

Quita Mamie Bemah

Yes, Well, for Joel has a Master degree and he is a student at law, Mr. Mcgill hold a masters in Social Work.

Steve Bundy

Do you happen to know from what school they hold their degrees?

Quita Mamie Bemah

Joel went to school in Cuttington Unversity is where he did his masters, his Bsc, is from UMU, and the law school, the University of Liberia, Mr.Mcgill is from the University of Liberia. He got some University from the US.

Steve Bundy

What is a Bsc?

Quita Mamie Bemah

Bachelors of Science, something like that,

Steve Bundy

Thank you. You talk about your "questionaire". This is your research tool. Is that right?

Quita Mamie Bemah

Yes,

Steve Bundy

Where did it come from?

Quita Mamie Bemah

I did it myself, Steve, I do not like for people to do my school work.

Steve Bundy

Let me see if I "get the picture". You go into the Soniwen Community and talk to the residents about sanitation. You take you questionaire along to use as your guide.

Quita Mamie Bemah

Yes,

Steve Bundy

You ask them the questions and you do the writing - right?

Quita Mamie Bemah

Yes, at times, I give them the questions, and they show me time, I go there to get, or I make sure, I stay with them and asked the questions on my own. Asking the questions, give me more time for them to come out.

Steve Bundy

By "come out" you mean to talk to you about the sanitation problems?

Quita Mamie Bemah

Yes,

Steve Bundy

Dr. Golden told me that one thing he never got used to was the amount of garbage in the streets of Monrovia.

Quita Mamie Bemah

Seriously, it is too much, you can not manage it.

Steve Bundy

Each person must take quite a while to interview.

Quita Mamie Bemah

yes, at least four of five persons a day.

Steve Bundy

Do you have a total number of "subjects" you want to include in your study?

Quita Mamie Bemah

Steve, I will have to take time, to tell you more in an email.

Steve Bundy

Please do so.

Quita Mamie Bemah

Mr. Zayzay, milk I brought with me to town is finish. We might be leaving very soon, because if he starts to cry, we wouldn't be able to stay here in the people cafe.

Steve Bundy

OK. What time will you go to the hospital tomorrow?

Quita Mamie Bemah

by 8am tomorrow, morning time,

Steve Bundy

Please get me as much information as you can about that visit and let me know.

Quita Mamie Bemah

okay, I will do my best I can to get you all the information.

 

Daniel Zayzay

Quita Mamie Bemah

How are you this morning? Did I wake you up?

Steve Bundy

Yes. I set the alarm and it was ringing, but I was still sleeping. Where is Daniel?

Quita Mamie Bemah

He is right here in my hand bag.

Steve Bundy

So will you be taking him to school today.

Quita Mamie Bemah

Unfortunately, we were not able to meet with Dr. Camanor, today.

Steve Bundy

Why is the reason for that?

Quita Mamie Bemah

All because, she was meeting with Minister of Health Authority for a very long meeting that will last till late this evening. So, I book for another appointment, for Wednesday next week, that is the only time she met with babies. I felt so frustrated today, Because I woke up round about 4am this morning just to be there,

Steve Bundy

This is disturbing. A week is a long time.

Quita Mamie Bemah

yes, I have been feeling very bad since today. I will email doctor Golden, I just came at the cafe, before the day ends I will email him.

Steve Bundy

Tell me how did you make the appointment in the first place?

Quita Mamie Bemah

Dr, Golden sent me a text on Friday last week instructing me to take Daniel to JFK to meet with Dr. Camanor who I have not met before, I too sent him a text asking him for her contact number, so that was going to enable me call her direct so that she know that I am coming to meet with her Wednesday which is today. He told he could not give out her contact and that I should just go there.

So today, I was at JFK, sharp 6:45. I sat there from 6:45 to 5 after 12 midday, and then I was told that she will not be meeting with anyone till next week Wednesday. I told them that my baby's case was a special one, but they told me that she said she could will not meet with anyone. I even tried breaking my rules, by bribing and writing Dr. Golden's name down on a piece of paper so that I could be recognized, but there was no way. I felt so bad with my frustration and left. Hopeless. That is what happens today.

Steve Bundy

Thank you for your account.

Quita Mamie Bemah

I downhearted so much Steve,

Steve Bundy

I know Dr. Golden will be heartbroken too. I am sure he will do what he can. I cannot help but keep thinking, this is the story of Liberia. In my mind Daniel has come to be the symbol for how difficult it is to get help to those in need in your country. People who have done nothing themselves to be ignored and cast aside.

Quita Mamie Bemah

yes, there were about 17 mothers with babies that had the same problems. waiting for Dr. Camanor.

 

Communication Issues

Steve Bundy

Let's chat about your thesis. I want to have a better idea about your work at school.

Quita Mamie Bemah

Yes, I will send you my questionair, but not today. I will come to school tomorrow, I will bring it along and scan it

Steve Bundy

Scan it? It is not on file in your computer?

Quita Mamie Bemah

it is on a memory stick,

Steve Bundy

Is it a Microsoft Word document?

Quita Mamie Bemah

yes it uses microsoft word,

Steve Bundy

Can't you use a computer at school?

Quita Mamie Bemah

UMU, doesn't have computer lab for her students, but we do have students that have their personal laptops. All students including me have the right to use their computer at UMU. But my laptop is out of credit and the battery is not in good condition again. It doesn't keep power for long.

Steve Bundy

Thank you for your answers. Let's' focus on your computer for a minute. Let's talk about the cost of putting it back into service.

Quita Mamie Bemah

the battery is $100 while the internet credit cost 100usd for one month.

Steve Bundy

Will the battery be a new one?

Quita Mamie Bemah

very new one from the factory.

Steve Bundy

And will the internet provider be Cellcom as in the past?

Quita Mamie Bemah

Yes, I am still with Cellcom.

Steve Bundy

I see. Thank you.

 Monrovia

Steve Bundy 

Now, Student Quita I have a geography question for you.

Quita Mamie Bemah

go ahead and ask

Steve Bundy

First tell me where the Cellcom office is located.

Quita Mamie Bemah

CellCom head office is located right on the Capitol Bye Pass Central Monrovia.

Steve Bundy

The Capitol ByPass is the name of a road. Correct?

Quita Mamie Bemah

It is not a road, but street.

Steve Bundy

Thank you for the correction. Isn't the LDS Church on the Capitol ByPass

Quita Mamie Bemah

Yes

Steve Bundy

Close together, or far apart?

Quita Mamie Bemah

just a minute walk from cellcom to LDS Church. You can be standing and looking right in the yard of cellcom from the LDS Church compound. It is about two miles away from school

Steve Bundy

Last year you could not tell me distance in miles. You did not know what a mile was. Right or wrong?

Quita Mamie Bemah

yes, you are right

Steve Bundy

Now that you are driving you know how long is a mile. Is that it? Now, that you see it posted there on the dashboard.

Quita Mamie Bemah

what is posted on the dashboard?

Steve Bundy

the mileage. We call it the "odometer".

Quita Mamie Bemah

okay, yes in the car

Steve Bundy

Yes, in the car. Second geography question: where is the community for your research, what part of Monrovia?

Quita Mamie Bemah

It is called Soniwen down town Monrovia,

Steve Bundy

Home Life & Culture

Steve Bundy

How is Daniel today? 

Quita Mamie Bemah

Daniel is doing fine, I am just having this bad feelings from the hospital. Daniel is very calm today, he seems to be feeling bad like me, since today, he has not smile, I was aking him in the car if he is annoy with Dr. Camanor not being able to see him, but he just will turn his face on the other side. For your very infromation Daniel's Bithday will be on Friday, I told him I am not going to do anything for him till he walk. I might if I get money, fix him small pan cake.

Steve Bundy

I am very thankful to have you talking about Daniel.

Quita Mamie Bemah

You know what, he sometime says, mama, but it wouldn't come out of his mouth very well. Whenever, he says that, I feel good that whole day my dear,

Steve Bundy

Let us go to the topic of his daily care.

Quita Mamie Bemah

ok,

Steve Bundy

Where does he sleep?

Quita Mamie Bemah

He sleep with me in my bed.

Steve Bundy

Is he your alarm clock?

Quita Mamie Bemah

yes,

Steve Bundy

What do you use for diapers?

Quita Mamie Bemah

The real diapers the clothe type.

Steve Bundy

How often do you change him. How many tmes in a day?

Quita Mamie Bemah

Anytime at night he gets wet, he cry for him to be change, it seems like after every 30 minutes we are up. At night he cry alot

Steve Bundy

Who washes this boy's diapers?

Quita Mamie Bemah

I do every morning, but this morning, I did not wash it.

Steve Bundy

How many cloth diapers do you have for Daniel?

Quita Mamie Bemah

about 24,

Steve Bundy

How many does he use each day?

Quita Mamie Bemah

I use and wash each time he wet one, I wash it.  all because we don't have enough. for both night and day.

Steve Bundy

Where do you wash Daniel's diapers?

Quita Mamie Bemah

Outside in a big tub, and buckets.

Steve Bundy

Do you have running water insde the house? Pipe water from the city.

Quita Mamie Bemah

No, there is no running water but we do have hand pump.

Steve Bundy

Where is the hand pump located, hear the kitchen door?

Quita Mamie Bemah

in my friend yard

Steve Bundy

 Did you tell me the hand pump is in your neighbor's yard.

Quita Mamie Bemah

yes, not too far from our compound.

Steve Bundy

Is there s fence between your homes?

Quita Mamie Bemah

Is like right in fornt in of our property, in front of our home.

Steve Bundy

Do the boys fetch most the water?

Quita Mamie Bemah

I myself like to work Steve. Like today, I will go and get more water in my bath room, that will last for a week, I paint my house myself, But I think I told you about my health problem before, the doctor advised that I stop, during hard work, because of my chance of giving birth to my own child. I even cut my grass from the yard,

Steve Bundy

What do you cut the grass with?

Quita Mamie Bemah

Cutlesses,

Steve Bundy

I do not know that word.

Quita Mamie Bemah

it is very long and have a sharp noise, with the handle being made out of wood.

Steve Bundy

How many buckets of water does it take to fill up your bathroom tank to last a whole week?

Quita Mamie Bemah

12 buckets,

Steve Bundy

So Quita, what do those lazy boys do?

Quita Mamie Bemah

I have decided that they all leave, one is already out, and the rest will be leaving soon. I can not keep, them, they are not willing to do anything but just to take their bath and dress up and go into the street. as soon as I leave the house they bring in their girl friends.

Quita Mamie Bemah

I am trying to get one woman who will be able to help. Steve, what is the need of keep men, feed them and they are not willing to help with anything in the house. When they came first, it was so good. Now, what I feel is that all of them are wearing black shoes from the city, so there is no respect, I am sending them back in their bush. They one I put out last week, came at the house last night,, telling me  Aunty I came to say sorry, I told him to leave my sight, I just don't want to be bother with them Steve, I suffer with those children alot. And they feel because they have become men, and they want to insult my kindness, I am sick and tired with them Let them go,

Quita Mamie Bemah

I got one old ma to help me in some areas, at the hosue, he come after every two day, to do some small work I have there. I give him 500LD every Saturday. Those three men at my house know fully ware, that they do not have parents,  and they want to be Mr. Big men, they are going to feel the weight of there bad ways. Every day when I am coming to town, I ask them to put their things out of my house, I lock my door and come, I told the two, that they are not going to sleep there toninght, they think I am joking.  Let talk about someting good

Quita Mamie Bemah

There are lots of poor children in the village that wants to come to town to make good, life, but then I think about where I took these ones from and now that they are looking and want to mess up, I feel discouraged to bring people's children to town again. Pray that Daniel grows up and he wouldn't be like them. Do we have any other topic for us to discuss?

Quita Mamie Bemah

ok, Daniel is now crying, is like he know the right time to cry. Tell Daniel thanks for keep us on our time.

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