20 JAN 2011: MAF pilot Justin Honaker reports from mountainous Lesotho:
Amanda and I say our goodbye for the day and I climb on my bike for the short ride to work. After a brief meeting and prayer, it's time for pre-flight check.
Meanwhile, M'e’ Manontlahla's day started about the same time as ours. She was getting her new baby ready to make the journey to the health outpost at Matsile.
It's Thursday and the plane will be coming today. With a two hour walk ahead, there is little time to spare.
Completing the pre-flight, I see the Primary Health Care (PHC) Team of the Lesotho Flying Doctor Service (LFDS) is on my passenger manifest this morning: M'e’ Leonia and M'e’ Pumane. Their mission today: family planning and counselling, and immunisations.
Me’ Manontlahla is already at the health outpost in Matsile when the airplane circles overhead for landing. However, even from the airstrip, there's still a forty-five minute hike to the clinic.
Ordinarily we would drop the PHC Team off in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon. Today, with high winds forecast, we decide to stay with the team so that an afternoon landing is avoided. If we fail to land to collect them, the team will spend the night in a poorly-equipped-for-overnight-guests clinic! It's a good thing we landed when we did!. Before I could even get the plane tied down the wind picked up, making landing now highly unlikely.
Having arrived early, M'e’ Manontlahla is the first patient of the day. She's walked two hours to have her newborn son immunised. Little Nontlahla does not make a sound as M'e’ Leonia administers the shots. I scarcely have time to take a photo and ask questions before she's gone, heading back home. Just four days ago she gave birth to this healthy baby boy!
Long-term commitment
About 22 children are immunised during the day, with counselling and family planning services offered to about the same number of women.
Hiking back to the plane, I learn that M'e’ Pumane has been flying with LFDS for 10 years now, and M'e’ Leonia 20! M'e’ Leonia tells me she enjoys flying. Me’ Pumane scoffs and tells me she does not sleep the night before flying.
It's humbling to see their commitment to serve their fellow countrymen.
M'e’ Manonthahla’s village is on the departure path of Matsile. I imagine she has made it home by the time we circle in our climb to 12,500 feet.
Fact-file
Matsile is a small village in the Qacha’s Neck District of Lesotho. By air it is about a 40-minute flight. The road from the capital city literally ends a two-hour walk outside of Matsile.
From a public health standpoint, Matsile and the surrounding area is an extremely difficult place to provide healthcare. The plane makes administering basic health care that much more accessible to people like M'e’ Manontlahla.
M'e' is directly translated "mother". It is a term of respect for women of "marriable" age.
Coasting my bicycle into our driveway, Amanda is there to greet me. I am excited to tell her about my day and meeting M'e’ Manontlahla and her son.
Call for prayer
Lord, we praise You for placing us where we can impact people’s lives for the better. Help us to be good stewards of those we come in contact with. Show us ways to not only care for physical needs, but spiritual needs as well. Amen.