January 1995

A Canadian Lourdes in Rwanda [page 5]

Lieutenant-Commander Colin Harwood of the Directorate Health Treatment Services in Ottawa, checks a baby being held by his mother

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) was the first organisation to proclaim the Canadian Armed Forces tented hospital at Mareru, as the Lourdes of Rwanda. Open seven days a week, twenty fours a day, nobody was ever turned away. In the last two months the 240 members of 2 Canadian Field Ambulance (Rwanda) have seen every type of injury and illness imaginable from cholera to mutilation. "We have seen disease and injuries that we would never see back in Canada", says Lieutenant-Colonel Jim Anderson, Commanding Officer, "In the time we have been here we have seen over 23,000 patients. The vast majority are treated as out-patients, some, because of the severity of their injuries are kept overnight or forwarded to the Doctors Without Borders hospital in Ruhengeri"

Through an interpreter Corporal Michele Mazerolle of 4 Engineering Support Regiment conducts an ordance awareness presentation to school children in Nyundo

Initially set up to hold 300 patients, this tented community has all the requirements of a village. These are more than adequately met by a troop of engineers who supply fresh water, electricity, carry out road repair and building construction. They also take care of any unexploded ordnance. Several children have been killed or maimed after playing with grenades or mines that have been left or dropped by both sides. In one incident, a boy died in the Canadian Field Ambulance after blowing off both hands and a leg playing with a grenade. In a country with no toys, a hand grenade or plastic mine is attractive but lethal plaything. In an effort to prevent more children being injured or killed, troop commander of the Engineers, Captain Chris Stec began an explosive awareness program at the newly re-opened local schools. A team of Engineers take examples of de-fused mines and mortars to the schools. They conduct a lecture in French, which is then interpreted into the local dialect. After the lecture the team take questions from the children. "I expect I will reach over 2000 children before we leave," says Corporal Michel Mazerolle from Canadian Forces Base Gagetown. "We show the children what to look for and explain to them how dangerous it is, not to touch it and to tell their parents or an adult."

Defence and security is provided by members of 7 Platoon, 3 Commando of the Canadian Airborne Regiment. But that is not all they do. When the electrical power failed at a Medicine Sans Frontier hospital in Ruhengeri while doctor Major Rene Jacque was performing an emergency Caesarean delivery, members of the Airborne D&S Platoon immediately rushed into the room with their flashlights. Without their quick response both mother and baby could have died. The power came back on in time for the incision to be closed.

Corporal Marcel Belliveau of 2 Service Battalion, on the mid-night shift, loading laundry into the dryer

Laundry, Bath and Decontamination Unit has only had one evening off in two months. Warrant Officer Billy Billings of the 2 Service Battalion team from Canadian Forces Base Petawawa provides 12 hour laundry service for the hospital and the troops. They have washed thousands of loads soiled hospital sheets and uniforms. "We've only had one accident", says WO Billings, "we washed the Padres clothes ok, but we kind of melted them in the dryer".

Every morning at 0630hr, rain or shine, members of defence and security platoon, 3 Commando of the Airborne Regiment go for a morning run along the main road. Wearing their maroon T-shirts and shorts they attract the attention of local children. "Every day about half a dozen kids, many of them barefoot, join us for the run", says Master Corporal Van Den Burg. "One of the regulars was a kid who was almost naked, his butt was hanging out of his pants, so I gave him one of my Airborne sweat-shirts and somebody gave him shorts".

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