More Government Harassment (2001)

Excerpt from the draft of "Apostle to the Pygmies – The Doctor Jerry Galloway Story"

Photo of Dr. Jerry Galloway and barefoot doctors with their medical supply kits

There were many infants in the hospital with pneumonia. We were in the middle of a long rainy season, and there were many mosquitoes, which meant there were many malaria cases. Malaria destroys the red blood cells, especially in children under the age of five. We gave an average of four to five blood transfusions a week. Since we did not have any oxygen tanks or respirators, a significant number died.

Problems continued when Kiri's economic inspector arrested ten Botoa barefoot doctors under the pretext that they weren't qualified. I sent a letter and explained that my project had the support of the medical director and the health ministry. I also wrote to the Kiri territory administrator, who then came to my office to talk about the program. I explained the training each barefoot doctor received and thought there would be no further difficulties. An hour later, the administrator sent me a note.

The note said that the inspector had a legal report and asked for payment; otherwise, he would file it. I refused to pay him and told him they would see me in court. I dashed off a note to the Kiri hospital administrator. I informed him I would no longer help the hospital until the government stopped harassing my health workers. I fumed, knowing they were looking for money, and impeded my work to help others. The harassment made me hesitant to become the zone medical director.