The corridors are long and painted steely grey, with metal grates for windows, positioned so you can just peep out over the ledge. The wards are locked and there is a security guard at the entrance to each one, inside there is large bare yard with concrete benches and circular tables. There is one room, where the patients all sleep together on mattresses on the floor.
The patients themselves were milling about, some naked, some in clothes but all either pretty much doped up to the eyeballs or whizzing about all over the place. Unfortunately, our arrival caused a bit of a stir and they flocked around, trying to shake our hands and get a piece of the action. It was all pretty unnerving for me, I hated my psychiatric placement during my training but at least then I had a security alarm on me and there were trained staff about to help. Here there is one nurse for anything up to 60 patients, 60 unpredictable and pretty scary patients in my book.
We spent the two days watching the students at work and going through thier case studies. They all seemed very calm about being is such a horrid environment and they were very protective of us - keeping the patients at bay (except one who snuck round the back of me and reached out over my shoulder with grubby, grabby fingers towards m'beres!!) I took on a new respect for the students, as I know I certainly wouldn't have been able to survive 4 days there let alone 4 weeks.
Being in Zomba was nice through. Its turned very hot here now but would have been lovely up the mountain if we'd had the time. I did find a nursery at the bottom though so have bought some pots and plants to keep me happy in the garden!
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