These St. Albert’s nurses are carrying eggs they purchased from the hospital’s poultry project, which was funded by donations to BHA.
“Eggs are more affordable than meat, fish or milk,” writes Dr. Julia Musariri, Medical Superintendent at St. Albert’s. “When the eggs are bought out, would-be buyers say the project needs to be bigger.”
The nurses take the eggs home to their families. “Everything is expensive,” Dr. Musariri continues. “The eggs go a long way for each family. Thirty eggs will last them some days better than a kilogram of beef. The refrigerators do not freeze because of the long hours of power cuts. The egg is a versatile commodity.”
During food shortages such as those that occurred around 2007, St. Albert’s gave nurses a week off to find food, with some traveling to South Africa or elsewhere to purchase it.