Man No Be God Bushdoctor In Cameroon

Posted In: Cameroon

Ivy Vesley says...

This book is a classic depiction of what is really going on in Cameroon to the eyes of a foreigner who has never been there before. Being a native of that country, I think that the author himself is very explicit as to what he truely experienced while living and mingling with people from a different culture and ethnicity. If you have never been to Cameroon let alone Africa, I would PERSONALLY reccomend this book. To the author of this book, I would say GOOD JOB and more power to your elbow.

Posted on November 26, 2010

Ilona Standen says...

"Review by Tim McNamara - on staff at Concordia University College
"man no be God' is a memoir by Dr. Dieter Lemke, now retired and living in Edmonton, of his years as a Baptist missionary in Cameroon, Africa.Dr. Lemke is not a professional writer, and there are times when this book struck me as rough and unpolished.But, fundamentally, this is in the book's best interest.Lemke speaks from the heart and tells the reader precisely what he saw and experienced during his years in Cameroon.
Lemke, a graduate of the U of A, went to Africa as a missionary, but his essential mission was to help heal the sick.His witness to his faith was to try to make the lives of Cameroonians better.
One does not get from his memoir a sense of a man who is pedantic or preachy; rather, one has the sense of someone who teaches by setting an example. He faced a daunting task in trying to bring health care to an impoverished and difficult land.There was little in the way of resources, patients often had to walk for days just to get to him, medicine was often scarce, and facilities were primitive.Yet Lemke prevailed by doing the best he could.
Often he would be presented with novel or baffling symptoms, and he had to learn as he went.
What emerges from his efforts is the portrait of a man who did everything he could for these people whom he clearly cared about and loved.
Lemke strikes me as a tough-minded optimist.
I strongly recommend this book.It is an admirable achievement."

Posted on November 26, 2010

Elwanda Doughty says...

Dr. Lemke vividly portrays the life of a physician at the Banso Baptist Hospital in Cameroon, West Africa.He writes about the history of the hospital and the changes that have occurred there during his 30 years of service.The story is interwoven with cultural information and recounts of interesting and unusual patients.In the final portion of the book, Dr. Lemke conveys the details of his personal experience with AIDS in West Africa.

Having traveled to and worked at Banso Baptist Hospital myself, I would highly recommend this tale to anyone interested in medical mission work, tropical medicine or West African society.Dr. Lemke's portrayal of life in rural Cameroon is exceptional.He provides insight into the life of a "bush doctor" and brings the Banso Baptist Hospital to life in the mind of the reader.Read this book -- you will laugh, you will cry, but you won't be disappointed!

Posted on November 27, 2010

Mirian Shongo says...

This book has adventure!An inspiring read for any medical student.Dr. Lemke shares riveting case histories that could only occur in the bush.The use of tupperware implant to treat a paralyzed eye -- the need to argue with natives in sign language not to leave the operating table while cut open mid-surgery -- the dilemma of providing treatment to a culture with unique but life-threatening traditions.As a medical student, I appreciated reading through Dr. Lemke's thought processes while having to ethically and medically navigate the need for unusual treatments. Dr. Lemke also makes astute observations about how African tribal lifestyles prevent many diseases common in western countries such as tooth decay and appendicitis.In addition to the medical aspect, Dr. Lemke shares an incredibly open-minded portrait of Cameroon's somewhat unknown native tribes.

Posted on November 27, 2010

Janet Melfi says...

REVIEW
Man No Be God
Bushdoctor in Cameroon

I have read this book and reread many parts many times.It is always a delight and brings back many wonderful memories.I smile and relive precious times.The people, places and predicaments come alive with the author's clear details and compassionate descriptions.Although I lived in Cameroon and was a coworker of Dr. Lemke's, the huge number of precise details cited here about the culture, the country and the medical conditions amaze me.Now we see the value of the little notebook kept in the author's breast pocket and all the notations he put in it.This book contains a wealth of factual information as well as a fascinating account of hundreds of people and their problems.Since Dr. Lemke's years of work spanned more than 30 years, he includes the follow-up and feedback of many interesting cases plus the growth in the development of the country.

I highly recommend this book to anyone planning to live or work in Cameroon, or other developing countries.Certainly, it is a "must" for medical people.Both the technical and emotional challenges of facing unknown or untreatable illness one after the other become real. The cultural insights presented are enlightening; the humor, constant and comforting; and the people, real and loveable.When you meet them, you will enjoy them more if you have read this book.

For those who want to experience Africa from the armchair, you will have more than you can imagine here.A little medical background will increase your understanding but is not necessary.Explanations of the life and culture are interesting and well done.This is a true account of life in developing Cameroon.

Thank you, Dieter, for writing this book and sharing your life and your heart with us - again.You shared while you were in Cameroon, and here you continue to do so.This is another good example of your pace setting.

Posted on November 30, 2010

Cassondra Vaccarella says...

Poorly written, annoying false modesty. lots of Christian mumbo jumbo, surprisingly very little insight after so much time spent in Cameroon. Laundry list of patients' conditions is about it.

And for God's sake, "it's" is NOT the same as "its".

Posted on December 4, 2010