Dear avid followers of the blog to end all blogs,
Pole sana (we’re very sorry) for our long delay in updating our blog! Time is flying by here and we’ve been keeping very busy over the past few weeks. We thought we’d briefly mention what we’ve been up to, with a few special highlights from each of us at the end. Last time we left off we had just finished our two weeks of work at the Nkoaranga hospital, and we were happy to be back in civilization and settle into Centre House.
• Our first week back (July 11-15) the meds and nursing students spent time at Dr. Mhando’s clinics (Engira and Bondeni). The dents started their work with Dr. Tekle, who they’ll be working with for the remainder of their time here.
• On the weekend all 8 of us travelled to Zanzibar to enjoy some relaxing time on the beach. Unaccustomed to the African sun, most of us left with memorable sunburns (a first for Supriya!), which we’ve thankfully recovered from.
• Last week (July 18-22) we split ourselves up, with Caleigh, Christina, Supriya and I (Hilarie) staying a few nights at CCF Maji Ya Chai and working at the Upendo Leprosy home. Working at the Leprosy home was an amazing experience for all of us. We got to do lots of wound care in the mornings and helped with cleaning etc. around the home. Then in the afternoons, our favourite time of the day, we led the mazuezi (=exercise) class that last years nursing students, Sam and Courtney, implemented as a way to get everyone out. CCF (Children for Chilren’s Future) is an organization that provides street children with a place to live outside the city, giving them the invaluable chance to go to school. Marc and Harpreet made the daily commute to join us in the afternoons hanging out with the CCF boys, where we tried not to embarrass ourselves playing soccer with them. We all had a great time getting to know the boys before conducting their medical screenings on the weekend.
• On Friday we went back to Nkoaranga hospital for the grand opening of their new paediatric ward. The building of the ward was initiated by a young paediatric nurse from Belgium (Tanya). She got the idea back in 2008 when she volunteered at the hospital for 6 months. She then returned home and fundraised all the money needed over the past few years. It was inspirational seeing all of her friends, family and donors who also came for the opening.
• This week we’re conducting screenings for the Upendo HIV group – a group of 70 HIV-positive patients that we provide annual medical care for.
Side Bar Updates:
• The roosters have yet to fail as our daily alarm clock; no matter what village, tent or building we spend the night in.
• We have adopted 2 stray cats, multiple geckos, and a mysterious bull frog that lives in the walls and has yet to show its face.
• Following our Marathon run last month, Christina is now 3 toe nails short.
• The solution to a stray dog roaming around the hospital campus is to slap a collar around its neck; one way in which the hospital jazzed up its appearance for the 100 Mzungus (white people) attending the opening ceremony of the paediatric ward.
• Dala-dala strike. The LTC strike has nothing on the mayhem that encompasses the streets of Arusha when their version of public transportation
• Ice-cream cones – AWESOME!
• Coming back from Maji Ya Chai with what we thought was a tan…only to see it wash down the drain as we showered for the first time in days
• Days/ nights without power and running water no longer phase us
• 10 people in a 5-seater taxi= pleasantly cozy. One of our many new norms.
To sum things up, we are all having a wonderful time as we learn about the Tanzanian culture, ourselves, and the medical knowledge & experiences we are gaining with each new day. Although situations are not always ideal and some days we are left feeling a little discouraged, we have learned to hold onto the small accomplishments along the way. Whether it’s sharing a moment with a mother and her newborn child, partaking in the thrills of laughter during a game of soccer, or witnessing the eminent joy as we hand out the donated gifts and photos taken in the year previous.
“Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it.”- Eckhard Tolle
Cheers,
Hilarie, Caleigh and the MedOutreach Gang
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