Jubilee!!

Jan 17, 2012

Emmanuel Clinic Celebration:

Jubilee was the dream of Mama Brenda!! Little did she know how big this celebration would become! Originally, We thought it would celebrate the opening of the clinic, however, we learned there is politics and procedures to follow in Africa as well! Ha, should have known it wasn't going to be that easy! The clinic will need to be registered, inspected and staffed with qualified nursing, clinical officer (similar to midlevel provider) and eventually a doctor! We also need to add a lab, which we have planned for the next build out of the 4th end section of the building. So, Jubilee became the celebration of the building of the clinic in progress. Villagers from all around were invited, as well as the mayor and other political officials in the district. Two of the political guest of honors were women!!

Jubilee began with Brenda's idea of a health fair for the adults and games and hygiene/handwashing training for the children. There were 8 stations for the adults and they rotated through the various stations every 10 minutes and was indicated by a drum beat. This began the morning. There was about 10 people in each station to begin with and this grew as people straggled in after their morning chores and long walk to the farm. The stations were held in the shade or under a tree and were as follows:

Handwashing: Kam and Melissa (the hotel soaps and shampoos everyone saves was given out to each person who rotated in this station)

Bio-Sand water filters and clean water: Geoffrey Alara trained technician

Neck and Back stretches: Tyler

Dental Hygiene and toothbrushing: Sam (toothbrushes given out here)

Latrines and sanitation: Stu

Malaria and prevention: Alice, alumni trained village health worker

Diarrheal disease transmission and prevention with ORS: Jennifer and Christine, trained village health workers, alumni

Nutrition and Gardening: Nadine and Bosco (seeds donated by Vision Beyond Borders given here)

Children hygiene/handwashing and games/face painting: Brenda, Jessie and Maureen - new village health worker

It was great fun and we finished by 1:15 just in time for lunch! The whole village stayed for lunch. We soon realized after lunch there was a much bigger agenda than we realized. A formal written agenda was produced with an MC, PA system was plugged into the clinic solar power now up and running, sodas were distributed. Chairs were lined up in a semi circle and we all were sat in seats as other village officials and Richard's family were guided to their seats. Guest dancers and singers and drummers were invited from neighboring villages and from various tribes. They performed various tribal dances and it was amazing! Once introductions occured, the politicians were taken on a tour of the vocational school, Alice's garden with the bucket drip irrigation and Alice's household bio sand water filter, the deep water well, solar well and tank, larger garden irrigation, clinic etc. Following there were numerous speeches! Brenda and I even had to get up there! The team was introduced as well. The politicians expressed support of the clinic and said would help with staff etc, however later, Suzan thought this could be all talk...sound familiar? It was fun and dancing occurred until dark! Overall it was a very satisfying day!!

Now to get ready for testing of the village health workers tomorrow morning and then village clinic in the afternoon! Stay tuned!