I Could Get Used To This Aid Thing

Saturday Feb 10, 2007

We started the day with the hope that we could finish earlier, go to the beach at the end of town. You do not want the beach in town. Play some soccer with the locals and frankly not gas ourselves with kerosene fumes in a small concrete room. Did I mention the similarity to cells from a Dante novel?
We had the next village today. Members of each village were given colour coded cards so that not everybody showed up on the same day. Way to go Jo! Again promptly at 8:30 our traveling medical road show began in earnest. A more manageable flow of people. No great crowds just a constant flow.

Pat, took the opportunity to travel with a guide around the village taking detailed photos and notes of the various wells, mangrove swamps and rock structures with an eye to water source improvement and security, sanitation and a general understanding of how the system worked. A sense a real world assignment for his students upon his return. Maybe a CIDA proposal in his future.

We did finish at around 3:00pm and still on the count saw 130 people. Clearly the crew was getting better. Dan even convinced me to draw blood and assist with an injection. He could not however persuade me to assist with the “recycling” of his prized urine containers. In fact, surprisingly enough, he was unable to convince anyone to help.

Taking over from Mary Anne a regimental sergeant major I promptly spent most of the afternoon playing soccer with a bunch of local kids in the courtyard of the clinic. My lack of skills much to the amusement of the entire crowd. Did I mention that the kids here are adorable.
A little beach time and then back to Jo’s for dinner. If I am unable to get it on the Blog please ask Jon to see the video of him skipping with the village kids. His success almost started a riot. Did I mention that he and Momma are excellent cooks and that this place is a little like a cross between an MSF project, and all inclusive resort and camping. Half of us are sleeping in tents in Jo’s yard. Some in his house and the rest on mattresses on the floor of their clinic rooms with mosquito nets.