DAY 3 - Clinics in Kampala Slums & Wedding Extravaganza - July, 2010

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1. Beautiful surroundings at Pope John Memorial Hotel Palms, terrace, patios. Women cleaning everywhere. http://www.hotels-uganda.org/en/index.php/members/kampala/6-members/central-kampala/92-pope-paul-vi-memorial-hotel

2. Visited Hope Medical Clinics with Charles Lugemwa, Director. Charles ensures that sustainable services are available for poor people who cannot afford care. Saw a small boy with malaria. His mother waited for him to be treated. Health problems here are all so preventable. http://www.stthomas.edu/news/2012/06/07/an-angel-in-africa/

3. Charles brought us to a western place where we had fish and fries. Ha! Charles and Steve talked solar energy and the possibilities for this area in Africa - just 2 degrees off the equator.

4. Watching Steve's expression as he looked out the car window at millions upon millions of people, destitute, one on top of another, in utter poverty, was beyond sad. I witnessed someone's view of the world change forever.

5. Charles and Maria brought us to a beautiful wedding reception complete with dancing groups everywhere, abundant food, drums, more white lights than Minneapolis' Holidazzle Parade, and good company.

NARRATIVE: Charles is a friend from St. Thomas. When the engineer trip I was on in 2008, visited Uganda, Charles arranged for rides, lodging, meals, tasks at the clinics, and some entertainment. Great person. After a good breakfast of eggs and hyper- red meat, we went with Charles to Hope Clinic I. The clinic operates in cooperation with the Catholic Church and employs a staff of Christians and Muslims. Charles said that the biggest problem is not providing medical care, but providing genuine medical care. Good drugs are not accessible. Malaria is the biggest risk so Hope Clinic gives a free net to those who are sick. They are given as part of a prescription to hinder the dubious who would get a net and sell it for profit. The clinic has separate rooms for men patients, women patients, and children. Rita, the lab technician explained the rudimentary technology to us, and introduced us to Sophie, the midwife and Vincent who is attending school to be a doctor. Hope Clinic II was built in an area with no clinics. Similar set up to clinic one. I asked the mom if I could take a photo of her little boy suffering from malaria and sleeping (PHOTO). I found out later he was fine. I was inspired by Ishna, Josephine, and Nabweteme, good people doing good things. Charles is very strategic. Over lunch, he shared that when he came to the University of St Thomas, he learned to help others so is committed to making a difference in Uganda. Steve and Charles talked so energetically about solar panels, business and about reconnecting in August when Charles comes to Minnesota. After lunch we got a driving tour of Kampala. Charles shared that 80%!o(MISSING)f Ugandans do not work. We saw the contrast between the rich areas where Charles would say "See those homes?" and impoverished areas where there were no homes. The contrast between abject poverty and wretched excess was shocking. After a full day of visiting clinics, viewing Kampala and eating out, Charles dropped us off at the hotel to prepare for the wedding we would attend later that evening. He and Maria would return for us later.

The Wedding
Andrew and Vivien, relatives of Charles, invited us to join in the celebration of their wedding. People were beautifully dressed , formal and reserved. Maria, Charles' lovely wife wore a pink and black suit. I loved that her hair was straight and short, cut over her ears like mine. She is a pharmacist, keeps long hours and is perhaps quite practical about things such as her hair. I wore my brown and aqua print African skirt and Steve wore his suit. Not fun to bring in the suitcase but needed once we arrived. You know- to keep warm in the 90 degree heat. We were greeted and welcomed and sat with Dorothy, Charles and Maria right next to the band. Charles' brother was married to Dorothy but after he died, Charles and Maria escorted Dorothy to events. We sat for seven+ hours chatting, enjoying the drums and flutes and the young dancers. The young female dancers pressed the envelope with suggestive moves, but in all the evening was incredibly wholesome, vibrant and light-hearted. The program began with a welcome and thanks to all; introduction of the couple; introduction of all family; the meal; the couple again but who had changed into traditional garb; presentation of gifts (we 'danced' our gifts up to the couple and I was stunned to
Music, Bands, and Dancing



be addressed by name); cutting cake (complete with fireworks on the cake), and eating cake. Speeches throughout. After a long but lovely evening we said our good-byes and were taken 'home' to the hotel. Steve and I gave satin bed linens in an American wrapping. I was self-conscious but when I danced to the front to give the gift, Andrew (groom) leaned toward me and and said, "Thank you, Jan, for coming." What a beautiful evening.

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Take me to the Educate Tanzania website.

http://educatetanzania.org

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Photos

Steve Hansen outside the Pope John Paul VI Memorial Hotel
Beautiful day in Kampala, Uganda

Young Boy Treated for Malaria at Hope Clinic
Most diseases in Uganda and Tanzania are preventable.

Kampala City View
7 million people, many in abject poverty

Hope Medical Clinic
Charles Lugemwa, Director with Jan in Kampala

Andrew and Vivien - Wedding in Kampala
7 and 1/2 hours of dancing,mood,music and gifts.