Training Day 1

I'm now a few days behind on my entries, but I want to at least get some text down now so that I can just upload media later when I have some time.

Today (backdating to Monday) the trainings for the RUTF program got underway. This was the slightly lighter day, in that we weren't training people with any clinical knowledge, but also the more important one, because the home-based-care workers will be the ones finding the children in need and spreading the word about the program. We managed to get good representation from all of the outpost sites in addition to a good turnout for Bwafwano itself. The workers were trained in the basics of the screening process, including the technique for taking Measured Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) and checking for pedal edema, two of the most important criteria for enrolling children to the program. We had 54 people go through the training (despite trying hard to limit it to 50, it's hard to turn people away though), and everyone seemed very enthusiastic about the project.

Everyone seems to have a great deal of faith in the care workers to advertise the program, and I'm hoping they're right. I know that we've already seen a number of kids who could use help, and I have little doubt that there are MANY more out there that haven't been coming simply because we never had much to offer.

When I get a chance, I will upload some pictures and the first VIDEO of the trip. The video is of the HBC workers singing a song about the RUTF (called "Chiponde"), the lyrics for which I'll get from Becca before she leaves. It'll take a long time to upload, though, and I don't have a ton of time right now, but I promise it's good!

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