Feeding program day 1?

So to finish off the details of yesterday, 4 kids were enrolled into the feeding program at the remote site, so the program was off to a good start. Last night, Becca hosted a dinner to send her off on her last night in Zambia, complete with many of our friends who live around here. I met several new people, incuding some of the people running Abuntu, the program for disabled people in Chazanga. I managed to catch most of the Chelsea-Man U game, through about halfway through the second overtime.

This morning, Becca drove off to the airport with Kafula to head back to the States, since she's graduating in a week. Safe journey!

Today was supposed to be the first full day of the RUTF program. Unfortunately, the recurring transportation issue reared its head again. The only serviceable truck was already being used, and so we weren't able to make it out to the remote site. We ran the usual acute clinic and MCH clinic. Well, almost usual. One interesting case was a boy who came in complaining of gross hematuria, who turned out to have malaria, schistosomiasis, and was HIV+. Later on, while I was seeing a patient, Mr. Cheelo called out "This baby just collapsed". No breathing, no pulse. I did CPR for about 20 minutes, waiting for a car to come to go to UTH, when the mother came clean that the baby had actually probably died halfway to Bwafwano (on a 45 minute walk), and the trip to UTH was cancelled. The child had had diarrhea for about a week, and the mother only started seeking care yesterday-- of course, going for "traditional" remedies first. That was a rough experience. The only saving grace to it was that I was able to get that baby's twin into the clinic to be seen and treated, since she hadn't been seen at all despite having the exact same symptoms for the same duration.

Tomorrow, we have been assured transportation to one of the outpost sites. Fingers crossed that we'll actually be able to get this program going. Right now, I feel like I have a dark cloud following me.

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