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 [View Full Entry]

---

---

The last day of training (and getting caught up on entries, the text part at least!) Today was the last day of training, and rather than the primarily didactic form of the last couple days, today was our first day to enroll new patients under the supervision of Paul and Winnie. We started off in the MCH clinic at Bwafwano, Wednesday being our usual malnourishment day. However, unlike previous days in the malnourishment clinic, today the kids actually got something for treatment! In all, we enrolled 4 kids to receive RUTF this first morning, most of whom were patients who had [View Full Entry]

---

---

Continuing my efforts to catch up.... Day 2 of the training was a little more dry, and a little more technical than day 1. It was designed for the nurses and clinical officers on staff, a small group of 9 people here at Bwafwano, who will be administering care through this program. Paul Bims, from Valid International, led today's workshop. He started with some of the basics of causes of malnutrition, worked his way through criteria for admission into the RUTF program, and finished off with the care protocols and discharge criteria. All in all, it was a fairly lengthy day [View Full Entry]

---

---

Yes, I had a blood test this morning and it was negative for malaria...what a relief! I thought I'd better, as I had an absolutely stinking headache all day yesterday, not to mention the temprature, chills, aches and pains etc. Guess I must just have a bug. But it's not going to stop me going away tomorrow! When I come back, I should have loads of photos & details of my trip to add on here. I've decided that I want to stay on here until October...if I can get a work permit. Need to talk to my boss at the [View Full Entry]

---

---

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 [View Full Entry]

---

---

Not too terribly much to update about today. Yesterday we just picked up some things for the trainings starting Monday, although trying to find paper on which to print certificates turned out to be an adventure in itself. None of the stores that we might have suspected had it did, but luckily a random guy sitting in a copy shop knew where to find it-- a place in city market, an overcrowded, chaotic market area, at one of the hundreds of stalls in there. So, although we needed to get a taxi all the way across the city and back, we [View Full Entry]

---

---

Yesterday went a little long, but was a successful day nonetheless. It got started with a phone call telling us that Daisy, Kafula's wife, was at UTH in labor. We resolved to go by before the day was over. We spent the morning at Bwafwano, taking care of some of the initial preparations for the RUTF trainings that will run from Monday to Wednesday. In other words, we bought a ton of food, checked lists, found out what necessary supplies we'd need, etc. Not a huge amount to say about that, just getting stuff done. Next on the agenda was to [View Full Entry]

---

---

A field trip to Mphunza, on the occasion of a visit by Sister Ivy from a donor, Caritas Australia (equivalent of CAFOD in the UK) to see progress and discuss next year's plan. Was forewarned this time, and don't think I got quite so sunburnt! The format was fairly similar to last time (see 'Amazing first day') so won't give a detailed description. However, hope you enjoy the photos and videos. There was a chap leading the singing and dancing with the most spine-tingling voice I have ever heard- I have a good snippet of him and will let you judge. [View Full Entry]

---

---

Yes, that is when I leave for my safari & trip to Victoria Falls. I am so happy to be going off to see a bit of this huge country. It feels like I've barely been here, as I have only left the hospital complex once for anywhere further than walking distance since I arrived here. Typical me, I have been feeling unwell for the last few days; and am hoping it's not malaria. I don't think it is, but if I don't feel any better I will go and get a blood test done on monday. Just keep on taking [View Full Entry]

---

---

Took a ferry to cross into Zambia, if i am not mistaken we are crossing the Zambezi. 2 other trucks are there to cross as well including the GAP Adventures truck. it was a short crossing maybe 15 minutes. We ended up paying 135 US for visas(Americans), Brits paid 140US while the Aussies paid half that! Drove around 80 kms before we got to Livingstone another cold ride we stayed at the Grotto Camp site, very nice with an enticing pool. Lots of overland truck parked but empty. That evening we got shown the activities we can do here in the [View Full Entry]

---

---