January 8, 2011

Saturday
--Our room is straightforward – mattress on the floor, mosquito net suspended above it by a string across the room, open suitcases lining the walls. I woke up to the songs of early morning birds and roosters just outside our window – we’re really in the village! We slept comfortably – doors open wide to let the breeze in, and by morning we were glad that we included two sheets when we packed – one under us and one to cover up.

--Because plans are always made to be changed, plans for today have changed. Instead of seeing patients here this morning, we’ll see them here this afternoon. The funeral is this morning for the brother of the grieving woman who we met yesterday. Its inappropriate to work during a funeral, so we’ll hold clinics afterward.
--This unexpected time is a welcome surprise – we’ve unpacked our supplies, re-hung some mosquito nets, had showers, survived our first power outage, and now we’re waiting for Ruth, Carol, Sam, four WEH volunteers, and our lunch to arrive. About 2 pm our lunch arrived sans entourage – tuna on long baguettes and a big stalk of several dozen bananas – yum.
--I've unpacked the "pharmacy" - our medications were purchased with money that has been donated to Friends of WEH. The Board members voted to use some of these funds to purchase medications from MAP International, a pharmaceuticals program that receives quantities of donated drugs from the major pharmaceuticals manufacturers, and makes them available to small projects such as ours. These medications will be used to treat problems that the students identify when they assess the WEH children. We’re ready to see patients.

--About 4:30 Ruth, Carol, Sam and Doris arrived with our supper. Abruptly it was decided that we should tour Mbanga Hospital this late Saturday afternoon. By 5 pm we were on the bus, rode for an hour, detoured to to Kotto Up where Ruth hoped to find a man who would be a good interpreter – he wasn’t around. We then drove on to Mbanga Hospital with hopes of touring then. The nurse in charge didn’t know if our letter of introduction and authorization to work there had been received by her Administrator so we were denied access. Back on the bus, we rode to Muyuka for a pit stop in, then a stop to buy kerosene for lanterns we’ll appreciate when the power goes off, and on home to Mangamba.
--Supper was yummy – Fulani Beef with rice and beans, baguettes, big salad, followed by freshly picked papaya and bananas. Carol, Sam, Doris, and Ruth left for Douala and the rest of us turned in. They’ll be back tomorrow morning with our breakfast, and we’re to visit the local chief.