This morning after breakfast the guys from our team walked down to the Technical School, or I guess we should say the 'school.' We discovered sometime ago that this school operated by the diocese that Jonathan, Terry and Jane had helped to build in 2014 still has not received registration as a Technical School. As a result, Fred requested that Terry, Anson and Zach go help construct work benches that will help with it's registration requirements.
Work took place in the welding shop with the guys being joined by several students and the welding teacher throughout the day. The young men were cooperative and hard workers and they managed to get the majority of the work done although with alot less restrictions than in Canada. Personal protective equipment (PPE) while mostly available ( e.g. there were only two pairs of welding masks) were not always used. By the end of the day they were pleased to have the overall structure for two larger sturdy tables and two smaller ones established.
Meanwhile, the women were off with Leisha, Mama Ellen and Grace to the fishing village of Kyanasaga to meet pregnant women there associated with Mama Maisha. This drive had a beautiful view of Lake Victoria en route. A predominantly Muslim area, the majority of women we met with had their heads covered. At one point during the outdoor presentation there was also a call to prayer that went over the village on loud speakers. Leisha brought us to this village since it was the with Mamma Maisha dispensary that had the highest percentage of clients on pregnancy track out of the 5 dispensaries.
We arrived there only 30 minutes late (tardy arrivals are very normal for everything around here ) but there were only 2 women present sitting under a tree. Leisha assured us that more would come as often the arrival time of a group in African is dependent on the arrival of the guests. Sure enough, after being warmly greeted with vigorous handshakes and some hugs by the 2 MHA workers for this area, we as guests were offered chairs under a tree then proceeded to sit and wait about one hour. Gradually more women arrived with 16 women there at the one hour mark and 21 women present when Mama Ellen began to speak at the 75 minute mark!
Mama Ellen went over minor and major ailments to be aware of when preganant and when and how to seek medical help if needed along the way. She also encouraged the women to have a birth plan and to get to a hospital if possible in advance of their labour to avoid roadside deliveries or even death due unexpected complications.
We then explained and presented the heavy flow Days for Girls hygiene kits made with pregnant women in mind. There was great applause and excitement when they viewed Connie and Jane's demonstration and many thanks were spoken as each individual was given the kit along with a birthing sheet. An individual photo was then taken of each woman before posing for the traditional entire group photo.
Additional noteworthy things that happened on this visit that were moving for Katie, Connie and Jane:
-The village chairman(aka the mayor) and male health worker from the dispensary also attended the meeting
-For awhile this male health worker present was met with animated comments about disatisfaction by the women regarding their frustrations with the lack of quality pre-natal care being offered at the dispensary. Thanks to Mama Ellen and Leisha who mediated the lively discussion, notes were taken and ideas created for ways for the health worker to try to improve the situation with Leisha promising follow- up.
-Names and stats were kept of each woman who attended. Among the details, of the 21 women present, 5 were on their 7th preganancy and 4 where having their 8th child.
We returned home in time to walk down to the hopefully soon-to-be Technical School to have a tour and to see the work the guys had been doing all day. The structure looked wonderful! More about this will be incuded on Friday's write-up!
In the evening we all finally had energy to play several games of UNO after our late supper of lentils and rice. Let's a just say there was a lot of spirited discussion about last card declarations! :)
Work took place in the welding shop with the guys being joined by several students and the welding teacher throughout the day. The young men were cooperative and hard workers and they managed to get the majority of the work done although with alot less restrictions than in Canada. Personal protective equipment (PPE) while mostly available ( e.g. there were only two pairs of welding masks) were not always used. By the end of the day they were pleased to have the overall structure for two larger sturdy tables and two smaller ones established.
Meanwhile, the women were off with Leisha, Mama Ellen and Grace to the fishing village of Kyanasaga to meet pregnant women there associated with Mama Maisha. This drive had a beautiful view of Lake Victoria en route. A predominantly Muslim area, the majority of women we met with had their heads covered. At one point during the outdoor presentation there was also a call to prayer that went over the village on loud speakers. Leisha brought us to this village since it was the with Mamma Maisha dispensary that had the highest percentage of clients on pregnancy track out of the 5 dispensaries.
We arrived there only 30 minutes late (tardy arrivals are very normal for everything around here ) but there were only 2 women present sitting under a tree. Leisha assured us that more would come as often the arrival time of a group in African is dependent on the arrival of the guests. Sure enough, after being warmly greeted with vigorous handshakes and some hugs by the 2 MHA workers for this area, we as guests were offered chairs under a tree then proceeded to sit and wait about one hour. Gradually more women arrived with 16 women there at the one hour mark and 21 women present when Mama Ellen began to speak at the 75 minute mark!
Mama Ellen went over minor and major ailments to be aware of when preganant and when and how to seek medical help if needed along the way. She also encouraged the women to have a birth plan and to get to a hospital if possible in advance of their labour to avoid roadside deliveries or even death due unexpected complications.
We then explained and presented the heavy flow Days for Girls hygiene kits made with pregnant women in mind. There was great applause and excitement when they viewed Connie and Jane's demonstration and many thanks were spoken as each individual was given the kit along with a birthing sheet. An individual photo was then taken of each woman before posing for the traditional entire group photo.
Additional noteworthy things that happened on this visit that were moving for Katie, Connie and Jane:
-The village chairman(aka the mayor) and male health worker from the dispensary also attended the meeting
-For awhile this male health worker present was met with animated comments about disatisfaction by the women regarding their frustrations with the lack of quality pre-natal care being offered at the dispensary. Thanks to Mama Ellen and Leisha who mediated the lively discussion, notes were taken and ideas created for ways for the health worker to try to improve the situation with Leisha promising follow- up.
-Names and stats were kept of each woman who attended. Among the details, of the 21 women present, 5 were on their 7th preganancy and 4 where having their 8th child.
We returned home in time to walk down to the hopefully soon-to-be Technical School to have a tour and to see the work the guys had been doing all day. The structure looked wonderful! More about this will be incuded on Friday's write-up!
In the evening we all finally had energy to play several games of UNO after our late supper of lentils and rice. Let's a just say there was a lot of spirited discussion about last card declarations! :)