Just a brief rain this morning then beautiful fair weather the remainder. Alicia is groggy after taking a Gravol last night to help her sleep. She & Susan are headed to Kampala with Victoria & Angel for some shopping. Jeffrey contemplates his plan for the day & settles on trying his hand at construction.
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| Neighbourhood friends ham it up for my camera |
Jeffrey bravely approaches the bricklayers who tell him he’s
too young to do anything but slug sand or cement. Either he’s hopeless at that or he gains
their trust because, by the time I take first break from the clinic, he has
trowel in hand, laying bricks. Says he
learned a lot, and his co-workers are promising to find him a wife.
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| Jeffrey learning bricklaying |
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| just another brick in the wall |
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| the cattle will be safer with their stable extended |
The matron brings Don into the clinic for assessment. He has an ear infection and is started on
antibiotics. Arnold is there most of the
morning but seems more energetic and his fever has lessened. Thankfully his malaria test was
negative. I meet Aisha, a delightful
young child from the community who has this nasty cold that is plaguing most of
the kids. Also, Obama’s mother brings in
his younger sibling, Ida, who has had a cough but nothing serious. The family resemblance is striking. I don’t get the full story on why Elijah is
at BKU but Ida is with Mom. Will have to
remember to question Rose tomorrow.
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| Matron brings an ill Don into the clinic |
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| Dr. Durga checks Ida |
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| introducing Rose & Oscar while Gloria looks on |
Partial success with the Oscar medical records system
training. Rose is picking up the
day-to-day functions quite quickly. I do
manage to get her signing in on her own login, but for some reason she is
restricted from viewing or entering patient notes. I need to troubleshoot the security settings
for her account. Happily, the social
worker who is very involved with the children expresses an interest in learning
the system so she can add her clinical notes.
I have a short shopping list of homework chores, including re-learning
entering measurements (BP, pulse, height, weight) into the system in a form
that can be tracked. Kato goes to the
TASO HIV clinic tomorrow and Dr. Durga plans to accompany Rose and him. I would like to go, but having no chance to
finish homework chores tonight, figure I’d be best to stay back, man the fort
at the clinic, and do EMR homework.
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| being remarkably cooperative |
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| neighbour schoolgirls walking home |
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| Jeffrey meets with Anne & Roger, friends from Britain |
Susan & Alicia return from Kampala. Sue is a bit gobsmacked (of course) by the
craziness of the downtown in that city.
They bring back a great haul of supplies, including shoes for kids,
blankets, a couple of tricycles for the babies, dresses for both Justine &
Victoria, and groceries. Alicia borrows
my camera and shoots pics of the kids with the trykes.
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| Arnold as easy rider |
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| kids and baby puppies - what a combo! |
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| Jeffrey gets down & dirty |
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| Richard cuddles Don |
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| Dan the man |
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| Rebecca rides! |
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| Shira pensive |
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| A brief glimpse of the real Arnold |
After clinic I am thrilled to meet the older kids arriving
from school. Most have large folders in
hand which they are keen to have us review.
All children are very concerned about their scholastic performance. Poor Sarah says she cried when she saw a few
failing grades in some subjects but proudly says she focused on science (69%)
because she wants to be a doctor. It
surprises me a little that she struggles so.
Perhaps some screening would be in order. Little Moses did incredibly well!
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| Sue gets some love |
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| Kevin entertains kids with magic while Jackie & Jeff look on |
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| ok, let go of the kid Sue |
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| Sarah discusses her dreams of becoming a doctor with Durga |
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| Alicia & Jeffrey helping Rose to tack up posters |
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| Praise & mom |
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| Don's looking happier |
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| Judith with friend |
The immediate warmth and loving connection these beautiful
children exhibit is incredible.
This evening Lou, Pauline & Leonard host the Uganda
premiere of their movie about BKU, “Under the Umbrella Tree” at Banana
Village. This is attended by Victoria
& her sister & daughter, several members of the BKU staff, some BKU
graduates including Medi, who cares for 375 street kids at his school north of
Kampala. Also in attendance are a doctor
from the nearby clinic, several neighbours of BKU and service providers. The film is very warmly received and Victoria
gives a heartfelt talk afterwards.
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