Uganda adventure: Paint & scrub - big changes coming

Wednesday is slated as mini immunization day. Oral polio vaccine is delivered from Kisubi Hospital, and Rose busies herself administering to all those in need. It's mainly BKU kids who attend, and she gets through the work quickly.

Auntie carries her twins to the clinic for immunization.

Patricia is not impressed at taking the oral polio vaccine.

We visit Angel and the new nursery school teacher in the former hair salon, adjacent to the former babies' dorm. Angel has been busy preparing for registration and hopes to open the school next week. The little ones are given bubbles and slinkies to entertain themselves.

Headmistress and teacher of the new Princess Diana Nursery School

Arnold checks out toys

Don learns the mystery of slinky

Obama & Arnold do bubbles

Ida needs a cuddle when the play gets too rough

I have been keen to work on the former big girls' dorm which is now to be the new babies' dorm. Workers have finished the ceiling to keep out bats and applied a new plastering job as well as a latrine and sink. There is final touches of painting to be done, and the Mzungus are assigned the task of sweeping the accumulated dirt and construction debris, then mopping the cement floors. It's a daunting, dirty job, and we struggle to keep up with the pace that Victoria sets by example, but finally we start seeing some clean surfaces just in time, as the bed frames and mattresses arrive, having been trucked from the old dorm.

New latrine & sink

pick up a mop and get to work, honey!

Opio works diligently

Carly applies her ingenuity in assessing space and wall area, and the bunks are finally arranged in such a fashion that the babies can all enter and exit their beds without crawling across another bunk or two. For the first time, they will have indoor plumbing facilities and separate boys and girls' rooms.

Carly & Sue show their strength

Maggie is the clear winner of the strong woman competition

I know these bunks went together in the old dorm...

Victoria advises us that my highschool friend, David Moore, has earmarked a large donation to construct a quiet room near the dorms that will be used for bible study and school reading. It will be named "Ruby's Room", in honour of David's mother. She points out the grassy area where she envisions the new structure will appear.

Ruby's Room will go on the grassy area central, between the cook house & old boys' dorm on the left and the incomplete dining hall on the right

Hot and sweaty, we are glad for a midday swim at Banana Village before finding the babies enjoying an afternoon nap at the medical clinic. It's heartening to know the safety, comfort and hygeine of the little ones will be improved by these changes.

Bridget cuddles Alicia, Angel's baby daughter

babies napping at the clinic

We hang about the dorm area, anticipating the excitement of the babies when they see their beds moved into the new quarters. Victoria has been kind enough to take in a young woman stricken by poverty who has three children. The lady is acting as interim auntie at the big kids' dorm. Her children have been badly malnourished, and Victoria has taken steps to provide enriched food portions. Carly had understood that the younger girl, Patricia, is unable to walk and may have cerebral palsy. We find Patricia sitting on the ground, and indeed she seems very lethargic and does not attempt to walk as her twin brother and older sister scurry about and entertain us. I scoop the little one up and am relieved to find there is no apparent neurologic problem involving her legs or feet, and we are later amused to see her demonstrate that she is able to stand and walk. I surmise that her lethargy is the result mainly of malnutrition.

Carly plays clapping games with Judith

I tickle Patricia's toes while assessing her nerve function

relief to see the little one eventually stand and walk

We're happy to see that Maggie, the social worker, has created and posted a chore list rotation for all the bigger kids. Maggie proudly shows off her new office in the big dorm.