helen weld public health

The Power of Community. . .

Community development requires attention and intention and living in Kigutu is no exception. There are several overlapping ‘sub-communities’ here, including: the community of we ‘muzungus’; the community of our residence comprised of muzungus and the Burundian staff; the complete VHW staff (approximately 60 people); the community of the patients and their families; the community of Kigutu and the community of our whole catchment area which is represented by about 50 community health workers or accompagnateurs. None are mutually exclusive, there is much overlap and observing and participating in the dynamics is interesting to say the least.

It’s been another power packed week full of activity. It has been wonderful working with Brad, Connie and the staff nurses making changes/improvements in the delivery of care which will ultimately benefit the welfare of the patients. We have had meetings with the nurses so we are all ‘on the same page’. We are always making efforts to be sensitive and ensure that we are not, as outsiders, ‘taking over’. The nurses are very grateful that we are here to help as presently there is an acute staffing shortage. Connie has primarily worked in the malnutrition ward while Brad and I have worked together in the hospital ward.

Yesterday the three of us tackled the monumental task of sorting and organizing heaps of medical supplies which had been stashed away in a storeroom for too long. All three of us share the delights of a fairly obsessive organizational behavior, so we were in hog heaven. It is still a work in progress, but we managed to get so much accomplished, which was very satisfying. Brad cranked up the music on his computer and we had patients come and watch the muzungus get into it. It was very fun.

Earlier in the day we participated in the community effort to help fix the road to the clinic which has suffered with the recent heavy rains. We dug drainage and diversion ditches which will hopefully alleviate some of the erosion. It was good to be involved. On Friday the accompagnateurs gathered in the new training center and we did a presentation and training on malaria. Afterwards we distributed the donated LED crank flashlights (thank you, Bob Crane), rain ponchos (Bunnings in Cairns), and tote bags which I had procured while in Australia. They also received new photo ID cards and the original photo.

Everyone was excited and pleased to be recognized for their invaluable contributions to the community-at-large. Earlier in the week, five children in the malnutrition ward were transferred to Bururi Hospital for much needed blood transfusions. It was great news to hear that this had been accomplished. Today they will return and everyone is eager to receive them back into the fold. Connie has gone in the ambulance with Elvis, our Translator Extraordinaire, to get them.

Last evening, Will Marsh from Santa Barbara, California, arrived as a volunteer agronomist. (Yes, the inevitable one degree of separation was almost immediately discovered… he knows Grace Bueti!) We are all thrilled with his presence as his expertise will help keep the exceptional food programme on track. We also got the solar cooker Hotpot activated this morning and we are eagerly looking forward to evaluating how it performs here.

Bazile received an early AM phone call on Saturday from his family in Haiti reporting that they were OK. This was the first direct communication he’d had with them since the earthquake. It’s definitely a heart wrench for him to be away from Haiti at this time.

We have had the ongoing steady stream of patients at the clinic, some presenting with interesting pathologies (see the photo of the round worm and also the foot tumours). Each week the amount of patients increase and the distance they travel to come to Village Health Works gets longer. The word is spreading. There is never a dull moment and it’s great to be working hard with such a terrific group of people… lots of love and laughter.

Helen