Reality Check!

We had a full and exhausting day today. The three of us accompanied David (our Clinical Officer) out to a new camp that we will be taking our mobile medical clinic to. It is located in Apac District and the name of the camp is Acokora. It happens to be the village where David was born and raised. This district has 18 or 19 camps and none of them are receiving any aid of any kind. But the LRA continues to terrorize them. Just two weeks ago, 19 people were abducted and some injured not far away.

We toured the entire camp of about 30,000 people. From the start we could see that all of the children were much dirtier and more unhealthy than the children I remember from last year. The camp is not very orderly and they have only hand built pit latrines, which decreases the sanitation levels dramatically. So many children had health problems that were visible with just a glimpse, no thorough examination needed. We were able to enter several huts, and I was completely shocked when I entered one. It was hot and smoky. I could stand in it, but most American bathrooms are bigger than this round room. They cook, eat and sleep in these small quarters. When I stooped down to exit, I found out that nine people lived in this space and I wanted to cry.

In fact, I really had to keep my emotions in check as I just wanted to weep for the people and the conditions that they endure. I told myself that if people in the developed world knew about these conditions they would be outraged! They would not tolerate knowing the sufferings of these women and children.

So may little ones were suffering from severe malnutrition, their arms and legs pencil thin. Ring worm was rampant, and we could feel the heat of fever coming off of the heads and backs of some of the babies in mother's arms. There were wounds that needed to be cleansed, and rashes that needed lotion. Amazingly, the people were friendly and happy. They all thanked us for being there, and we haven't even done anything to help them. They smiled and laughed, the children came and held our hands. The little ones screamed in fear and made us laugh. As we made our way through the camp the entourage of children that accompanied us grew to well over a hundred. All pushing and jostling each other to get closer to us, all these eyes watching our every move, so unused to strangers.

It was quite overwhelming, and on the long ride back to town over rough roads, Sally shared with me that she too felt like crying several times as we walked the camp. Sally is no rookie, in the past six months she has volunteered in Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. But the situation here is so desperate it makes even ones with experience in the third world want to weep. What will it take for the developed and rich nations of the world to take notice and want to help? Bono is doing his best trying to get the word out. The Gates Foundation is making a huge difference in Africa. But the need is even greater and needs more publicity.

Pray for the families living in the camps, Brenda

Politics!

I don't care for politics normally and here I abhor it! While driving here yesterday we heard on the local news that President Museveni was announcing to the world that things are now all better in northern Uganda and that he was now sending troops to the north to assist people in returning to their former homes/land as the IDP (internally displaced people) camps are no longer necessary. This is all posturing and an attempt to look like all is well in a country embroiled by civil unrest for 20 years now. He has kept this nasty little secret for long enough, and hopefully the U.N. representatives will not be easily fooled by these empty words.

Unfortunately, this has caused much panic and distress in the camps, as the people fear the forced move back to places where rebel attacks are still likely. They are once again filled with hopelessness and mistrust, fearing that they are all alone in this nightmare. We did not take our mobile medical clinic today to any of the camps as we had hoped (we are so ready to start working), as yesterday, Felix (the director of NWMT Uganda) had to visit 4 of the camps to try and calm their fears. Felix thought that we should wait until Monday so that things can quiet down again. So, here we sit, trying to pass the time, frustrated at a government that is trying to sweep just under 2 million people under the rug as if they do not matter or exist. We continue to see U.N. vehicles on the streets so we are hopeful that there will be continued pressure on the government to try and do something about the source of the problem, Joseph Kony and the Lord's Resistance Army. Instead of just pretending that there is nothing wrong.

There is plenty of suffering and need by the people of the north! Brenda

Jet Lag!! Three days, ten times zones, two different countries, a four drive and who knows how many thousands of miles later, we have finally arrived in Lira, northern Uganda. I met Sally another nurse on the airplane in Seattle, we then met our third team mate, Elaine, at London Heathrow airport. Both of my flights were night flights arriving in Entebbe at 6 AM. We went to the U.S. Emabassy to registar with the Consular, who said the same things he said last year. Basically, that it is unsafe here, he is not even permitted to travel up here and that the LRA rebels continue to be active. We then went to exchange currency: $1 U.S. = 1810 Ugandan Shillings. We stayed the night in Kampala, and feel much better today, though after our 4 hour ride and the hotter temperatures here I feel weary again. We are staying in the White House Hotel, which sounds so much more than it is. It is very basic and in the States you would pick Motel 6 over this, but we feel blessed. It seems safe, and is right in the heart of Lira Town. I was dissapointed because the power is off and thought that we would not be able to send an email today. But we just discovered that the internet cafe across the street is running on generator power. Internet usage is 50 Ugandan shillings per minute, do the math, it does not cost much! It has been wonderful to see all of the Northwest Medical Teams in country staff again. The smile broadly when I speak to them in Luo and I am already learning some new phrases. We will be taking most of our meals in the hotel restaurant, and by the looks of the menu it is going to be very tedious. For lunch I had greens (like spinach) in peanut sauce, over a mild yellow sweet potato. Their food is mostly bland, and Sally is going through spicy withdrawals, she is pretty persistent, so I do believe she will continue to try to get some hot, spicy food if she can. I need to go and unpack, however, being that my small, sparsely furnished room is on the third floor and the power is off, I am willing to bet that it is heating up in there. This internet cafe seems to have a cooler running so it feels pleasant in here. There are 12 computers in this small room and all of them are being used. Sally and I are the only expats. Hopefully tomorrow we will begin our work in the camps, we are all ready. Jet lagged in Lira, Brenda