Wednesday, 6/18

Wednesday, 6/18 So yesterday work began. We met with Niang for approximately six hours between all of our projects and we basically outlined everything we need to get accomplished this summer. As it turns out, my project proposal is actually quite close to what we need to do this summer (actually a big surprise) and furthermore, most of the work has already been done. I was planning on orchestrating a big medical training to teach the CHAG members how to diagnose diseases in situ, but apparently, since Caitlin last met with them, this has already happened. They even got first responder training, so basically here is the outline for the summer:


1.) Evaluate how effective the current education and diagnostic programs are by conducting both group discussions among participants and having each CHAG member educate a family in our presence. This information will be used for making each existing program more effective 2.) Check to see what diseases have nationally funded treatment already available and make sure that our CSCOM (clinic) is taking advantage of them. If it isn't, add these diseases to the education curriculum and diagnostic criteria. 3.) Check out what diseases are priorities within the community and discuss which ones need to be added explicitly to the education curriculum. 4.) Combine the two programs and do a CHAG retraining session. Start out a test pilot and evaluate it monthly.


In short, we have our work cut out for us. I have meetings set up all this week and next, but I'll keep you posted as news comes in.


In other news, Caitlin went to a friend's and picked up a precious new kitten for her host family's house. Her only fear (a legitimate one) is that it will be stolen and sold for food… how deliciously scandalous. It's adorable and while it doesn't have a name yet, we're calling it the Bambara name for cat: "jakuma".


While we were there, I also found a friend who can crochet me a new yarmulke! My old one from my first trip to Israel is totally falling apart and I need a new one, so she offered to knit me a gorgeous crimson yarmulke for 1000CFA ($2.50!!!). When it's done, I'm taking it to the tailor and getting him to add a beautiful trim and accoutrements I have already found. I am TOTALLY stoked to get myself a Malian souvenir that I will not forget.


Last night we all went to the local theatre (which was actually SUPER impressive – can we say A/C?) to see a Malian film called Farou (The Queen of the Waters). It was an interesting rendition of a northern Malian folktale about a town that fears the vengeance of the god Farou when an expatriated tribe member returns to the village from his life in America to find and kill his father. In all honesty, I was super wiped and slept through a few significant scenes, but I still appreciated the movie. And furthermore, when Caitlin and I were outside waiting for our friend Adama, I had a Malian man randomly come up to me and ask me to translate two letters into English for him. While I considered asking him to pay, he only had a small amount to offer (20c or so), so I just told him to let me translate them and when I'm done, he can get them back from me and we can go hang out together. Better a new friend than a new income source, right?


Also, I finally got to get into the market today to get "les necessaires": some fabric for new clothes, a woven sleeping mat for my mattress to lay on, a fifala (hand fan), and MOST IMPORTANTLY, the makings of my very own thrifted hammock! I bought this industrial sized cargo netting and some rope and now, from the limb of a mango tree in the courtyard, is the new official family hammock. It's only big enough for one person at present, but I intend to go back to get more netting to weave in and make it bigger. I'm so excited! It's so nice to lay there in the shade during the hot hours of the day. WHEW!


That's all for now. I have to run to Bambara lessons with the wives! More updates soon.


X Adama X