from jane: first day, third term

There is a verse in the bible which talks about
> 'mourning with those who mourn' and 'weeping with
> those who weep' and 'dancing with those who dance.'
> In essence that is what I feel my job involves. My
> job at its best that is. Today, the children who
> came back to school had lost weight, were sick and
> were so so so sad. It was totally depressing to be
> around them. They were dejected. So, we talked
> about it. What made them sad - some were sick,
> Promise's sister had been badly burnt in the
> holidays, Pingu had been burnt. We talked and
> talked and then after acknowledging and allowing
> them to feel the way they felt we could make room
> for other feelings. Some were still sad the whole
> day but some of them had some space to feel
> something else. So, we all hugged. Stupid isn't
> it. But we hugged
> each other and said 'I am so glad to see
> you.' And then there were a few smiles. They
> knew. They knew that I really am glad to see them.
> And that their friends are really glad to see them.
> No matter how sad they are, no matter how sick they
> are, there is a place which has people in it who
> want to hug them, who want to hear about their pain,
> who want to share their joy and who are glad to see
> them.

Galleria de la Kabalagala

Bidders please stand in line.

Jacky and her Mango tree clinics

This photo is from the village in Mbarara where I do ‘under the Mango tree’ type clinics when I am up-country. This wee child had a colostomy made when he was born which should have been corrected when he was one year old. He is now three, nothing has been done, the mum has no idea of how to look after him and just ties a filthy rag around it. Weird looking colostomy.

I have managed to get a company in NZ to supply some colostomy bags and am giving the mum some education on how to care for the child while I investigate the possibility of corrective surgery.

Well I could go on, but there are just so many cases everywhere that need attention often through mismanagement by the medical profession. When and if you get a community clinic started it will be inundated with all kinds of people who desperately need help. I think there will be need for paying clients to cover the costs of the poor and still be able to make a profit.

Nurse Jacky, and the KCA Clinic

You just have to meet Nurse Jacky.



I first met her when I went to Uganda, back in June. Jacky has single-handedly changed the healthcare of our kids at the school. Her recent donation of an exam table, cabinet, etc., turned our spare room into a clinic. The work of one person...that is how our clinic was born! These photos show you how all this work is starting...



Jackie has also taken to giving home visits. "This has helped the parents have more confidence in what is being done for the kids at school in the clinic and they are grateful for the medication and the treatment for their wounds etc.," says Jacky "Often other neighbours come with their own little problems too. Sometimes over the weekends I have done dressings sitting outside their homes on the dirt! Very sterile I must say."

On clinic days, the children line up to see Nurse Jacky. And since she is a wound specialist, she is able to prevent infections before they start.

thank you, Jacky, for the work that you do. I hope you are sleeping soundly somewhere tonight.