We were dropped at the clinic and walked to Margaret's house. She is the official keeper of the grinder, although it travels regularly for stints in other part of Kayoro. It was amazing. Two of the original eight who had been trained were there, but it was obvious that they had done a phenomenal job of training other community members so that anyone who wants to use the grinder in Kayoro knows how to do so. Sue was thrilled at what good condition the grinder is in. It is obvious that it is being properly cleaned and cared for.
The grinder is being used by someone every day of the year. It is not used for income but only to grind grains, beans, nuts for family use. But anything they can do with the grinder saves time (over using mortar and pestle) or money (paying for electric grinding). The Kayoro groups would love to have more grinders for their community so that it wouldn't have to travel so far and so there would be greater availability. They happily demonstrated their grinding skills with different types of grains.
Cammie came to film the session and, as a physical therapist, couldn't help but offer some advice on how to grind more efficiently and with better use of the body.
Even though this is the dry season, there are still occasional rain storms. One came up quickly. The women knew exactly what to do, and the grinder was speedily moved inside Margaret's house where grinding continued.
Margaret had disappeared during the middle of the grinding session. We discovered why when she brought out a 6-course meal for us to have. So we ate while the rain pounded down on the tin roof.
When the rain stopped we walked back to the clinic to await transport. The staff there were having lunch so we had the opportunity to chat. Sue and I both showed pictures from home (snow, family, etc.). When looking at Sue's picture with her arm around her son-in-law we were treated to information on Ugandan culture where that would be "blasphemy." There must be no physical contact (or even closeness) between a mother and son-in-law, a woman and her father-in-law, a son and his mother-in-law, etc. Sarah spoke about how gender roles are changing in Uganda but how they have been used to suppress women. Only men are supposed to eat eggs and chicken -- probably because they are foods that strengthen a person. Most interesting. . . .
When volunteers met that evening, it appeared that everyone's day had gone well. The Maari planting group had accomplished more than 75% of the total to be done; the community had organized everyone in a production-line approach. Almost all of the needed Hera group business interview had been done. Good video footage had been attained. All in all a most successful day.
At dinner we met with Dr. Apollo Epuate, the chair of the St. John's Kayoro Health Centre II governing board. He told us of some of the difficulties the clinic was having in increasing the number of patients. Apparently there are some internal (to the Kayoro groups) political issues with a former leader taking the position that they had been promised free health services so, if charges were made, they should boycott the clinic. While he has no official position, many in the community are fearful of him and so are staying away. We discussed what, if anything, we could do to help in the situation. It was decided that Cammie should speak at the opening event stressing that from the beginning St. John's had understood that the clinic would be self-sustaining, thus requiring that there be fees. Cammie then spent the rest of her evening thinking about and preparing her remarks, using my computer. (And people laughed at my over-gadgeted suitcase.)
No comments:
Post a Comment