It is now January 20th, 2009, our last clinic day in Moshi and the Obama's inauguration day. We watched a bit of the swearing in ceremony on the television at the B & B in the evening. It felt like a celebration that the whole world could enjoy. I don't think any of us will forget watching this from a country where the majority of people are poor, lack access to education, clean water and enough food to eat. Here in Africa it is a common sight to see women with their heads wrapped in scarves and it was a beautiful sight to see these woman represented by an African American woman front and center at the inauguration.
The clinic is primarily for women, but if men come they are not turned away. Today a man came who was HIV+ and his wife had died from HIV. He had three children with him for testing who were gratefully all negative. He was looking for assistance for himself and his children. Like all HIV+ patients he was referred to the government hospital (Mawenzi Hospital) for follow up. Charmaine, one of our doctors, wanted to do something for this family to make their lives easier and to give the children a chance at a better life, but Agnes was reluctant. Charmaine made the case that the cente is about gender equality and we should not discriminate. Agnes decided the center will help pay for school for his children and some food for the children. He will come back to the clinic in February for follow-up. All children have access to education in Moshi and they are required to go to school, however, $265.00/year is required to pay for books so many children are unable to attend.
There are many subtleties in the swahili language that are not present in the English language. It is a language of humility and politeness. For example there are different ways of greeting people depending on their age. When greeting an older person it is appropriate to say "Shikamo papa or Shikamo mama". The man in the photo is 97 years old and of course he was greeted with "Shikamo papa" as a sign of respect.
Milley is a 13 year old girl who is staying with us this week. Amy, our logistics coordinator) is taking good care of her. She is well educated and she has a bright spark in her eyes and she is always smiling. Her parents came to the clinic in the spring of 2008. They have 3 children, all well educated and well cared for. They asked Amy to adopt Milley and take her back to Canada to give her a better life. Her family lives ina poor community called Himo Town adn although they protect their daughtes, rape is common adn opportunites for the future are limited. However, the adoption process would take at least 2 years and cost >$20,000.00 and Amy hopes that by that time if Milley keeps up her studies she can go to Canada as an exchange student. Milley wants to work in a bank when she grows up.
Looking out the second floor window of the clinic I see many people walking and riding bikes. There is no such thing as obesity here. People gets lots of exercise just going about their day walking or riding a bike and eating fresh local foods. We also walked most places or took a taxi if it was too far to walk. If the locals go a far distance they take public transportation also know as the daladala which is a Japanese van that is always bulging with people (and some animals). Periodically throughout our work days, a large truck (about the size of a garbage truck in North America) drives by at high speed with the driver honking the horn as it drives by. Upon questioning, it turns out these trucks are filled with prisoners on the way to jail. The truck cannot stop because the prisoners may attempt escape and they will be shot if they do.
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