Sunday, December 25, 2011

Our Wamba Mission....continued

12.25.11


One of the doctors from Kenya, Alfred, stayed with us for a good portion of the trip. We were able to interrogate him whenever possible :)


He shared with us stories about his culture...he is part of the Maasai tribe. The men have an opportunity to become a warrior, called a Muran (I believe this is
after circumcision). To become a muran, one must prove himself to the tribe and kill a lion.



I am not familiar with the logistics of this, but that seems pretty intense!


For the maasai people, the different colored bracelets and necklaces have some significant meaning.


When someone was walking by, I was told 'the number of bracelets that man has represents the number of people he killed'. Ok, if you tell that to a tourist like me, for sure I won't be wandering around at night by myself. haha.


I found it interesting that when a man is a Muran (or in the process of becoming one....i'm not too sure), he lives away from his family and lives in the forest for 10 yrs.


Now, for a culture that "guesstimates" their age...maybe ten years is really 2, or 15? Supposedly they're not allowed to "intermingle" with society...maybe it builds
character. "But, how can a man go without a woman for that long?", we ALL asked!!  I guess on the downlow, some women visit with them in the forest. It's only after they are complete
with their forest life that they can have a "wife" or two, however many they want I think...



Jeremy told me that a man brought his 15 girlfriends to the clinic to be checked for HIV. The man wanted all the women checked, but refused to be checked himself. Ego issue?
I saw a few of Muran warriors walking around town when we were leaving wamba. Ironically they were wearing a WHITE cloth around their waist. I say ironic because it's so dusty here.
They had feathers on their head, and of course well armed with some tool. Most of the men carried what's called a Rungu (that's my phonetic spelling). It's basically a thick wooden stick with a thick
knob at the top- to knock someone out. I bought one! And you better believe it'll be close to my bed when I sleep at night. :)



Nancy showed us their dance with the Rungu stick. They dance with their necks more than anything.


I'll try to upload a video later on. If you see me at the club, I might bust out with it. It'll be the new "dougie".


Many people were scared of us taking their oral temperature. They just didnt know how to work it. When one person starts "sucking" on it, and the person waiting in line see it- they do it too...and the kids follow suit.  Sometimes the kids were easier to teach. Sometimes their head was tilted SO far back....I would have to hold their head. A temperature reading could take longer than taking a manual blood pressure!


The native women pretty much have their Tatas hanging out. No Victoria's Secret over here! Oh and I have to tell you...Nadia placed the pulse oximeter on a woman's finger...Nadia turned her head away for a few seconds to reach for the temperature probe. Within that time, for some odd reason, the woman placed the pulse oximeter on her nipple!!!
(pulse oximeter- reads oxygen level and heart rate...and it definitely does not belong on your nipple)
I wish I were there to see it! Sorry, not to be mean...but that is kind of funny.





 Our van stopped on the side of the road and this young lady was close by.
I asked if I could take a picture, and she agreed for $$.
In return though, she gave me a ring off of her finger. I placed it on a random finger, and she took it off and put it on my pinky.






Many of the kids had fungal scalp infections...














Sunday, December 18, 2011

Wamba Casa after hours....






Our last night we had a fresh goat slaughtered and BBQ'd. 
Ha don't ask me how it was...no gracias. 

Bonfire bonding time :)



 
 


Love how they do their collard greens here!

                                                                                  No wine bottle opener on hand...but that won't  stop Jeremy!





 Milli wearing her traditional Maasai collection. 




Esther, Alfred, Lily and Isaac playing cards




                                                                                            This woman can eat! Don't be fooled!!




Beatrice, Milli and Fred 

Nancy doing some data entry before bed





 I can't get enough of these people. I didn't grow up with a big family so it's nice to always have someone to talk to, or just be around.




Playing with swords and souvenirs....















Special Visitors on our last morning before we head out: 






Saturday, December 17, 2011

Wamba: Mission

Our "clinic" was a local school. Each room had a specific purpose: Vitals, HIV and blood sugar testing, doctor stations for assessment, and the pharmacy

The Classroom


Apparently this is important curriculum...


                                                                                                                 This is their version of a book bag





Ok this isn't really a pipe. I'm wondering a pointer stick vs. something you poke students with.


Alfred MD rounding up the folks for what's to come.

These men prefer being all wrapped up!




The sun is shining with no rain clouds in site...you just know its gonna be HOT.



Considering our toilet situation, I'd rather be dehydrated and fluid resuscitate later.  There are flies going in and out of that hole...lizards...and at one point I swear something had wings! Oh, once I saw that I turned right back around and held my pee 'till I couldn't anymore. (yeah great going nurse...right??) haha. I forgot to mention, it stinks! Yes, at times like these I wish I were a boy. I'm sure I said that ten times during our trip- I'm the one who always has to pee! 


Beatrice giving me a demonstration. Yes...that's their toilet!

 We get off to a late start.  But for the first day, this place is no where as busy as in Muranga. Word here travels by mouth....as they pass each other by on their long journey to wherever they may go. We were anticipating more on the 2nd day because of that.
This lil man is charging his cell phone

Tony getting pumped and ready for the day! haha



                                                                     This is a man's chair/pillow! Can you imagine?!  








The people here are different in many ways. I'd say one out of 50, or more had hypertension. Barely anyone had a high blood sugar. I noticed that some of their blood pressures was difficult to hear; it would be so faint that at times I couldn't even get a diastolic pressure. Mental note, bring pediatric BP cuffs because the majority of these people are very slim! I would be happy to see an arm with some "meat" on it. Their native garb also made it difficult to take a blood pressure...they would have bracelets around their wrists and right around the elbow. 






Many women and children came to see us, especially on Day 2. Their baby would be wrapped around their body. Most of the time their breasts would be hanging out. When the baby started crying, right to the nipple they went! (no one has pacifiers). One thing I don't think I can get accustomed to are the flies! These people had flies on their body, all over their face...even in the corner of their eyes and they weren't even phased! It was disturbing to see the flies on the babies...but I was told that they come around especially if the woman is lactating. Since their breasts are exposed, it attracts the flies. 


I won't forget seeing a child with depressed fontanels, the baby threw up as Nadia was taking the mother's vital signs. 








Another thing WE take for granted is accurate documentation of our age. I had an older looking lady with wrinkles and gray hair coming out...she told the registrar she was 35yrs old! SERIOUSLY?! I double checked with the person registering...all he can say is "that's what she told me" and shrugged his shoulders. 


Jennifer and Christine mainly worked in the Pharmacy...when the line was long, we were all in there!






It doesn't matter what language you speak, he'll make you laugh!
I think Jeremy's calling in life is to be a comedian. 

             





Milli taking a quick break.

 Fred screening for HIV


Beautiful...









Lily, Nadia, Kristine and Jeremy

God only knows what this boy will do next! 

                      Jeremy...just hanging out

             Nadia, Fred, Toni, Jeremy, Milli and Nancy

              Nadia, Beatrice, me, Milli n Jerms