Back to the Nile Special

Hello again from the “real world” back here in Bujagali. We just returned after a weekend getaway to the Hairy Lemon – an island about 45 km downstream located right next to the Nile Special, one of the world’s best play spots. So after another week at the clinic and outreach programs, it was great to see some new scenery and take advantage of the high water here on the Nile.
The Nile Special is amazing yet again, and even better with the high water in preparation for CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting). I think CHOGM has officially started as of today; I am very glad I am not in Kamapla for the queen’s arrival for the Commonwealth meeting. It has been a bit crazy around Uganda in preparation for this event, especially near Kampala and even Jinja; there has been a lot of road construction and other projects to prepare for the queen (I believe Prince Charles is even coming to Jinja to see the "source of the Nile"). It seems like it is becoming Uganda’s one chance to make a good reputation for itself internationally and they are definitely spending a fair amount of money for it. However, I somehow doubt that the queen will actually make it out here near Jinja or even be here for more than the 3 day event. Whatever works though.

The Special was great though. We had a good group of people out at the wave, including a few Brits soon to end their trip and then the whole World Class Kayak Academy group showed up last night (high school kids traveling around the world kayaking with teachers & kayak coaches). All the instructors were a lot of fun, and it was nice to see some kids out there shredding it up on the Special this morning. Hairy Lemon is a great place to be – good camping with 3 meals a day and only a 5 minute paddle to the Nile Special. We put in 3 good sessions each day (sunrise surf before breakfast, before lunch, and then a nice sunset surf). Full moon next weekend! Life is good.

Let the Madness Continue: The Adventures of Rural Medicine

Yesterday was our third HIV Testing/Counseling session at the secondary schools outside of Jinja. We have paired up with the AIDS Information Center and offer education, free testing, and counseling to these students (a total of 264 students have been tested thus far). It has been a bit crazy for many reasons, but when is it not?
Godfrey, Jen (a PA student from Colorado), and I went to go visit one of our TB patients out in Kyabirra. It was another typical day in rural medicine. We left Soft Power and stopped at the Buwenge Health Clinic to get our patient’s isoniazid & ethambutol medications for the next month; however, the doctor with the only key to get the drugs was not there and could not be reached. So…we waited around for an hour until he came back; he gave us the drugs and we were on our way. However, it turned out we only received 2 weeks worth of medications, so long story short, we stopped at two more health clinics along the way and finally got our hands on another set of isoniazid & ethambutol. In other words, our hour-long drive to reach our patient in his village took about 3 hours overall (it was only a minor trek to find him once we got to Kyabirra). Jen and I kept joking that we were having our Paul Farmer adventures for the day, but this was definitely the mini version, so maybe next time.

Time is a funny idea here in Uganda. I have learned to put my anal-retentiveness aside and just settle with Ugandan time, where you just “go with the flow of the Nile” and add an hour or two until things actually happen. Jen and I were laughing pretty hard during the trip out to Kyabirra yesterday; it is always an adventure. Or maybe it was last week at Lugani Secondary School with a line of students out the door waiting to be tested for HIV; we had limited daylight left, no more clean syringes for 44 more students, and best of all, a matatu without functioning headlights (just a minor detail that would have helped if we knew beforehand). I thought it was funny about the headlights, but a few people did not seem to agree with me.

The good news is that all the students have been negative for HIV! I have been somewhat surprised, yet relieved; most of these kids fall under the categories of populations with increasing rates of HIV: sub-Saharan Africa, youth between 15-24 years, and rural areas with limited access to health care.

I have been enjoying all the fun mishaps that keep piling together the more I work here in Uganda. I am sure there are more to come.

Mzungu! Mzungu! How Are You?

Hello from Uganda! It feels good to be back here on the White Nile; all the familiar faces are still around: boda-boda drivers, raft guides, locals, and a few paddling buddies from the trip in 2006.

So far, I am still figuring out my role at the Soft Power Health clinic. Last week, we went on an outreach education session in Bugaya village, and then a follow-up session in Muguluka to see how effective the nets have been in the last 4 months. We sold all 150 nets on Thursday in Bugaya and need more for our next trip out there. When asked how many people had malaria in the past, everyone in the crowd raised his or her hand. It was somewhat disturbing to see how many people this disease has affected.

Aside from Soft Power, I have gotten a few laps in on part of the day 1 stretch. All the boda-boda drivers are still here, including our regular drivers from last time, Robert and Moses. Robert has started kayaking since I last saw him last and it is great to be out paddling with him. The river has changed since beginning the construction of the dam a few months ago; the Ugly Sisters wave is now gone and all the water has been diverted to Silver Back, which makes it pretty huge. It is sad to say that this section of the day 1 stretch will be flooded when the dam is finished in about 4 years; it will have quite a financial impact on the river industry down here. However, I am loving the big, warm water while I can, and enjoying seeing everyone again.

Last night, Ronald took me on a tour of his local village. I was able to meet his mom and sisters, and then all his own kids running around, chasing us on the boda-boda. “Mzungu! Mzungu! How are you?” they scream; these kids were not used to seeing a white person (mzungu). It keeps amazing me how friendly and welcoming Ugandans are; they invite you into their homes without any hesitation, take you around villages, and strike up any conversation, or even let you drive their own boda-boda (it was pretty comical). I sure wish I could speak more Luganda, but maybe by the end of this trip, I will be able to get by.

Today I will be helping with an HIV testing/counseling session with the kids. We will see how it goes.