Limited blogging

Is the word "blogging" a real verb? If not, lets make it one. There are many people working here at the UVP office, trying to get things done, and only one person can use the internet at a time so my ability to blog is limited. I'm sorry about that. I'll try to do this on the weekends, even if it means finding an internet cafe.

In terms of the project that I'm supposed to working on here, I've begun by trying to discover who is already doing work in the areas of maternal and neonatal health here in the Iganga district. A number of assessments have already been performed and we certainly don't want to do things that have already been done. Therefore, we're trying to identify gaps in the assessments as well as areas of intervention in terms prevention and treatment of obstetric emergencies in order to reduce neonatal and maternal mortality. There are several key players in this district and we've been scheduling meetings to determine how we can best work with the involved parties, whether it be a formal coalition or just defining who is doing what where. This, of course, is proving to be challenging as even the people who have been here for an extended period of time do not have a clear picture of this. We'll keep trying though. I think one of the biggest problems in the field of public health, along with lack of funding and resources, is the lack of coordination and communication. It is my vision, and UVP's as well, to try to address this issue in the area of maternal/neonatal emergency care.

I've definitely been a bit overwhelmed since arriving here in Iganga and am just praying for grace and the ability to do this. I have electricity and (warm!) running water. Yay! It does make it easier to get things done since a lot of this project, at least in the beginning, requires the use of a computer and gathering resources and reading through a lot of documents. Only one of my other team members is here so far, which is actually good because there aren't very many tasks for me to delegate out right now. Two more girls will arrive next week so Karly and I will travel to Kampala to pick them up. The living quarters are pretty cramped but I have a bed and mosquito net, so that is all I need. :)

To get around town, the form of transportation, other than walking, which you don't want to do after dark, is a boda boda, or bicycle or motorcyle taxi. That is an experience for sure. Your prayers may want to be focused on safety every time I get on a boda boda. I'll try to take some photos but it will be difficult to upload them.

I'll try to write more this weekend and be a bit more descriptive. Of course, understanding fully what its like here is impossible without being here so maybe you should buy a plane ticket. :)

Love,
Jen

No more cereal in Iganga

When I lived at my parents' place, before I moved to North Carolina when I was 18, my mother had the fabulous idea of having each one of us kids cook a meal once a week. (4 kids = 4 times a week my mom didn't have to cook... brilliant huh? I know, if you're reading this mom, you're going to have something to say about that. :) Anyway, I've been on my own for nearly a decade now and, unless you love to cook, which I don't, when you have no one but yourself to cook for, cereal serves as a fine meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Throw some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in there once in awhile for variety, and you're set. Kelley...Lindi... how often do you remember me cooking when I lived with you? Probably never.

Well you see, cereal isn't really an option here. And I just discovered that we are in charge of both buying our own food at the market and cooking our own meals and, trust me when I say, it is NOTHING like trying to cook in the US. Oh dear. Mom, hopefully I learned something. Thank you for trying anyway.

So I've arrived in Iganga which I'll talk more about in a later post but first, perhaps some of you have been able to take a look at the photos I've posted from our hike to Sipi falls over the weekend. That was two days ago, on Saturday. Apollo, the physical therapist at the hospital, who is probably going to end up being my closest friend here, and Isaac, also staff at the CURE hospital (not sure what he does), came with me. Isaac is from Kapchorwa, where Sipi falls is located, and we brought him along so we didn't have to hire a tourguide. It was absolutely beautiful. After we returned to Mbale, I spent the evening with Julie, Derek and Lisa and Derek and Julie cooked an amazing dinner for us (that was for you Dad) and we watched Slumdogg Millionaire. I know, I know, thus far, I'm sure it doesn't really sound like I've spent the past week in Africa. I promise, I'm here.

I will post more later today or tomorrow about Iganga and what it is like here (its much different from Mbale) but first I'm going to go explore and get the crash survival course/tour through the town and market.

You'll hear from me soon!