,,, to the ends of the earth: August 2008

,,, to the ends of the earth

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Jiggers







Some of you wonderd what Jiggers are. It is a small sand flea that burrows under your skin from the ground. So usually people get them on their feet (often under their nails where the dirt stays). However, this little boy who was disabled also had them in his bottom as he was sitting in the dirt all day. If the flea is not reoved, it pushed its' eggs through the skin and then infects the ground around it, spreading the Jiggers to others.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Padar

We have lived in mud huts for 2 weeks now. The first one we shared with the rain, the rats and the ants, the second one was luxurious in comparison!

We got back to our base yesterday after a 14 hour trick journey from almost the far north of Uganda to Jinja. The last 2 weeks have baan very different with work in different camps each day, doing health education and a little treatment. We have given out about 400 worming tablets this week (and we will de-worm ourselves on the way home!!)

We have also taught healthcare workers and done some community assessment.

We are all exhausted and are ready to come home, but our time here has been challenging as well as fruitful. We touch down on Tuesday afternoon and I think my first priorities will be a long shower and a goo nights' sleep.

Thank you for reading my blog. Thank you for your prayers. See you soon!!

Friday, August 01, 2008

HIV/ AIDS

We have finished our 3 weeks on Lingira and have a weekend back in Jinja before we go up to Padar, which is in the north.

This week we have done more healthcare teaching and clinics on the islands.
I think the highlight of the week though was a 3 hour teaching in the local secondary school that James and I did on HIV/AIDS. The students were so open and asked so many questions. They were more informed about it than students at home would be, however, there were so many myths that they have heard and it is difficult for them to know what and who to believe. It is difficult for them to truely find out the facts. The teaching did turn into a sex education lesson at one point, and then when we split the girls and boys up there were so many more questions. They seemed pleased to be able to ask questions in a way that they would get open and honest answers.
When we go up north we will be working in a refugee area where there is very little healthcare. We have no idea what we will be doing, but it will certainly be different to what we have done so far - mud hut and open fire for cooking I think!