Saturday, June 2, 2007

Tales from Tanga!!

Hello Hello Hello
So Sorry that it has been so long since my last blog update, but we have been having internet trouble... basically we have had no internet at the camp, save 10 min which I used to read a few email. So here is the update...
 
We are all happy and healthy and loving Tanzania and Chogo. The people here are amazing and the scenery is beautifull. Since arriving at the refugee settlement we have already started to make an impact. We have been able to organize a community wide market clean-up and held a big celebration yesterday welcoming the start of healthy and sanitary living in the camp!  It was amazing to see  the entire community to come out for the event. We have also been busy with other programming. Our main focus in Chogo is peer education and we have divided ourselves into 5 groups. Each group has a min of 5 youth from the community who are being educated in peer education on various subjects including HIV and AIDS, Women's Health, Water Safety, Environment and Sanitation and Leadership and Volunteerism. We are also trying to organize a football (soccer) league  in the camp and many up us are also volunteerin in the clinic. On Wednesday's in the clinic we are going to be hoding nutrition and HIV education classes, and I have been putting my respiratory skills to work by doing a respiratory clinic also on wednesday. AT first glance the clinic  seems to  be well stocked and able to provide adequate service,  but after spending some time there you realize that although preventitive medicince is being realitively well taken care of,  their ability to deal with acute situations is very limited. For example, the clinic didn't stock salbutamol to treat an acute asthma attack.    
 
Overall we are enjoying our time and are starting to get to know the people. We are sure  that we will be able to make a positive impact in the camp and are already buzzing with ideas about what we can do for Chogo once we are back in Newfoundland!
 
I hope to write again soon, 
Badaaye (later),
 
Heater

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