Child Health Week - Day 5

Today was my third visit, in as many months, to the Chilunga health post next to the Chilunga Community school - 14km directly west of the health centre - and we got a warm welcome from everyone. The road is very bad in parts including a crossing of the Mulungushi River - at this time of the year only about 20 meters wide so not much more than a stream but quite deep at the crossing so requiring a change into four-wheel drive - and the 14 km takes about 35 minutes to do. In comparison to the bike ride- which usually takes the staff 2-2.5 hours this is still not bad !


We recorded 226 children today which was apparently down a bit from their usual monthly attendance of nearly 300. As I've worked each day it has been incredible to see the sheer numbers of people. It is mostly the women/mothers or grandmothers bringing their kids - only a few men bring them. They - mothers and kids - come in all ages, sizes, looks and levels of dress and it is very difficult to discern who may be well off and who may be dirt poor. Their patience is infinite as they wait to be processed at each station but then it is quite a social event as the women have a chance to sit in groups and chat while the kids get together in groups and play. There is a constant buzz in the air and people milling about - quite tiring mentally and one just has to focus on the mechanics of getting the paperwork done. Some walk up to 6km each way to attend so they must see some benefit from the whole program. One thing for sure -you see very few remotely fat people in this part of Africa because they eat reasonable amounts of food and get a lot of exercise.


It is surreal however that amidst all of this the modern world still pervades the backwaters of Africa. Many of the women have cell phones. Not that I heard them speaking on them much but they obviously have to buy them, keep them charged and then pay for air time when they do use them !