De-Worming in T-1 (we hope)!

Misawa Uru!
So before I write anything else... there are two big accounts that I forgot to mention in my last entry.
Number 1: On our last walk into Kisii, andrea and I had a nice 5 mile jaunt -almost at the main road - quite peaceful indeed... when we came upon four boys aggressively striking the ground with their garden tools... they paused to greet us with big smiles ("Hey Msungu!") and we waved, walking closer to greet them properly.. until we saw what they were actually striking. They lifted it with great pride... and there it was, a GIANT, black, white bellied, snake - at least 2 meters in length - hanging dead over their garden hoe... they howled at our shocked faces - and took off with it back towards home - no doubt to burn it with joy. Good thing. We hates the snakes. And that's a normal morning in kenya.
Number 2: The lab tech saga. Well, Eunice continued to return every day, taking great ownership of the lab - and insisting on "assisting" me with my work. It was a very difficult balance, because while she wanted the work very badly, she simply was not qualified... and we are not in the place to train her. Everyday, we'd end up singing "guess who's back... back again..." because no matter how many times I tried to explain to her that she needed more training, she would continue to return. Then one day, a man named Samson showed up, boasting quite impressive lab skills. We decided to give him a try - but when he explained that one of the ways to get a pin worm infection was via inhalation of the eggs, I realized he made Eunice look good. I spoke to him about his level of training, and he confessed that he just wanted a place to work - a place to get more experience. Eunice expressed the same sentiments "why won't you just let me stay and work? home is not good. Just let me stay and work". It was a tough situation to be in, as I am not the person who decides whom to hire... I tried to explain this and i think they finally understood. As much as i urged them to get more training, it was pretty futile - where would they get it? how would they afford it? would it even be adequate? I think i will forever look at our own education in a very different light. As much as we complain about having to study - our opportunities and level of education is not to be beat... nor taken for granted. I hope always remember that.
Ok, enough with the life lessons - and back to none other than THE POOP. This past friday was, I am proud to say, the final day of chieth (feces) collection. Can I get an amen??? The project went well, and I received near 100% compliance almost every day. The most recent challenge is 2-fold. 1. i have found about 20-25 children to be infected with a certain type of larva that swims around in their poop. Yes, ew, is appropriate. Any good microbiology student would astutely proclaim that larva in poop indicates strongyloides stercalis infection. But most lab techs and researches in the area say "no, no, you rarely ever see strongyloids in this part of kenya." I have been in touch with an american doc doing research in Nairobi and he has no idea what i could be finding (perhaps I have found a new worm? shall we call is the Rieselius?) - because he insists that strongyloides is just not found that commonly here. Well friend, I think I have found it. I have tried sending him poop samples multiple times, but typical typical, each time has been foiled. CRAP. (cheesey pun intended). We're really in a tough place.. strongyloides treatment is different than your regular de-worming - and is quite involved and complicated. At the same time, letting strongyloides lie can be quite dangerous as the infection can disseminate into parts of the body like the liver and heart - bad news all around. So what do we do? Our new lab tech (who seems fairly legit) was quite certain it was strongyloides, but no one else will make a diagnosis for sure. Our hands are tied.
Challenge number 2 is the actual de-worming which we hope to initiate tomorrow (just before andrea (dr. dre) and I head off on our romantic safari for two... more on that later). Theorectically, it should be easy. One pill, and your done. In Kenya, however, the pills we need (mebendazole 500 mg) - are only sold in 100mg pills. right. So, now we are giving these kids 5 pills each. at once. ok, ok, not too bad - but now here's the catch - where do we get enough clean water for all 550 kids to swallow these 5 pills each? All tricky, challenging problems - but nothing we can't solve, we hope. I think we'll stock up on some bottled water for the Andingo school (the new school with only 100 children) and the lwala school will drink their collected rain water (the Andingo school has yet to be able to afford even a rain cistern). Onge Wach (no worries... no problem)... we'll make it work. And hopefully, the clinic will be able to sustain this - always something we have to think about "well, this works for now, but what will happen when we leave?"
As another part of my project, i have agreed to teach some lessons on worm infections, how to treat them, and how to prevent them. Dr. Dre and I taught one lesson at the Andingo school and it went incredibly well. We even had about 20 mothers in attendence. They had lots of great and challenging questions - and once we had satisfied their querries on worms - they launched right into requests for a lecture on HIV and AIDS. So, we oblidged... and gave an impromptu lesson and Q&A session on the topic. Afterwards - we exchanged songs and games with all the students - and ended up leaving 2 hours later with many, many thanks. It was a really great experience. There's a real difference at the Andingo school - i think we are truly the first Msungus to visit them - so unlike at Lwala's School, they express a different sort of appreciation.
What else? Last week we also had a wonderful weekend with the Lwala Women's group - singinging dancing and basket buying. They weave the most incredible baskets that we are all bringing back to the US to sell... some of the undergrads set up an american account for the Women - so we can deposit the money that we get for the baskets directly, and the women can withdraw it here in Kenya to support their group. They are a remarkable group of women - and it is terrific to see them in their element, singing, dancing, empowered, laughing... the baskets will be for sale upon immediate return to the US (July 27th) - which is so so soon - amazing to believe - and quite sad as well... i think i will really miss our neighbors and friends here.. though it has also been a long time away from home and I am excited to come back...
... before we leave, though, Dre and I are determined to make another cake. Earlier this summer, as Omundi made his famous Mandazi (better than doughnuts doughnuts) and i studiously tried to learn the recipe - he cautioned - "but bwana... if you try.. you will fail. You lack the experience. You will just fail" Never one to believe in failure, i set out to bake a cake with Dre for Abbi (a vandy alum's) birthday - and it was SO promissing... but alas, we were out of charcoal, and the fire never quite got hot enough - and the cake never quite cooked through - we ate it anyway - and had a great time with it - but Omundi took one bite and said "AY! BWANA! you FAILED!" and turned up his nose, refusing to eat anymore. Well, Omundi... these girls never quit. Not today. Today shall be our day! Dre and I are are going to try for cake attempt 2 as a thank you for all everyone has done for us... and hopefully the cake will be received as a thank you indeed - not, "NO thank you"... i'll keep you posted.
And sadly, right after the deworming day, and final big meal (which is normally at the Ochieng' household - but this time, Rose the nurse would not take no for an answer - so this time we'll have dinner at her house - chipatti for sure) tomorrow night, dre and i will depart for our romantic safari for two ... in the Masai Mara... ontuesday morning we're pretty excited... platform tents, showers, and a toilet - we'll be living in the lap of luxury for two whole days. And hopefully we'll get to see some pretty great sights... can't wait.
I'll be home July 27th and can't wait to get in touch with you all... miss you more than you know.
- Jobaby....