Delphine Akyini

WOW -- what a week. After a calm weekend, I opted for some adventure at the beginning of this week and traveled to the islands of Lake Victoria. What an experience! I spent three wonderful days there, learning how to bathe without running water and cook without electricity. The locals have developed some ingenious ways to deal with mother nature; I"m so impressed with their ability to stay somewhat healthy and promote education and progress within their community with so little technology. The time I had there afforded me the opportunity to chat with many locals about their culture and ways of life. After a lengthy conversation with two mothers and one of the FACES staff, I was re-named Delphine Akyini, which stuck for the remainder of my time in the islands. The second name is a tradidtional Luo name given to someone who was born in the morning. Part of this was in gest, I know, but I like to think it was also in appreciation for my curiosity about their culture. :)

The FACES clinic itself is awesome as well. It's a mobile clinic that visits three different islands within the week. I had the opportunity to work at the large stable clinic in Mfangano and help with the mobile clinic in Ringiti. The mobile clinic, as my good friend Keegan would say, a "suitcase clinic", meaning we bring all of the patient's charts, medications and laboratory necessities to the island on a dinghy little boat, while navigating the waves of Lake Victoria. And on this particular Tuesday, a rainstorm as well! On Ringiti, we set up shop at the local dance hall/bar because that's the largest space available to use. We use the bar tables for registration, medication administration and "blood-letting" as they often say here. Then, there is a separate table for the clinical officer and the patient, separated from teh rest of the room by a curtain. There, we see all of our clients and anyone in need of patient care. FACES goes every Tuesday to Ringiti with another organization named St Luc's. This is the ONLY medical care that Ringiti residents get, so they are always appreciative of our efforts. Plus, they are great patients! I had several patients ask very appropriate questions and most of them actually adhered to their complex medication regimen. I was wowed! I wish I could post pictures of this clinic, but i have no means of doing so at the moment. Perhaps later this week...