Graduation Weekend KCMCollege, Moshi Tanzania

Dedication of 3^rd Floor of the College to John, MEPI team party, Night of Inspiration

Plaque Veiled

Plaque unveiled

I could write a long blog here, but instead will mostly post pictures.  Yesterday was a full and amazing day.  My heart is full yet again for the friendships that John and I have developed here in Moshi over the past 10 years (for John 13).  We have a marvelous team in the Collaboration with the leadership of Dr. Blandina, we have the best accountants in Frank, Francis & Vera, and team of researchers and lab research team, students and staff are skilled in handling the Standards of Practice that are required by the National Institutes of Health.  It is not easy to handle dollars converted to Tshillings when the conversion rate changes daily.  It is not easy to provide excellent quality control quality assurance when the research protocols add amendments, require drugs that come in the milligram sizes not available anywhere in this country, lab results when the power surges fry even the best surge protectors, the browser corrupts and looses data for months, the toilets break, the mud is thick, the best vehicles have a hard time getting to the field sites, the babies are born at midnight, and some staff are injured in motor vehicle accidents.  This group laughs hysterically and then puts the hard work of figuring out the way around.  What a blessing.

John with collaboration and MEPI Team

John with Plaque

Black dots are Nairobi Fly

At the presentation, there were so many of these horrible Nairobi Flies that they were falling from the ceiling and like a moving carpet on the floor.  In my sandals, I had to walk on my toes to try to avoid any of them crawling across my feet and wash my sandals when I got home!

The Bishop gives a short word of thanks to John

Ahaz and others in the dedication

The young MEPI gang

Something funny at the end keeps us laughing

Just what is going on?????Sijui (I don't know)

Carol our fab driver takes the MEPI Bus for students to go to the field

Then the MEPI (medical education partnership initiative) team, led by Ahaz Kukulanga the DeputyVice Provost is just amazing. Most are young and energetic.  They grew up in the age of the internet,and that gives them something the rest of us could only dream of. The older folks had to learn after years of hand-writing or if lucky, typing.  Raised during or just after colonialism, they were forced to work harder, prove themselves more, and know what it was to deal with struggles every single day. I am quite sure that thoughts entered their heads of giving up, but they did not.  To see them celebrating again, and to be in some way the focal part of it was really incredible, and humbling. 

A Toast to the MEPI team members who are missing

Because some team members are studying abroad, or busy winning the "best poster award" (AKA Charles) the team toasted them saying "Mitwara" for the best beef sausage around!

Each department in MEPI described John in relation to their speciality

Ahaz notes he bought penny loafers to look like John

The cane award

John and I had a happy day

Our lovely MEPI team

I even got a Kitenga and toast!

 The changes at KCMC College are equally astounding.  It is true that the MEPI NIH grant supplied the cash for much of the infrastructure development, but it was the vision of the Provost Kessy in particular and Professor Shao in the early stages that allowed the dream for the college to become a reality.  Their sometimes brutal honesty is actually a huge relief in a world that often puts roadblocks in place for more transparent people.   

Ha--It is time to start + 30 min.  The platform is not yet built!

As usual timing is everything in Tanzania.  It all started 2.5 hours late!

The MC's were great--even though they broke the steps to the platform

John, Kessy & Shao discussing.  Note Sprite bottle

Dr. Mallya, Blandina and William will debate specialities soon!

Rose and Dean Deo sharing a word

Prof Lavina shares life as she studies in Russia!

Prof Shao shares life as he studies in Cuba

Provost Kessy's Chagga Name "Kazi Ngumu" Work Hard!

 The first speaker Provost Kessy, shared his life as boy in Mamba in a one room hut with 8 brothers and sisters, school barefoot and being caned for nearly everything, but his passion for Math and Medicine.  The second speaker Prof Dr. Msuya spoke of her growing up and her training in Russia where she had to learn the language, and cope with the cold and her passion as one of the first female MD's in Tanzania.  The third, the Honored Guest Professor Shao, spoke of many challenges from boyhood to adult, but each with a message of hope and determination.  "What I learned, What message can you take?"  I am so eager for someone to write a book about the life of Professor Shao.  His experiences are incredible, unique and ground breaking.  Life in Castro's Cuba, life in Uganda, experiences with Apartheid Africa and Steve Biko.  Just incredible.

The medical students and the faculty who spoke at the Night of Inspiration were both hysterical and seriously amazing.  The Rappers, also medical students were creative and funny.  Whether you like rap or not, you would have to be impressed by their ability (even while secretly thinking that their parents are so glad that they finished medicine and have a great career ahead of them). And the MC’s were perfect, playing off each others’ strengths and providing just the right amount of humor.

The MED Boys Dream of the Night of Inspiration

The MED girls describe the first autopsy

 Faculty Prof Mallya, Prof William and Prof Blandina nearly took the house down describing why they deserved the one parachute as their theoretical Indian AirLines plane crashed.  Their ability to think fast is legend, but we were all astounded!

Children will lead tomorow

You have to walk to run (fix the broken bones)

I am the one up here who took care of the Pope

My John gave an equally inspiring talk, using parallels from his parents and us, and as well the love of Global Health and seeing the changes that have occurred despite the challenges.  I agree with Ahaz, that his ability to put the perfect “spin” on something that seems impossible is unique.  And, if he promises something, he will deliver, and if it is bad news, he will give it honestly but kindly.

Ahaz introduces John

The screen for the slides is behind--No slides

 Note that the screen for the slides was made from 4 sheets pinned together and as the wind blew the sheets billowed, the slides disappeared. Not to mention that as the wind blew, the projector reverted to "input A"

John really inspired

So the day of the plaque, and the night of inspiration were an event that even as I become more forgetful, I know will be with me forever.

Busy Busy Last Two Weeks in Moshi

Kibo and Mawenzi make up Kilimanjaro

Kibo, the big peak almost touching....glaciers fast fading

Events have picked up in our last two weeks in Moshi.  We had a fantastic Youth Community Advisory Board Meeting, and learned to two of our members got married!!! They had met in the clinic, and because of Youth CAB had found that they really could live a normal life and together.  It is very romantic, and the whole Youth CAB is happy for them.  I feel particularly happy about this because the young woman ran with me in the Kilimanjaro Marathon last year, and kept me going, even when we wound up running 10K instead of 5K.  So, it was very fun to see them so happy together.  The Youth CAB as a whole had a good day.

Dr. James leads a discussion about Health Issues

James listens to comments from active Youth

After retreating to get out of rain

We had a beautiful Hash (flour run) on Sunday up in the coffee farms behind our house near Mwenge College. Our friend Susie set the hash, and it was long and a bit tough (because of an irrigation ditch you had to straddle for quite some time) but really different and beautiful.  The river part of the run was very scary for me because I was afraid I would fall, but all turned out ok.  Most people here know that I am terrified of heights and falling.  Anyway, it all worked out and at the end of the run, we had nice beer and a beautiful view of Kilimanjaro from her house near the college.  It is barely 1 Kilometer from our house, but you feel like you can just touch the mountain from there.

Bob is back! 

The girls and the mountain

The beer drinking group (not Nikoli)

William, our Irish Neurologist always has a fantastic story or four

So, "On On" and now dive into KCMC graduation weekend.

From a Whimper to a Bang

View of Pare Mountains from Kileo Village

November 1 began with a whimper from me.  After the Halloween haunted house, I lay flat on my back for the next 3 days, starting a steroid taper and trying to lesson the back pain that seemed to occur with each movement.  Because I knew the week would be busy, I was just as determined to get over this inconvenience!  My first “out of sofa” experience was to ride with my friend Sabina to two outreach health dispensaries near the Pare Mountains.  They were very different.  On the way I listened to another fascinating history lesson regarding the impact of Uhuru on different families….the good and the bad.

Only Water access in village

The first village we visited Kileo, is an example of Uhuru with great difficulties. Sabina explained that in some villages, the people who were sent from the richer areas of the Kilimanjaro side to start farms in these lower lying areas were from many different tribes and family groups.  All the differences meant that it was difficult to form a cohesive village area, and Kileo was still having troubles in this area.  The land is poor, it floods frequently and the diseases from these floods are prevalent.  Medical Students from KCMC have spent rotations there and things improve but also the challenges are great.  I found the staff at the dispensary to be dedicated and very pleasant, dealing with overwhelming problems (no laboratory technician for instance) and having challenges with clean safe water.  We did notice improvements though, and that made Sabina very happy.  Pole pole getting better.

The Opposition party office in Kileo

With my friend Sabina, the Kileo Health staff

Old home from Umoja Village days in Kileo

Village scene

Kileo Village office

Best Bar in Kileo

The second village we visited Kifaru was quite different.  Despite being very close to one another, the villagers were much more motivated and had a strong village leader.  The villagers themselves had organized a “harambee” to raise funds for a new dispensary and the structure was in the process of being built. The staff here were also professional, friendly and clearly dedicated.

Kifaru Health Center

New Building

Village of Kifaru where big fundraiser held

My week continued with a delicious “dada” night at Changbay Annex. It is a likeable nyama choma restaurant.  They had delicious mbuzi (goat) nyama (barbecue) as well as chicken. But the best part was to be with my girlfriends, Lightness, Lui, Eunice, Dafrosa and Theresia.  Sadly, we missed Lydia, Agnes and Verynice….but next time!

 Eunice, Lightness Lui and Dafrosa

Eunice, Lightness Trish Lui and Dafrosa

And finally, I spent a great Saturday with the Kilimanjaro –Tanzanian social workers Regional meeting.  Over 40 social workers and trainees came, and it was great.  We had presentations from 4 people, a special speaker and a fundraising moment for the group.  All in all it was great to have the opportunity to share experiences and challenges with being social workers in Kilimanjaro.  I look forward to next year!

Trish very proper at K-TASWO

Social Workers together

I discovered some very strange vines at our neighbor’s house, and of course had to kiss my African grandson, and give a big “pole” (sorry) to his mom, Lucy because he is so mobile now (crawling, pulling up) that he is into everything.  And, he sincerely believes that he should be able to grab and pull and to eat and stick his fingers where danger lurks.  He is not happy with the word “No”, and poor Lucy says that seems to be the only word she uses with him these days.

Faux Banana plant

Precious Jonathan

Strange and mysterious vine

Strange and mysterious vine2