Tida Jadama, Age 4
A cascade of boiling porridge covered her chest. Now scar tissue binds her left arm so she can only raise it part-way. The scarring is restricting her chest movement and pulling her shoulders forward. WAME is searching for a way to get treatment for her, perhaps in Dakar, Senegal, the US or the UK. Does anyone have any ideas or resources?
We're truly open to suggestions. We'll be checking online resources as much as possible.
Progress at Noo Kunda
Despite all the farmers in the region being out in the fields plowing and sowing the Noo Kunda folks have still managed to make progress on the Outpatient Facility this week. These people are really amazing. Just a few weeks after we met with the Village Development Council the foundations were laid, hundreds of concrete blocks cast, the walls were up and they have started casting columns in forms and insetting the supports for the roof. This will be a waiting, examination, and immunization area as well as a place for teaching.
We've gotten a good price on corrugated roofing -- the dollar went way up forcing prices for materials through the roof -- pun intended -- but we managed to negotiate a good deal, anyway.
We've gotten a good price on corrugated roofing -- the dollar went way up forcing prices for materials through the roof -- pun intended -- but we managed to negotiate a good deal, anyway.
"Sorry, we deal in lead." Steve McQueen, The Magnificent Seven
No, we're not talking about the same kind of lead as McQueen was. This lead will be used as shielding for the X-ray department of the new hospital in Serrekunda/Kanifing, here in The Gambia. The beautiful X-ray machine is sitting there, unusable because there is no lead in the doors to the X-ray room and no protection for the technician.
WAME to the rescue! We are negotiating with some kind people in the UK to get a good price on 2 mm. lead sheeting. This will be mounted on the doors and a movable screen of lead sandwiched between sheets of plywood.
We could really use some donations to help out with this. I'll post the cost of the project as soon as we get a pro forma invoice.
They also have a good ULTRASOUND but there is no technician to operate it. This underscores one of our pet concerns here at WAME. Charities come to Africa and just LOVE to build clinics and schools. The big question is: who will staff them? There are not enough trained teachers; not enough trained nurses and technicians. It is much easier and quicker to construct a building than it is to train a nurse or technician. This is why WAME is actively looking into how we can assist The Gambia to facilitate the training AND RETENTION of medical personnel.
WAME to the rescue! We are negotiating with some kind people in the UK to get a good price on 2 mm. lead sheeting. This will be mounted on the doors and a movable screen of lead sandwiched between sheets of plywood.
We could really use some donations to help out with this. I'll post the cost of the project as soon as we get a pro forma invoice.
They also have a good ULTRASOUND but there is no technician to operate it. This underscores one of our pet concerns here at WAME. Charities come to Africa and just LOVE to build clinics and schools. The big question is: who will staff them? There are not enough trained teachers; not enough trained nurses and technicians. It is much easier and quicker to construct a building than it is to train a nurse or technician. This is why WAME is actively looking into how we can assist The Gambia to facilitate the training AND RETENTION of medical personnel.
