Ilula Wednesday 2-1-2012

 This day was notable from some new connections we made at the Amani Orphanage.  I hope I get the name details correct.  Beata Mundt, a German nurse, social worker, family counselor at Amani and a colleague, William (Wilhelm), a pediatrician came to discuss Plumpy’Nut.  This came about after they had visited IDH and met Jill Strykowski at IDH and she referred them to me.    At the orphanage, they get many referrals and if they have room, they take them in.  These children may be true orphans or simply destitute.  They are often starving.  Bottom line is we have many similar interests.

I gave them a box of Plumpy’Nut to get some of the severely malnourished kids going.  They wouldn’t need a ton of it, but should have a couple cartons (150 sachets) on hand.  We also gave them the special measuring tapes to gauge the level of malnutrition.  The tapes measure Z-score, 2 standard deviations from the mean as measured at the MUAC (mid-upper arm circumference).  Serena Thompson taught them how to use the strips.

They also have a garden, but do not grow groundnuts, i.e. peanuts, or lentils (chakoro) or some of the other complimentary protein foods.  They do have milk and beef and goats on the farm, so they would not need the beans, except to teach the caregivers.  Meg Feigal is our garden guru and my hope is that somehow there could be some collaboration to add the beans.

Beata invited our group to Amani on Friday for a tour and lunch.  We will chat some more then. 

Dr. Saga stopped by this evening to say we may try to go to Idete tomorrow, to deliver medicines to the infirmary.  Idete is where Lutangilo Secondary School is, “our school,” where many of our Idunda students go.  Idunda is across the valley with bad roads, read “no roads.”  There are roads to Idete.  Compared with last year, there has been more rain.  Pole sana, I won’t be going to Idunda.

Tonight we are watching the first half of “Bridesmaids.”  No, we don’t have a movie for every night.  Last night we did watch “Ides of March.”  That is why we are watching at least some of “Bridesmaids.”  We need the comic relief.  And the students are already using my son’s mantra, “Don’t encourage him.”

I will try to upload Idete photos next post, or when we get them.