Community Walk

Friday, October 16, 2009

The day after the 'hill of death' experience, our group visits aspects of the local community. I am worn out from the previous day, so this is a good chance to stretch legs. Outside the park entrance is a little tourist shopping area, and we keep running into Augustine, a dude with rasta styling who seems to have a hand in any tourist needs. Later, he brings music video DVD's by the lodge to give private viewings to anyone interested in buying. For the walk, we have guides who takes us by people distilling banana wine and banana gin - we make faces when we discover banana wine is really sour. Banana gin is actually pretty good. The initial step in the process involves tromping - I think of the winemaking episode of I Love Lucy. We visit a traditional doctor and learn of remedies for stomach problems and of herbal Viagra equivalents. The guy is a character, but we learn that he actually works closely with the local community hospital with cross-referrals. Among the herbs and leaves is a family planning handbook - the average family in Uganda includes seven children, which is a big problem.

. The community hospital is impressive - Doctor Paul, the head administrator (a Brit), explains the the goal is to do the simple things well. Family planning, support for childbirth, malaria prevention, and HIV education/ treatment. Significant improvement on all fronts over the last five years. The hospital serves a community defined by a day's walking distance and is training a health care coordinator in every village. There is also a private elementary school and high school, and we hear of their programs as we sit in the principal's office - first time in many years. There is a system of government schools, but the closest is about 40 miles away - too far to be any help. Near the school we visit a group of Batwa people. they are the indigenous forest pygmies who were displace when the forest became a national park. They entertain with a little song and dance, and Michael reciprocates with a hula hooping exhibition. They are initially mystified, but soon are thrilled. Michael has brought a bag of hats to distribute, made by a church group that he knows in the States.