Day 53

Over the past week our objective on the community medicine rotation was to look into occupational health hazards. We visited a sewage plant, a water treatment plant, a dump, and a housing complex under construction. It was overall a pretty smelly week. The sewage plant was awful, I struggled to breathe most of the time because of the strong odor. To make it even better there was poop all over the ground…I can definitely see how these employees health could be effected by their work…really hope cholera doesn’t ever become an issue because they would be the first to know.

At the dump there were over 50 people scavenging through the trash that we could see. This place was HUGE. It looked like a city of trash, and it was constantly steaming due to the decomposition. We didn’t stay long at the dump because whoever we were supposed to meet didn’t actually show up…so we just kind of wandered around until we got tired of the smell.

Here is the steaming dump site with some scavengers in the background.

The construction site was actually a waste of time. I have no idea how it relates to medicine in any way. All we did was get a tour of some houses that they were building and then we were sent on our way (because of the severe dustiness at the construction site, we had to wear rubber boots and hard hats...a pretty attractive combination!).

Super cute rubber boots, white coats, and construction hats!

A Baobab tree we saw today on our drive!! 

The rest of this week we spent editing our case study (almost finished!) and watching a ton of movies. On Sunday we spent our morning at the Mother Theresa Orphanage about 10 minutes away from our house. We played with the kids until they had to go to lunch. They taught us many different games and then we had a huge soccer match (in a very small area). The kids were probably between 4 and 14 in age. Some of them had obvious disabilities but nonetheless were some of the cutest kids I’ve ever seen. They were so excited to see us!! We brought them several bags of lollipops and began by passing them out to all of the children. Several of them did not realize that you have to take the plastic off the lollipops to reach the candy, it was pretty hilarious. I kept trying to help them take the plastic off, but they kept getting upset that I was “stealing” their candy. A few of them kept stashing the lollipops in their pockets and coming up again and again for more. Each time they came back we were like, “didn’t you already get one?” and they would just simply shake their head and smile with their hands outstretched for more. At one point I started taking pictures and several of the older girls surrounded me begging me if they could take a turn at picture taking. When I let them use it they began running around taking SO many pictures, it was actually very entertaining and I got a ton of good pictures out of it. Before leaving, we talked to one of the nuns in charge about donations. We want to come back later this week and donate some toys and school supplies to the kids.

Chris with one of the kids at the orphanage.

They told me their names several times but I seriously could not figure out what they said...

One of the kids that kept stealing all of the lollipops.

Chris playing with the kids in the background and Mo having some quality picture time with the kids in front.

He really wanted a picture with me! So cute :)

Sunday was also our last day at the Sunday market at the Arcades mall. This market consists of at least 50 stalls where they sell every kind of African souvenir (predominately wild animal figurines, pottery and paintings). I bought many things to give to everyone when I get back…and a few things for myself to remember Africa by. Well, the rest of this week we will be finishing up our final edits to the case study on lead poisoning, as well as going by the orphanage a few more times, going to a reptile park Tuesday, and saying our final goodbyes to Lusaka. We leave Saturday morning at 10am for our safari in Kafue National Park, about 4 hours northwest of Lusaka. Kafue National Park is one of the largest game parks in all of Africa and apparently the best one to see elephants, hippos and leopards. We are staying at the Leopard Lodge in small chalets (hut like hotel rooms). I seriously can’t wait for safari now that it’s getting even closer!!

Until next time,

Jenn