An Introduction to Kashongi

June 14, 2010

We made our first trip to the sub-county of Kashongi today, where we’ll be carrying out our interventions. It takes about an hour to commute from Mbarara. One part of the drive is on paved roads (something I will not take for granted again), although there are the occasional potholes and uneven patches, while the stretch leading up to Kashongi is an extremely bumpy dirt road.

[This is Kashongi's airstrip--the red gravel path on the other side of the fence.]

Our SM intervention will take place at four different health centers in Kashongi. Those assigned to SM will rotate between them daily, and the first day starts tomorrow at the health center closest to the sub-county office. Monday’s location take place near a weekly market (lots of pregnant women will be around; we attracted a curious crowd when we arrived and Dr. Mugerwa explained both SM and WSH to the people in Runyankole), while Wednesday’s and Thursday’s locations are more remote.

[Wednesday's location. This is where there is normally only one health worker.]

[The road leading up to Wednesday's health center.]

We’re limiting the number of women we can see each day to 50 women in order to ensure an effective quantity. Those who arrive after the first 50 will be told that we’ll be back the same day the next week and given a scheduled appointment so they know they will receive services when they come again. We obviously don’t want to turn women down, but last year, SM would be swamped some days with as many as 100-some pregnant mothers. When that happened, they had to limit the time spent consulting with each mother and couldn’t provide an ultrasound to every woman, a goal for this year.

As for the WSH group, our roles are still in the making since it’s the first year of the project. SM has a year’s experience under its belt; we still don’t quite know what to expect. On Tuesday, I’m meeting with CVCs to discuss some aspects of our education curriculum. I believe we’re also running a focus group. Hopefully our first day goes well!

[Our visit to a dam, which is the source of water for both people and animals in one village.]

[A borehole (pump) that was installed by the government in the past but no longer works.]

[My first crested crane sighting! Two of them were perched up in this tree next to the dam.]