Bukumbi Diary - July 2007
6th July 2007
Our visit to Bukumbi this week co-incided with the monthly planning meeting, where those involved in the activities and care at Bukumbi Care Centre get together to discuss current issues and future plans. The group is made up of representatives from the community, government, local health care providers and other Non Government Organisations such as ourselves (charities). This month we spent almost two hours talking about everything from the care of patients affe
cted by Leprosy, the problems with the water supply, the ongoing maintenance of the newly refurbished buildings and how to assess the education issues facing the BCC community. One area the group felt was particularly important was that of the young people who have lived with their parents at BCC but are asked to leave when they reach 18 years old. Usually during their time at BCC very few have learnt to become independent and responsible young adults, in fact quite the opposite. Many have learnt how to beg and depend on others so it’s quite a shock when their time comes to leave. As well as the support of children in the traditional education system, it is also important to address vocational and life skills training as well as other forms of adult education. We were able to tell the group about Fay McNamara who is 
coming on board with Bridge2Aid in September to address these very issues. The announcement was met with a positive response.
We met with the women of Wafadhili dormitory and talked about how to maintain the cleanliness of their building. They had all moved back into their rooms last week, and they couldn’t wait to tell me this week how well they were sleeping! The wide smiles of the ladies along with the bright cotton sheets and colourful blankets brightened up the rooms and made them feel much more homely. (AW)
20th July 2007
Having been away in the UK
for 5 weeks it was great to return to Bukumbi on Monday morning and to see the progress within Wafhadili Block. The women are really happy even though the rooms aren’t quite finished yet.
On Monday we met with the Regional Leprosy and TB Co-ordinator as well as representatives from GLRA (German Leprosy Relief Association) who were travelling around Tanzania visiting centres similar to Bukumbi. We have met before and taken advice from Mr Burchard Rwamtoga who is their representative for social rehabilitation and so it was useful to meet again and discuss our progress. They were pleased to see the progress within the community which is always an encouragement!
There was a Dr travelling with them who wants to establish an NGO for bringing together people with di
sabilities relating to Leprosy and she wants to have representatives from each ‘centre’ meeting regularly to discuss issues of disability. So once it is set up two of the community at Bukumbi will join this group and meet with other people from different areas to discuss issues relating to leprosy. This is such a positive move and will really help with the motivation within the centre.
On Tuesday I took our Locum dentist Dr Paul and his wife Monica as well as our Locum Nurse Angela to visit Bukumbi to see the other side of Bridge2Aid than dentistry. They helped with the food distribution and had fun with the kids! It is always a privilege being able to introduce visitors to the community at Bukumbi. (JT)