Bridge 2 Aid : 'Restoring Smiles - Changing Lives'

It’s always a privilege showing visitors around Bukumbi, and on Wednesday we took our 10 volunteers who have been here with DVP (Dental Volunteer Programme) to meet the community and see our work there. It was great for them to see the other side of B2A after spending 6 days carrying out dental training. They all enjoyed the experience and had fun playing football and skipping with the kids.  Many of them said how they could sense a real feeling of hope and community during their visit. (JT)

This week has been about meeting people and making contacts.

It was great to see Vumi back at Bukumbi, she has returned from Dar Es Salaam following treatment for the large ulcerated area on her face, so far so good and the wound is healing well. The challenge now for her with her pale skin is to keep covered up and not let the sun cause any more damage. She greeted us with 2 photos she had of her in hospital – she was so proud to have photos of  her self one was her alone and the other with another young girl she had become friends with.

Fay and I met with the local adult education guy in Misungwi (about 30 minutes from Bukumbi) to discuss what opportunities were available, especially for a group of 10 young people aged 15 – 18  who want to improve their English. There are several different options available but as ever they have very specific criteria and at the moment the group of 10 don’t fit! But with some clever work I’m sure we can make this happen, especially as the request is coming from these young people themselves.

Andie has been busy working with the men and women in Sijaona and Wafhadili ensuring the buildings are being cleaned and maintained and doing what she does best which sitting and talking with the community on an individual level allowing them to share how they are feeling. (JT).

Sometimes our work at Bukumbi means rolling up our sleeves and literally getting mucky to help the community in very practical ways, other times it means lots of listening and talking, and that’s what we spent our time doing one day this week.  We spent a couple of hours sitting with Mr Bundala (Pictured), the Centre Manager, chatting about the current problems with the water supply and discussing a way forward in partnership between Bridge2Aid and Tanzanian Regional Government.  We were encouraged by the enthusiasm with which the ideas were received and look forward to a time when water is no longer a problem at Bukumbi.

We also called together the leaders of each of the dormitory blocks to discuss their roles and current concerns.  Building maintenance and cleanliness was top of the list, it was encouraging to hear from the members of the community how they see this as an important issue to address.  They came up with some of their own solutions which we hope will make a big difference and be met with enthusiasm from the rest of the community over the next few weeks.

Spending time talking and listening is a core value of Bridge2Aid and essential to the partnerships that we are developing.  (AW)

This week has seen the launch of our community committees. We have met with the education (pictured), health and water committees. It’s great to be meeting with the community about specific issues and working out together how we can find solutions. It’s a great way to engage the community and also the manager at Bukumbi. We hope that the meetings will build momentum and be a focal point for communications and change at the centre.

As well as the community at Bukumbi Care Centre the committees also involve people from outside the centre such as the ward education officer, a teacher from the local school, the Dr from the local hospital and the District TB and Leprosy Co-ordinator (DTLC) which ensures that we are working in collaboration and partnership with the whole community.

The DTLC is new in post and has only visited BCC 3 times but already is doing a great job. On Thursday he held a clinic and saw all of the people within the centre who have wounds as a result of their leprosy. Together with the nurse he sat outside the clinic and assessed, de-brided and redressed the wounds as necessary, at the same time educating the individuals on how best to care for their wounds themselves. (JT)

At the request of the residents who live in the dormitories that have yet to be refurbished we purchased 4 cleaning kits comprising of brushes, mops, buckets and cleaning fluids.  The leaders of the dormitories were happy to receive the kits and will start the new cleaning schedule on the 1st December, cleaning every Saturday and Monday with guidance from Ngeta who assists with the cleaning of Sijaona and Wafadhili blocks.  I have never seen people so excited at the prospect of cleaning! (AW)