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COVID 19

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Not everyone made this group photo. Sorry! As you likely know, there is C-19 in Tanzania and most Americans have returned home. An exception is April Trout, the Bega Kwa Bega long-term volunteer in Iringa. Her term is up in August and she has ties to southern Tanzania so she elected to stay. Here is an article of some interest perhaps: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/africasource/tanzanias-mild-response-to-covid-19-and-its-implications-for-the-2020-elections/ . If you have been to TZ, you will recognize all the issues raised in the article. I have been trying to think through some of the issues for TZ. I do not claim any inside knowledge, just some concerns below and in no particular order: ·         Age distribution. You know that 50% of Tanzanians are under age 5 and 75% are under age 25. There will still be deaths in this group of course, but their age-related risk population is small compared to ours. ·         However, nutrition is a big issue for kids u
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Reflections from Ilula - Marilee McGraw

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16,948 miles, 25 days, Minneapolis, Amsterdam, Dar es Salaam, Ilula, Iringa, Tungamalenga, Ruaha, kipaduka and many stops along the way with countless hours spent in a coaster bus that had far exceeded its nine lives, yet miraculously navigated deep ruts, washed out roads and overflowing bridges. The license plate, DNA, was aptly named and perfectly descriptive. Regardless of our geography and resources we are the same in our humanness, including joy and pain, heartbreak and hope and the desire to care for family and friends. I’m grateful to Shoulder to Shoulder and the generous and kind staff at Ilula Lutheran hospital for sharing their time and knowledge, always with a welcoming smile “Karibu.”  
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Another quandry - X-ray

I have come around to a clearer understanding of why we should consider alternatives to the X-ray package.   Splitting the PACS system off to do later makes sense to me if it is doable and brings the price of the X-ray machine proper to within our grasp. Kikoti and Chota are driving to Mbeya tomorrow to see two installations and get a first-hand take on Dominic’s company support. I asked if this could be via email, however, Benjamin did not think so, being too easy to disregard an email. Questions of course include what it would take to switch horses in this stream and how far back this would set us by getting more bids, site visits and other social as well as financial investments. I assume the new visits after those a year ago will satisfy the recurrent need for more information, hence, what would it take to spoil the deal now? The prices will doubtless trend upward regardless with more time spent. We will need to know from Valdi the consequences
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DfG deliverables

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This afternoon in the pouring rain, we brought the kits to the second-floor classroom in the nursing school. Last week we had done training for the nursing students and clinical officer students. That is, Monica, Mary and Tuli had done the training. There were 39 students that attended the training and they all wanted kits. Another six missed the training the first time around so they were not eligible for the kits. We have left six kits so they may have them after a training.   Interestingly, these young women, all who have finished Form 4 in school, like tenth grade at home, are nearly full grown. We still have 15 kits left after the 45 at the nursing school and we used up all the 12s, 14s and women’s sizes. I am going to underwrite replacing the pants that are too small for the students, a small contribution. We will start a DfG account here in Iringa with BKB or with Shoulder to Shoulder if possible, then we will have a place to send funds. Today I met with Pa
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Meeting with USAID Deputies Jennifer and Ananatha; hotel mascot; Amsterdam airport agility
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Lab orientation, hike, church and travel companions
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Grateful girls (could not get out of drainage ditch w/o a little help); Days for Girls - Men Who Know review with DIRA (Iringa Lutheran Diocese Office) leadership: General Secretary Chavalla and team (excellent program and truly embraced by male leadership - ready to address cultural challenges); The Ilula 2020 Gang; departing yogis.
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