Friday, June 10^th:  Today we drove to the most remote and undeveloped clinic we have seen in Uganda.  It is called Kanyashogye, located in a very mountainous region within a town called Mpungu.  I didn’t think it was possible for the roads to get any worse, but I was once again proven wrong!  However, the spectacular mountain and valley views afforded by this drive made every bump and compressed vertebrae worth it.

Driving off the “main road” and down the side road to the clinic, we passed an elementary school.  I have never seen so many children running and screaming in excitement.  As our van drove by, they were all waving and cheering.  I guess this is what it feels like to be a rock star.  (click here to see Uganda kids running at school)

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Saturday, June 11^th:  Today I am spending the day working, while the rest of the group returns to the Nyamwegabira and Nyakatare clinics so that Kristen can meet the staff and perform an assessment from the clinical perspective.  It is Paul’s job to update Kristen on what we have learned about each of these sites.

I must say that I am very homesick to see my wife and children.  Whenever I am able, I grab a few moments down at the hospital (where the bandwidth is adequate) to skype.  Being able to see my family while we talk, no matter how bad the connection, makes the time away bearable.  A few times I have walked around the hospital carrying my laptop with skype running so that my family can see the people and surroundings.  I know that taking care of four young children on her own is very challenging, and I am thankful I have a wife who is so selfless to allow Paul and me to do what we can here in Africa.

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Photo courtesy of Alec Jacobson

Thursday, June 9^th: We passed most of the day writing documents.  In the late evening, Dr Kristen DeStigter finally arrived.  Kristen is one of the two co-founders of ITW, and the person who chose Bwindi as the site for Paul’s project.  The last time I saw Kristen was at the conclusion of 2010’s first implementation at the Nawanyago clinic.  Somehow it does not seem like a whole year has passed, because of the multiple conference call meetings each week that keep the team connected.  The picture below shows Kristen (wearing the cap) scanning a patient at one of the clinics.

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