Today the team packed up, said our goodbyes to all our old and new friends at FCE and began our LONG journey to the western province in a village called Mongu. Shine is our driver and he did an amazing job navigating around goats, trucks, bikes, oxen and the occasional baboon and Impala that would cross in front. We traveled for 14 hours to reach our final destination . Many many giggles and some very dicey potty stops!!! We have now reached what will be our home for the next 6 days. The village of Mongu is ruled by a King and we will be the first group to bring the program of HBB a to this part of the country . We are excited about being the first to break ground here as a medical/nursing educational team. The province has been somewhat closed to "outsiders" and the King has approved our Coming. We will join in a local church service tomorrow and will be dressed in the village garb. Hoping to send many pics tomorrow!! Keep the thoughts and prayers coming! My team is working so well together and we have had many blessings along the way! Melissa and the Team
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A few of us found that we could be on time in "5" minutes - flat. We started our day with a hearty breakfast and headed to our first encounter. We were on our way to meet a member of parliament "CK" who thanked us for our time in Zambia, wished us safe travels and we were on our way to our next destination. Our first stop was with the Roan general hospital of midwifery. We received a tour of the labor and delivery area, peds, infants, pre and post labor ward and the NICU. Although the nurses were extremely resourceful with the little supplies they had I felt overwhelmed and saddened with the lack of equipment and for these fragile infants and children. I felt so much respect for the inguinity of these nurses and thanked God for the opportunities I've had to work in a bountiful environment. After a filling lunch we were off to K block where we ran a mini medical clinic for about 150 children and several parents. We were greeted by warm eyes and smiling faces . The kids were singing and so happy to see us. We provided an eye exam and blood pressure clinic for the adults and mini medical exam for all children. Topical medications were applied and referrals were provided to address more serious health concerns. The entire visit I kept thinking how fortunate and blessed I am to live in the U.S. The last stop we made today was to child life touch which is an orphanage of 19 children that is run by 2 women. Ages range from 3-19 years. The house is run more like a family and the love in that house was palpable. The children were happy and welcoming and wanted nothing more than to share songs and stories with us . The entire TPM team had a great day - Cel We awoke at 0615 to start our day after a relaxing night in kitwe. Our plans for the day were to teach a HBB (helping babies breath) class at Lifesong school to nurses, midwifes and birthing attendants . The purpose of this class was to provide essential training to women who are directly involved in the birthing process and are able to implement during an emergency.
The HBB class was to start at 0800 and slowly women poured into class . The excitement filled the air and you could tell the women were excited to learn and to share. 30 women in total attended and were of all age ranges and backgrounds but came with the same goal of "helping babies breathe". This HBB training is essential to prevent premature and unexpected infant deaths . These skills and knowledge can be used to save infants who would otherwise not survive. Class started at 0900 and continued until 1230. The purpose of class and TPM's mission was explained, educational booklets and pamphlets were reviewed and class began . Contents of the emergency birthing kit were examined by the women and most had seen the equipment but were unsure of how to use . These items included the bulb syringe and ambu bag used for resuscitation . The women were able to practice using the equipment until they were proficient and felt comfortable enough to implement in an emergency scenario . For the duration of the HBB class TPM nurses taught 2 emergent birth scenarios and 1 typical birthing scenario . Women were able to role play as the nurse, mother and helper. Questions were asked and answered, further instruction was given and knowledge was shared among attendants and nurses alike . The women were proficient in emergent birthing scenarios by the time class was through. The women enjoyed learning and continued to express gratitude for being afforded to opportunity to learn and interact with TPM. After hands on training the women were able to take an exam to test their new found knowledge. All 30 women passed and were given a certificate to prove completion of the course!! Pictures were taken and the women couldn't have been more proud!! Following HBB class TPM team members completed eye exams and blood pressure checks for the HBB participants . We were able to provide eye glasses reading and medical advice for blood pressure concerns . The feeling of providing information and interacting with these women was indescribable. TPM made an impromptu visit on the way home from teaching HBB class to visit Chilabula farm. TPM visited last year and wanted to conduct a follow up visit . We were able to visit with the residents of the farm , spend time playing with the children and give donations to the village residents . Lots of love and hugs were given as well !! This was a great day with great new and old friends -Alyssa We awoke extremely early, packed our bags and headed on a 1 hour and 45 minute drive to a town called Kitwe. FCE (read previous post to know abbreviation) is in the middle of nowhere- it's tucked back this 7 mile dirt road! I would NEVER FIND IT IN THE DARK or the daylight!
On our way to our destination we stopped and visited a women's birthing clinic. WOW! The women working there are amazing, knowledgeable and compassionate. They will be attending our class tomorrow called "Helping Babies Breathe." We ended up at an orphanage/school/boarding school today called Lifesong. We interacted and met with students and toured the facility. The facility is a free school for children in the surrounding villages, by 8th grade they can take a test and become boarding students. They focus on trying to give children better futures instead of young arranged marriages which keep children in stuck in a poverty stricken cycle. While at the school we split up, half of us served lunch to grades 0-9 and half of us ran a mobile clinic to any children who felt sick or just had some questions or who wanted to speak with us. We then headed to a Catholic Hostel, arrived around 1700. Upon arrival we learned there was no power until 2200. We ate dinner by candlelight and reviewed our Helping Babies Breathe program for tomorrow's upcoming class, which will take place at Lifesong. Our day was slightly less eventful than yesterday, but just as fulfilling- interacting and meeting children who are givennothing but smile at everything are just amazing human beings. 💜 will update everyone when We can, wifi is hard to come by at times. Jennifer November 3, 2015
We are at Foundation for Cross-Cultural Education. (FCE) Today was off to an early start. We were properly welcomed into Zambia by all of these tiny happy African faces who were simultaneously wanting to shake our hands with so much gratitude. We walked approximately 1/2 mile from FCE to the Community Training Center (CTC). CTC is a school that is comprised of children in grades 0 to 9 with ages varying from 5-16, who from from surrounding villages. Immediately our team of 6 is split up into 4 stations and preparing ourselves to screen/treat approximately 200 students. The first station was basically an intake where the children were given a head to toe assessment. Station 2 was to provide any treatment and care of wounds, mainly a lot of TLC. Station 3 was malaria and urine testing for a parasite called Bilharzia. Station 4 was deworming- which is a common problem, so kids are given this treatment frequently. Don't worry, we gave them some candy :) We broke for lunch around 1300 (1pm our time) - we were so hungry, did we even taste our food? We went back to the CTC at 1530 (3:30pm) and completed eye testing and blood pressure checks for the university students at FCE. After a short, but relaxing 45 min break we went to dinner @ 1800 (6pm). It was amazing! Who knew we could actually enjoy good food while being so far from home? FCE definitely feeds us well, do NOT drink the tap water- or gargle shower water (Jennifer!)-- I know you all do it! To sum up our day in just a few sentences would be impossible. The feeling of giving to people truly in need is indescribable and unbelievably humbling. Day 1 of this journey is complete and we're off to an amazing start. <3 Mwabuka buti! I wrote you after our first class, in the Copperbelt province of Zambia. Today I'm writing you from Livingstone, in the south. After two weeks of teaching, we are taking a well deserved break. Let me tell you a bit about every HBB session we had. Before describing the sessions, you have to know that Melissa has been in Zambia 6 times prior to this trip and she has a well established reputation in some places. Every year she goes, she finds new spots for the following year. Most importantly, she has an amazing ground person, Leonard, who helps her organizing all her trips prior to the group's arrival. Every day has its own schedule and some room for the unforeseen circumstances. The rules were to be flexible, adaptable and have a good sense of humour! You may remember that we had our first HBB class at a missionary's lodge. We trained more or less twenty people there. Our second training day was in a district hospital, where junior doctors and nurses were learning resuscitation. We created a teaching program on the spot based on their needs. It was an HBB/NRP/plus class! There were more or less 12 docs and 12 nurses. The third HBB class was under the threes with a group of people that had already been trained in the past. A dozen came for a refresh. Amongst them, few have trained others so far. One came with a registry of some births that she attended with the HBB equipment! There were 3 people that had never received the training that day. The next training was in a little village where initially only three midwives or traditional birth attendants were present. The word of our presence rapidly spread to the surrounding huts and at the end of the afternoon, 11 certificates were given. These last two trainings were done with an interpreter who was sometimes a trainee herself. Our last 175 participants were from the southern province. We trained them in a hospital in construction. We were actually in the future OR. We lost electricity one day! We had to teach in a hallway by the windows! We had very busy days. We were at maximum capacity twice. 8 neonatalies, 8 trainers, 6-7 trainees per group! We taught in English to an extremely diversified audience ranging from administrators interested in the program to nutritionists who happen to also deliver babies! The day we left, they organized a training in the afternoon that they led all by themselves! I have already told you about the schedule of an HBB class here. We did the same on every occasion. It took from 3 to 4 hours each time. Sometimes we had two classes per day. I must say that this trip was not only focussed on HBB. Melissa founded a non for profit organization to help the tiny people! We ran a few clinics where we would do physical exams, try on reading glasses and changing wound's dressings for instance. It may sound scary at first sight, but it did not require a lot of experience/expertise to do these things. We also visited orphanages where Melissa goes every time she comes here. Most HBB trainers and Zambians that we met have a Christian background, but it was clearly not a requirement to join the team. Divas and flat ironers were more likely to be disappointed! Here are some pictures: I really loved my trip. I would strongly recommend it to any of you. It's a good first experience in Africa if you have never travelled that far before. Leonard takes great care that we sleep in places that are comfy and safe. It's obviously not 5 stars hotels, but I can't find any issues with my current experience. I saw worst than you can imagine in my prior trips! It's also a financial commitment as there is no funding. Your donation covers your flight, most of your meals and all your accommodation. Your barely have out of pocket expenses. If you would like to ask me more about it, I would be extremely happy to chat about my trip and put you in contact with Melissa. If life brings me back there, we may even go together!
See you soon Marc-Antoine
Our bags were WAY over weight because we had to take a puddle jumper to connect to our international flight. The staff showed us much grace and didn't charge us anything overage. Then we found out this flight was delayed and we would be cutting it super close to catch our Next flight.... We actually made the next connection... Barely!!! Then the real excitement begins!!!
Our flight left Lusaka Zambia and had a one hour layover I'm Zimbabwe to let passengers off but most remained. As we were waiting for the plane to take off an announcement came over the PA.... Is there a doctor on board a passenger is having complications .... Dr Andy stepped up to the call.... Then they announced its a mom in labor...... Linda and I looked and each other and said guess the trips not over yet!!! We went back to assess the situation. Dr Andy graciously stepped aside and we found a mom In preterm labor 24 weeks into her pregnancy. The combination of dehydration and pressure changes caused her to go into preterm labor . We asked to crew to call for an ambulance , 10 Min later they told us the clinic was closed and no one was coming. Linda and I asked for the planes emergency medical kit and Betsy stepped up to run IV fluids and Linda and I gloved up and started an IV while The moms contractions were coming every 1 min 15 seconds. Still no ambulance or anyone responding . It was at this time I decided to walk swiftly to the cockpit to speak with the captain. Let just say he moved quickly as a feisty American woman was approaching being a fierce advocate for this young Indian woman in preterm labor. I asked him point blank if he was prepared to have 2 fatalities at 30000 feet on his plane ???!! Or was he gonna make a Phone call and get an ambulance crew to get her off the plane and into a clinic. The call was made and guess what?!.... An ambulance arrive in 20 min. Betsy kept the crew working efficiently and managed crowd control with all the passengers wanting to get this on film! Crazy!!!!!! We then fashioned an arm board from a tissue box and tape to keep mom from bending her arm with the IV in it. The ambulance came and I helped them lift mom from the plane seats she was lying on to the stretcher that barely squeeze in the isle. Linda, Betsy and I made it back to our seats and found out the woman next to us us married to a Perinatologist in Zambia and also does volunteer EMT work and may want to join our 2015 TPM team! God at work!!! The captain then came out shook our hands thanked us for our service and moved Linda, Betsy and I to first class!!! Wow never sat in there before!!!! I apologized to the captain for storming in the cockpit and he graciously accepted my apology saying he understood the urgency. First class ended after 6 hours as we changed flights for 17 more hours of travel. God is Amazing as he provides all we need for all situations. We are about ready to touch down on American soil. Thank God for an wonderful TPM team and all the provisions HE put In place to make this a huge success within his plan. Every one of our team was healthy and safe and came to know God in a fresh new way thru the people we served and the creation we had the opportunity to see on the safari and at the falls. Thanks for all your prayers From Melissa and Team Zambia 2014 Greetings! Today we enjoyed our second to last day in Choma. After a peaceful day of rest and fun the team was ready to get back to Choma General Hospital to teach HBB. We went to the hospital thinking we would have a small morning class. To our surprise there were 34 people waiting to take our class before we arrived! We followed our motto of being flexible, adaptable, and having a sense of humor and created a room to accommodate all of our eager learners. While the morning class was going on we were informed that word had spread and more people wanted to take the class in the afternoon and Thursday morning. We are thrilled that our message has reached so many Zambians. After a fun day of teaching we went back to the golden pillow where we entertained one another with song and skit. Marc, Jen and I (Amy) performed a group roast skit involving him being a laboring mother. Robin sang a TPM song with Linda and Melissa were back up dancers. Jen and I added out own moves as well. Leonard had the whole group involved in a group song and dance. We have been blessed this entire trip and are looking forward to teaching another class and heading to Livingstone.
Until tomorrow, Amy and Tiny People Matter team Our initial plan was to head to Livingstone this morning to start our fun tourist day. However, duty called and we ended up teaching. What was supposed to be a " little" class. Haha, that is where adaptable comes in! 50 people showed up for our "little" class. So we hit the ground running and as a team set up for everyone in no time at all! What a great team of awesome people God put together. I also have to mention the wonderful learners we had. These men and woman came from up to 2-3 hours to get to our class! Now that is dedication to the tiny people of Zambia! After our class we ran back to the hotel to change and get on the road to Livingstone. We made it in time for the sunset cruise on the African Queen. We saw tons of hippos and elephants. It was lovely. On our return we went to hotel we went to the Royal Livingstone and played some games and had great laughs! We played the lying game which was hysterical. I learned a lot about about my teammates!! After a day that started with hard but very satisfying work...we ended with much needed relaxation and laughter. It was the perfect end to the day. We started with hard work but ended with laughter and relaxation. What a wonderful and fulfilling day. Linda for team TPM From the Zambesi Sun Resort, Livingstone, Zambia
Friday, November 14, 2014 Our last full day in Africa, and it was a day full of activities. Our "work" is complete. Marc and Melissa did the math and for the total we trained approximately 240 midwives, birth attendants and others during our time here. Leonard talked to us yesterday about "finishing well," and I think we did just that. We arrived here at the resort yesterday transformed into tourists. The hotel has some interesting features. Since it is situated just outside Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, there are zebras, baboons, giraffes and impalas that roam freely around the grounds. The zebras spend most of the time around the pool area grazing. If you get too close they will kick you. The baboons also have an attitude. This morning at breakfast one of them jumped off the roof onto a table in the outdoor dining areas, and broke a bunch of dishes before being chased off. Mosi-oa-Tunya means "the smoke that thunders," which is the local name for Victoria Falls. This morning after a huge buffet breakfast was our long awaited safari, a game drive in Chobe National Park in Botswana. First we rode a large van to the Botswana border, crossed on a boat into the country and picked up our Botswana transportation to the park. At the border our tires and shoes were disinfected and we were screened for Ebola - which amounts to a nurse looking through are passports for any travel to West Africa. The nurse was Elliot, and when Melissa saw his name tag listing him as a midwife of course she had to give him her 60 second "elevator " pitch on Helping Babies Breathe. He was interested and they exchanged information. Maybe next year we will be giving classes in Botswana. On the drive to the park in the open air vehicle Beckie was hit in the knee by a flying dung beetle. We got some nice photos of the beetle, which I'm afraid was too stunned to survive. Our two excellent guides were Moses and Furube, which sounded like "Frisbe" when I heard it. This is the very beginning of the rainy season here, which has its advantages and disadvantages. Many of the trees have beautiful flowers, but most have very few leaves, so spotting game is a lot easier, and since the water holes are still dry, many of the animals congregate at the Chobe River so they were conveniently out in the open for us to view. Here is a list of the game we saw today, many of them in great numbers and at close range: Baboon Birds - many species Cape Buffalo Crocodile Dung beetle at work Elephant Giraffe Hippo Impala Kudu Lion Mongoose Sable antelope Water Buck Zebra We also saw many elephant skeletons, not from poaching but from natural causes - not surprising since our guide explained there are approximately 120,000 elephants in the park! The game drive ended with an excellent lunch, then back to Zambia. At the border we did some bargaining for wood carvings and other items. These vendors really got in our personal space, especially Jen's. We made some pretty good deals for items that will show up at TPM fundraisers. Back in Zambia the rest of our luggage had finally arrived at the hotel - a long story involving using Leonard's van to transport Robin to her earlier flight out of Lusaka and breaking down on the way back. We learned that Robin made it back to PA okay, but in her words the trip seemed "endless." In the afternoon most of us walked down to Victoria Falls. The flow is pretty low this time of year, so today one can only imagine the spectacle of this place at full flow in a few months and why it is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Also more shopping for local items by Melissa, Linda, Cathy, Betsy, Amy and Jen. Linda and Melissa seemed like they were competing for which one could buy the more ridiculous item. Marc actually bought a chess set for 50 dollars and the pair of socks he was wearing after more than an hour of bargaining and making up stories. Later many of us just relaxed around, and in my case in the pool. The pool was wonderful therapy. On my back in the shallow area I was so relaxed Beckie thought I was dead and tried to rescue me. Tomorrow we catch our various flights home. I figure about 30 hours of travel time for most of us, some even more. Natotela - Thanks for your support and attention and a special thanks from all of us to Leonard and Rose for all they have done to make this trip a success.. Andy Freiberg |
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