Requests for Assistance

April 5, 2010

Today is a legal holiday in Uganda, Holy Monday. All government offices are closed as are most businesses. The streets are much quieter. Despite the holiday, the Senior Health Planner for Uganda met with us so that we could explain in even more detail our plan for a nursing program, retention strategies, and strengthening of the nursing school infrastructure.

On our way into the deserted Health Ministry offices we ran into, and were introduced to, the Director General. We were tickled to hear that he too had been contacted by the Minister of Health and asked to work with us in any way needed. We are so pleased that the Ugandan government is earnest in partnering with us to make sure that the quality of the education is excellent, the nurses receive appropriate compensation, and that they work in environments that will not only strengthen the profession but induce them to stay in-country. The plan was extremely well received and the Senior Health Planner is anxious to coordinate all the various government agencies that will need to be involved. We laughed because as exciting as this plan is, we just added a huge work load to this very dear man.

We went to a local mall after our meeting for some lunch. It was fun to see the racial and national diversity. Malls are a new concept in Uganda but the populous has latched onto them. It is interesting though; the stores are much smaller than we are accustomed to and the lights are often off to conserve costs. With the stabilization of the Ugandan economy there is a new emerging middle class that is hungry for a wider array of goods. I feel myself wanting to give words of warning about corporations pushing out the local businesses, the dangers of fast food etc. It would be nice if emerging nations could learn from our mistakes. Oh, and don't get me going about the plastic water bottles that liter the roadways. One thing that is so wonderful is that interracial relationships seem to be completely accepted (at least in the capital city).

After lunch we went back to our hotel and followed up on some paperwork. We had opened our big window when we first got back and got so engrossed over the next few hours that we didn't realize that our lights had attracted every mosquito and insect in the surrounding area. Our poor neighbors probably wondered what all the shouts and slaps on the walls and ceilings were about. We suddenly realized it was after 9pm and we had better get dinner.

We walked over to a city park that is dotted with restaurants. The walk over was emotionally wrenching because young infants were set strategically along the sidewalk, sitting quietly, with no apparent family member in sight. The infants were perfectly spaced about 100 yards apart. We also passed mothers with young infants asking for help. Yet, even in these situations the Ugandans are much more delicate. Requests for assistance are quiet. If you do pull your wallet out, the risk is that every street vendor in the vicinity will surround you trying to sell their goods but in a much less aggressive manner than you would expect in other developing nations. Not a single homeless person was in the park, again, a contrast from the U.S. I am sure the security guards with rifle in hand must have something to do with it.

It is odd how quickly I have become accustomed to security guards with rifles and soldiers with machine guns. Another thing that is very different is the behavior of the men. The girlfriends and wives have one up on us. I have only twice now seen a sideways glance at a woman. These guys are pros! Well, enough for tonight. Wish us luck that we got all the bugs out of our room!