TravelStream™ news feed for member spbrasch on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/spbrasch en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:10:48 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/3/1246563883/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/3/1246563883/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/3/1246563883/tpod.html Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:10:48 -0400 Ethiopia with USAID

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Bahir Dar, Gojam, Ethiopia

Situated in northwest Ethiopia, Gonar Region is the home of Lake Tana, the headwaters of the Blue Nile. Visited multiple health centers (HCs), and took lots of pictures. Beautiful hotel, exquisite views over the city and the river below
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_2007/1199434380/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_2007/1199434380/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_2007/1199434380/tpod.html Sat, 05 Jan 2008 03:19:08 -0500 Tanzania again for work. View of Msasani Bay.

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Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Hi folks!

Thanks for following along, making comments, sending emails, and keeping me company in my travels. This will be the last blog for a bit, as I've returned to the U.S. for the holidays. Happy holidays, happy new years to all!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_2007/1196011980/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_2007/1196011980/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_2007/1196011980/tpod.html Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:28:00 -0500 Tanzania again for work. View of Msasani Bay.

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Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Spent the week in the city working at home and at the CRS offices. Had some Kiswahili classes. Got a bit done at work. As usual, bringing me in earlier would have been better, so there's a lot of catching up and fixing to do. Meeting some interesting people. Oh, by the way, I now know that I'm living in Kawe Beach, just north of Dar on the Msasani Bay, which is just northwest of the Msasani Peninsula. The peninsula protects the bay, and the house, from the big waves of the Indian Ocean. Off east of me are 2 large islands Pemba and Zanzibar. Zanzibar was independent from Tangyanika until a few decades ago when they merged and forned Tanzania. Zanzibar still has its own president, but they seem to work together as a united nation. Kwa heri!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_2007/1195297800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_2007/1195297800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_2007/1195297800/tpod.html Sat, 17 Nov 2007 12:37:13 -0500 Tanzania again for work. View of Msasani Bay.

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Mwanza, Tanzania

Spent this week in Mwanza, where I was based 2 years ago, and took day trips to a district hospital Ngudu. about 30 min on tarmac, then an hour on dirt/gravel road bumpity bump. Spent 2 1/2 days evaluating and mentoring the university evaluators and mentors. It was fun. Got some pics on the road on the way. Also finally saw the boys this week towards the end, but we had a blast. Only 3 are here, and Juma is in Dar someone, haven't found him yet. Program is going well, and the Chief approved of my workplan, and then, of course, they added additional work. So, we'll see how it goes. Enjoy this pictures!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_2007/1194441240/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_2007/1194441240/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_2007/1194441240/tpod.html Wed, 07 Nov 2007 15:01:48 -0500 Tanzania again for work. View of Msasani Bay.

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Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Been at the IHV house since Monday. I helped them decide that I wasn't going to stay in a hotel for 2 months, and that the guest room would be fine. The house is right on the beach, so these pictures are taken from the deck on the roof. To the right is downtown Dar, the left is north, and across the way is some small island I haven't got the name of yet. I'm on the Indian Ocean just a bit south of the equator. Its really beautiful, and I'm working out of the house for the moment. Our largest partner, and controlling organization is Catholic Relief Services (CRS) which has an office closer downtown, but not nearly as picturesque. Missed my trip to Mwanza this week (where the boys are) due to some confusion about flight departure time. I think I've figured why I'm here. Wish me well!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_oct_05/1132449000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_oct_05/1132449000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_oct_05/1132449000/tpod.html Sun, 11 Dec 2005 14:10:51 -0500 Mwanza, Tanzania October 2005

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Mwanza, Tanzania

Karibu!

Well, it looks like I finally got to make these entries from Serengeti. I'm back in Boulder now Dec 1st, but this weekend to Serengeti was the trip of a lifetime. Hope you have as much fund seeing the pictures as I did being there.

I traveled with Dr. Gail Chanpong, my colleague doing monitoring & evaluation from Dar es Salaam, and my 4 boys. We all had a blast. Serengeti is about a 2 hour drive from Mwanza. We rented a truck and driver, packed up food and drink Saturday early morning, and spent the day driving. We stayed the night Saturday at Seronera lodge, in the center of Serengeti, and watched the animals wander by. Another day of animal and sight-seeing Sunday, then spent the night at a tented camp called Speke just outside the park on the way back to Mwanza. We had to stay another night, because its illegal to drive after sunset.

All in all, we had a blast! One of my finest adventures. I've only included the best pictures here, so enjoy!

Asante sana! Karibu tena!

gage
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_oct_05/1130565060/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_oct_05/1130565060/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_oct_05/1130565060/tpod.html Sat, 29 Oct 2005 17:53:24 -0400 Mwanza, Tanzania October 2005

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Mwanza, Tanzania

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051027/ap_on_re_af/tanzania_elections
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_oct_05/1130209800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_oct_05/1130209800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_oct_05/1130209800/tpod.html Mon, 24 Oct 2005 16:21:06 -0400 Mwanza, Tanzania October 2005

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Mwanza, Tanzania

Saa Nane Island is a small wildlife sactuary just off the coast of Mwanza in the Bay of Mwanza, Lake Victoria. Costs 800 shillings to go (about 80 cents) on a boat, and another 500 to take pictures. More like a zoo, but the pictures I took were ALL the animals there. Not much really. Going to plan a trip to Serengeti probably the weekend of Nov 3-6 is a holiday; its the end of Ramadan. There also a wildlife resort called Rubondo Island National Park. I'd have to fly there, and stay a few days. I hear the birds are amazing. It would be safari-style and there's a camp to stay it; my guess is it's pretty pricey.

Had my camera stolen over the weekend, so I wasn't sure I'd get these pictures. But my taxi drive rescued it from the thieves, for a steep price of course. Folks here are pretty poor. Hotel staff, restaurant staff, make about 40,000 shillings a month, about 35 US dollars. Fed some kids on the street today, brought out a pineapple and knife and had a party. It was fun. My Swahili is getting better, so I'm getting around more and making some friends.

My colleague in the HIV clinic is leaving for a few days this week, and then 2 weeks in November, so I may have a heavy load. There are other trained HIV physicians, but they left for other duties when I arrived. I'm trying to watch my workload as much as possible, but I saw 60 patients Friday. Oh well. Starting to make ward rounds also, 1-2 days a week, and helping organize the HIV program in general at Sekou-Toure. There's been an obvious lack of leadership and management, so even little things I do help a lot. Designng forms, making schedules, providing some meager supplies all helps a lot. Do a lot of bedside teaching in the clinic and in the medical wards. There's realy a sparcity of hiv-knowledgeable staff and physicians here.

I'm trying to get a picture of these jumbo frogs, you can hear them like a block away, they're so loud, but also hide really well. They hang out in the ponds, near the lakefront, and in the gutters. Haven't even seen one yet.

So, keep in touch! Give a phone call if you can. Africa calling cards are about 35 cents a minute.

Huggz 'n love to all

gage
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_oct_05/1129490640/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_oct_05/1129490640/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_oct_05/1129490640/tpod.html Sun, 16 Oct 2005 07:59:28 -0400 Mwanza, Tanzania October 2005

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Mwanza, Tanzania

Keribu!

Just a few pics from the fisherman village I visited today.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_oct_05/1129435380/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_oct_05/1129435380/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/spbrasch/tanzania_oct_05/1129435380/tpod.html Sat, 15 Oct 2005 16:56:48 -0400 Mwanza, Tanzania October 2005

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Mwanza, Tanzania

Karibu! Karibu tena! Karibu nyumbani!

Well folks, I'm getting settled in. Moved to a room with a kitchen and some more space, tho the first one was next to the generator and had to move again. I think i'll be set for awhile. My Kiswahili class is going great. Have a nice white gal from Germany teaching me. Daily classes.

Visited the Mwanza market today, outdoor stalls withall sorts of produce, fish,meat, and bout some things for my new kitchen. Had to take an interpreter with for the first time, as none of the farmers or merchants speak English at all.

Also hit my first grocery store, a European-type affair with canned & packaged goods (even vaccum packed salmon), and picked up some things to make life here more manageable.

Most of the folks here survive on about 1000 - 5000 shillings a day, about 1-5 US dollars.

Work is going well. I'm primarily stationed at Sekou Toure regional hospital. There is also a private hospital in town, but I'm at the Ministry of Health public hospital, in the Care & Treatment program. Up to now, I've been learning the system, seeing as many patients as I can. The staff is wonderful as I expected.

My nurse Koroko speaks great English and she's been translating for me as much possible. I think she's going to be one of the leaders in the HIV center at Sekou-Toure, and I'm starting to get her prepared to do some teaching. Hopefully she'll give her first presentation while I'm still here. There seems to be a policy here of not telling HIV+ children their health status until adulthood, and she and I have been researching the more modern thought and procedures about that. Its not just a scientific and psychological matter, but really goes to the heart of Tanzanian society, which is clearly against empowering children. (or women)

Funny tho because the Kuleana Pizzeria, the only place to get pizza or a sandwich in Mwanza, is run by the Kuleana Children's Center, which takes kids off the street and gives them a place to live. The pizzeria is staffed entirely by these kids, kitchen cooking, waitstaff, etc. Delicious pizza! My first meal away from the Tilapia Hotel.

I have my first meeting with my superiors from Dar on Monday, they're coming to check up on my progress. Unfortunately, I've been seeing too many patients (which is against Columbia's policy alltogether) and not doing enough teaching, preparing lectures, etc. The physician who runs the CTC (care & treatment center) Dr. Butamanya is a delightful mid-age Tanzanian physician. He's primary specialty is dermatology, but went into venereology and then HIV medicine. He's been doing HIV care about a year, and he's excellent for such short experience. His English is impeccable, and he hardly needs any training from me at all. Part of what I'm training the staff on is the Columbia/Tanzania HIV protocol,including filling forms and treatment issues. There's way less patients here than there were in Arua, Uganda, and also less staff and doctors. There are some other doctors supposed to be in the HIV clinic, but they took a hike to do other work when they heard I was here. Similar issues to Arua, mostly administrative stuff. The training the doctors had here before I arrived was already excellent, but short-staffing, no paper for lab requests, no ink to print lab requests, no drugs to treat opportunistic infections, much of the same problems as elsewhere. But for some reason the patients aren't nearly as sick, perhaps they're dying out in the rural areas before they can get to the hospital. I've had to bring my own toilet paper and soap to my exam room in the clinic. Oh well, it's Africa!

I brought some simple ideas to Butamanya my first week, and several have already been instituted. Things are already flowing smoother, and I hope my bosses from Dar are impressed. I've been buying him lunch most days, as my per diem allows it. Somehow he survives on a salary of US$100 per month.

It seems there's not nearly the resources from foriegn agencies being put into Mwanza that there was by MSF in Arua. WHO visited last week and did a needs assessment. Perhaps I'll visit with them when I present my final report here.

Anyhow, I've taken up enough e-ink and e-paper so I'll sign off. Thanks for sticking with me throughout this beautiful & challenging journey. Huggz to all who care.

Kwaherini.

gage
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