Ifkara

It feels like it's been another lifetime...even since I left Bagamoyo yesterday. Ifakara is a strange and wonderful place. And dusty. Very, very, dusty. It might only be considered a town because there are a set of train tracks running through it. Have yet to see a train, but there are def. tracks.

Basically, I'm staying at a place that is part hospital, part medical training center, and part conference center. It's co-developed by the Swiss Tropical Institute, the MoH of Tanzania, and the Novartis Foundation. Have been spending some time with Klaus Leizinger (sp?), from Novartis, who just two weeks ago was appointed by Kofi Annan (ok, I know my spelling is really bad) as a special advisor of corporate philanthropy and is working on ensuring effective practice of human rights by corporation. He can also appreciate a tasty Kilanmanjaro beer...as can I.

An interesting day today, mostly because I spent it with children. They're so curious about us, strange white people we are. I played with a few of them near the dispensary in a small village, and then spent time shaking hands with...gosh, it seemed like hundreds of them...at a social marketing program to control malaria. Seems that of the children that do go to the dispensary with symptoms of malaria, only 20 percent receive anti-malarials at all--even days after the symptoms set in. However, something like 66 percent are receiving things like Panadol within 24 hours of symptoms, so how to educate the clinicians to better diagnose fever without microscopes or lab equipment? Still, seems hopeful.

Tomorrow, on to visit a missionary hospital for leprosy patients.

But also got a chance to experience that beautiful red/purple glowing sunset. A few journalists paddled down the river in a dugout tree and watched the sunset. (and there were hippos on either side of us!!!) then offered some beer and soda to the locals...Was wondering if the dugot trees were on Novartis' insurance plan. te he he...