Another Year in Africa: A little more on November and into December

Our mamas and babies are heading home to their villages over the next few days - one on a bus and the other two will fly back with FMS when there is next a clinic at their village. We hope to get feedback over the next few months on the reactions of the family and friends to lack of a 'cure' and also to assess whether the mothers are continuing with the therapies to strengthen the babies' muscles. Data on this will be important in deciding the next step in this project. We have to weigh up the positives - improvement in the babies head control, education of the mothers in what cerebral palsy is, mothers realising they are not unique in having babies with special needs (the 'holiday' in a guest house with no housework and all meals provided and time to sit and chat with other mothers in a similar situation was something they all appreciated mightily!) against the negatives - possible unrealistic expectations and dashed hopes, reduction in respect for what modern medicine is able to do leading to failure to immunise or bring health concerns to the clinic staff. We may be doing more harm than good.

Clearly education is required so mothers recognise signs of cerebral palsy in their babies and get early intervention. Also better birthing practices and education on the dangers of prolonged labours could reduce the incidence of CP. In rural Tanzania over half of deliveries are attended by traditional birth attendants with no medical training and often old wives tales prevail - for instance mothers are told not to eat any meat or eggs in the last 3 months of pregnancy to reduce the baby's size for an easier birth but this also damages the baby's brain and overall development, and the mother's health.

Also education about what modern medicine can and can't fix - there is no dawa (drug) to cure the common cold, or regrow an amputated limb or fix a damaged brain. But good ante-natal care and birthing practices would go a long way to addressing the problems of peri-natal and maternal mortality which are still far too common here and of other birth complications including fistula in mothers and brain damage, due to lack of oxygen during protracted birth, in babies.

The ethical question remains - is it wrong to prolong the life of a community member who cannot be maintained realistically in a semi-nomadic community? There is no alternative community for these children to live in. They will mostly die young. Their needs may be neglected because there are not enough resources to go around and, as the disabled are considered a burden and a curse, they may be hidden away where neighbours cannot see them and have no intellectual stimulation, no life. Yet these babies are loved! I see it in the interactions between these mamas and their babies. They have agreed to come to Arusha because they want what is best for their babies. I cannot say it would be better if these babies had never lived. It is a question with no right answer.

As promised, here is a pic from the baptism on November 17. This lovely baby is the nephew of the baptismal girl. He's not totally impressed with being handed to the mzungu but did doze off.

And a picture of a giraffe is always worth posting - from a trip to Arusha NP on November 9 with fresh, new volunteers recently arrived from Port Fairy. l love being with friends when they see their first giraffe - it's such a magical experience.

And our girls starting to line up for a photo with the speakers from Femme International who came on Thursday Dec 5 for their final follow up visit on matters related to menstrual health - these girls inspire me with their resilience and perseverance in the face of huge barriers.