A word from the medical nurse~ Christmas 2010

As I mentioned before, more medical exams were performed while the team was in Mazabuka delivering Christmas items.  This is the nurse who attended to the children.  He explains that many of the children were not able to come for the medical exams because of the bad weather.  Another factor that played a part in getting the children to stay and wait their turn with the nurse was that there was no food or snacks they could provide the children.  The children and their families had to return home to eat before being seen by the nurse.  The nurse is appealing to the donors to help them get the children to stay by providing them with snacks to eat while they wait.  Even chips and a bottled drink would help hold them over until they can go home to eat. 

This is the same case for distribution.  We have an ongoing fundraiser to provide funds for food at distribution and medical exams.  For this upcoming distribution, we were able to send $70.  That is well below what it will cost to feed all of the children that will be attending.   We will have close to 200 children at distribution. 

Looking to the future, as the Zambia team is able to acquire a 4 x 4 vehicle, we will no longer need funds for food at distribution.  This is because the team will use the truck to go from village to village to meet with the children close to their communities.  This will be a big help to the families and with so many sponsored children and so many gifts to distribute, it will make distribution easier. 

Until then, distribution happens in one central location.  Some families must walk a few miles to get there.  Then, in order to distribute and photograph the items, this takes at the minimum 6 hours to complete- usually longer depending on the number of children in attendance.  If you would like to help provide food at distribution or the medical exams, please send me an e-mail at macandmic@gmail.com  I have a database on the yahoo group that tracks the donations for upcoming distribution, so that you can see how much money we have toward the food for the next gathering.

Next post- See pictures of a feeding donation- A UK donor sent funds to feed some of our children during the school day, and I have some great photos to share with you as a result!!