Life in Kuajok

For Easter, a few of the team had the idea that we should buy a goat to celebrate. But of course if we are roasting a goat, we have to invite people to share it with us. So the idea spiraled and soon we had a plan to have an Easter celebration with all of our neighbors at the world vision compound, and all of the drivers that have helped us with the vaccination campaign. After receiving approval for the purchase of two goats (a purchase this extravagant has to be approved in Juba), a couple people set out to the auction to buy two goats. I had wanted to go with, but I was quickly reminded that if the seller saw a foreigner, the price would be double. So I had to stay back. But soon the team returned after trying a few auctions and finally finding two goats for a reasonable price. The ladies were tasked with preparing side dishes (ugali, cooked greens, etc). Since I'm not proficient in cooking local foods, I simply made popcorn to snack on while everyone was waiting and assisted where I could. Meanwhile the guys worked on roasting the goats. Or more accurately a few guys roasted, while the rest sat in plastic chairs and watched. Some things never change, no matter whether you are making nyama choma in South Sudan, or grilling burgers in Minnesota. It was fun to have this familiar BBQ/pot-luck experience. We also were able to buy two crates of sodas, as a special Easter treat. Our guests joined us, and we all had a lovely meal sitting outside and enjoying the good food.

One of our favorite things is going to get the local coffee in the market in Kuajok. It's hand ground with a mortar and pestle and spiced with ginger. It became a favorite location for the team to meet up when the days work had wrapped up. Across the street  (on the left side) is the local theater. If you come for coffee in the afternoon or evening you'll hear all sorts of movies playing. Since the woven mats that make the walls aren't completely solid or sound-proof, it's almost like a movie-going experience, even across the street. Some local kids can always be found peeking through the mats trying to watch the movies without paying to go inside. Usually the movies are Egyptian, Nigerian, or Indian, but occasionally they will have one in English.

The phone network signal comes and goes. So walking around base it's pretty common to see people doing whatever they can to improve the signal.

This is the primary health unit in Peth, one of the centers that we would use to store the vaccines and as a base for the teams. It serves a large community and is the only access to health services for most people that live here. There is no electricity, no pharmacy, no doctor, no nurse. There are often no medications. It is staffed by a community health worker (CHW).  Usually CHWs receive informal or on-the-job training. While the ideal situation would be for the CHW to only handle prevention and health screenings, and refer sick patients to another facility, that is usually not possible. In the rainy season, which can last 3-4 months, this area is cut off from the nearest facility (which is already more than 3 hours walk away) by a large river and swamp. And even if another facility was accessible, there is no way to transport patients, and most can't afford to pay their own way. This was eye-opening for me. My ambulance in the U.S. had more medications and equipment than this facility which serves about 10,000 people. I had trouble imagining how I would respond to even a routine medical complication with the given resources here.

This tree was in one of the communities I routinely visited, called Mayen Pajok in Akon North. It was massive and still growing out at odd angles in all directions. I was told by a local that years ago, the community would strategically cut it to help it grow outward, instead of upwards. The reason, was that when the tree grew this way, it created a sort-of natural basin in the center. When it rained, the basin would fill with water, and provide a reservoir that would last for a few months into the dry season.