First week in Rwanda

After delays nnd a free trip to the Brundi airport, Louise, another volunteer met me at the airport. We met the staff at the Kigali office and Barry Wheeler, the country director explained that I am to observe and work at two camps the first two weeks and then meet with several people th decide how my skills may be most helpful. All the staff have been helpful with tasks such as recovering a lost bag, taking me to a wedding and solving computer problems. You may see the office at www.arc.org.rw.
I have been near the camp Gihembe(18,000 residents) for five days now. The refugees are from Congo and have been here 10-12 years. They are not supposed to work in the Rwandan economy according to law and have minimal space to garden. There is little for adults to do. The children attend schools.
The diseases we've seen include malaria, typhoid, pneumonia,HIV, probable early AIDS, previous spinal cord trauma with papaplegia, measals, chickenpox and rectal prolapse in a 3 yr old. Communication in French is difficult for me and there are few good english speakers. I hope to improve French and find more English speakers. I will probably give presentations on some diseases like diabetes and use of equipment like oto and ophthalmoscopes which they don't have. Allina gave me two of each to bring. Also I will discuss uses of the reflex hammer.
Everyone here says it is very safe and I have felt no concerns. Many say Rwanda is one of the most organized, safe, clean and law abiding countries in Africa. I am staying in a house about a mile from the camp in a walled compound with full time watchman.
I am posting a photo of a woman holding her medical record that she carries with her. The clinic has a log book with one line of information about her visit listed by date with all of the other patients who vivited that day.
Acess to the internet is varriable and always slow. I'll try to add photos now.
John