2013
Distribution Trip to Uganda
First we unloaded, sorted for area specific distribution and reloaded the container in the sequence of our distribution. Several Ugandan men from the Benedictine Eye Hospital helped along with a group of energetic children. There were also a dozen Americans that we met on the streets of Tororo that are in Uganda on another project that we invited to join us, and they did. It was hot and sweaty work but all had a good time with all the logistics that had to be arranged for. A man from another part of the district heard we had brought crutches and traveled to find us and we arranged to bring him 100 pairs of crutches and some walkers. His list of needs is much longer but we will done what we can for now. As we left we "bumped into" two women and they asked about the logo on my shirt and as we talked they told us about a community that has been built for the disabled some 20 miles north of here. They need lots of crutches and wheelchairs. We made plans to visit them on Sunday afternoon. We will surprise them with some mobility devices. On the way back to our hotel we made our plans for our distribution in the bush tomorrow.
Today we got down to the real business of distribution. Earlier in the morning we loaded up our pickup truck and the back of our van and went into some remote areas around Tororo district to dispense wheelchairs, crutches and canes. Our first stop was a school for children with every kind of disability. We were delighted when one of the classes sang for us! In the past 16 months our field volunteers had discovered the need at this school as well as all of the people we went to today. That is, all but the man by our van. We found him struggling along one of the dusty roads, using only a stick, as we were on our way to one of our planned stops. Often we were literally driving on single track paths. I am glad it didn't rain, or we would still be out there!
Next we went to “Give Us Wings” or Marie Able Community. About 28 disabled persons with their families live there and it is very clean and organized with the appropriate toilets and showers custom made for each person. All funded by some open-hearted Americans. It has been there since 2005. We were able to help about a dozen people who needed equipment we had along. We also gave away about 30 dresses.
Early this morning we loaded an 18' transport truck with 350 pairs of crutches, 150 walkers, 50 canes and a handful of wheelchairs. The president of the local Rotary club joined us and we set out on the dust and diesel smoke choked roads that would take us to our destination an hour and a half away. We arrived at 10:30am to a large crowd of over 200 people, most of them with mobility needs. Others were the parents of children with a myriad of disabilities. With these we did our best to see that they did not fall through the cracks and would be channeled to someone who could help. After speeches from dignitaries and singing by children we got down to the business of distribution. It was controlled chaos! This being a new location for dispensing mobility devices there was some hesitation in the first step. So, I moved in and and handed a pair of crutches to a man with one leg shriveled by polio. Then a walker to an elderly woman stooped and missing all her toes. Soon the rhythm of distribution took over and while it was loud, hot and a bit chaotic, hundreds of mobility devices from your area were in the hands of grateful people that were amazed and blessed by their good fortune to finally have some mobility. But there was a hard part too. A woman who moves by crawling on the ground, she had traveled for an entire day to receive a wheelchair realized that the wheelchairs were gone and she would go back to her place with nothing, began wailing and weeping. Gut wrenching. But what can we do? If I pull one destined for another location, will I will face the same situation tomorrow? I can do more, I must do more. Will you help?
These past few days have been filled with distributing mobility devices and meetings with officials. Our distribution in Bugiri on Saturday was stunning. Hot. Crowded. Noisy. Or volunteer companions were amazed at the sheer number of people that have been crippled by polio, and all the other ways people have lost mobility. On Sunday afternoon we went to a recently built community for the disabled in Tororo district. This facility is focused on decent housing, and indeed, it has achieved that. I was initially concerned that I would end up being a disability "ghetto" but these concerns were soon dissolved as we saw the village that has sprung up around this compound for the disabled and the open interaction between the able bodied and the mobility challenged (other disabilities are represented in this compound also, one young man that suffered "a different kind of malaria" now lives with severe brain damage and limited mobility.). Another boy lost both of his legs being severed mid-thigh by a train. How this happened, no one could explain. We gave him a wheelchair. Tuesday saw us distributing directly from our container that is parked at the Benedictine Eye Hospital here in Tororo (you can see this local on "Google Earth"). Here, we again had the privilege to see two children take their first steps aided by a walker. I will never tire of seeing the delight on their faces as they realize new freedom! Yesterday, Wednesday we loaded a small truck and headed deep into the mountains east of Mbale. We made several stops along the way to our primary distribution sites as we saw people working hard to move with either nothing to aid them at all or primitive mobility tools. It was blessedly cool as we made our way to these remote villages. At one village we were the guests of tradition and served what I call "road chicken". These chickens are not a typical "Tyson" chicken as they live free and are constantly tempting fate by running across the road (and yes, the question still exists," why did the..."). Also on the menu was boiled bananas. With gravy added, I was transported back to my childhood and my mom's Sunday dinner potatoes! I had a second helping. Then it rained and the roads (?) became ever more challenging. It is a good thing that the snow that sometimes occurs at the top of Mt. Elgon never comes to these lower elevations as the steep grades are difficult enough with gooey clay and mud. This by far has been our longest day. More distribution tomorrow. David
Even after we are gone from Africa, at home and getting back to speed (American speed that is) there are those that continue to work on behalf of Crutches 4 Africa. In one of the photos you will see my friend George, he too is a polio survivor. We left 60 pairs of crutches with him to distribute which he does by motor bike. The child under the feed sack is a scene he found along the way. The ruined hut behind the child is, or was the child's home. The old man also has a hut that is falling apart. Check the grass roof, no doubt hard for him to repair... Then there is the boy on the side of the road. He was unable to make it to any of our distributions and we are only now aware of him. He wants to go to school. So even when we are gone there are volunteer team members that continue the work of Crutches 4 Africa.
Thanks to all of you as you help us reach these people with mobility devices. David Talbot founder, www.crutches4africa.org
Thanks to all of you as you help us reach these people with mobility devices. David Talbot founder, www.crutches4africa.org