The Formal Opening of a New Village Health Center (Day 53, September 13, Saturday)

I was invited by Dr Joseph to attend the formal opening of a new village health center in Mpath . The village is about 5 miles down the hill from Bulape on the road to Mweka. I was given a new Project AXxes T-shirt and hat to wear. The T-shirt and hat were promotional items from Project AXxes funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). We loaded up the Landcruiser, two motorbikes, and the BUV with key staff members of Bulape hospital, nursing school, and health zone. In total, it was about 13 persons including one female health staff member. We left Bulape around 11:30 or so. It took us about 20 minutes to get to the village. We were greeted by hundreds of children and an equal amount of adults. The village chiefs were assembled and waiting on us. We all were seated in two rows of chairs across the health center. The health center faces the west. So we had the shade of the narrow porch. It was crowded but were out of the sun. Unfortunately, more than half of everyone else were out in the afternoon sun and heat. The new boom box was taken out of carton and setup. It provided some festive music while the final village dignitaries arrived. Also, it serviced as a loudspeaker for the ceremony. The ceremony started with a short announcement. It was all in their native language. So I just sat back and looked attentive. A pastor was called forward. I thought he was just going to pray and be seated. He did the prayer, then read some scripture. That's unusual I thought to myself until he started his sermon. After a short 20 minutes sermon, it was time for some traditional dancing. The dancing lasted about 20 minutes. Our shaded area was disappearing as the time went on. Dr Joseph started to address the group. He spoke for 10 minutes or so. Then he introduced all health officials including me which required at least a short hello and wave. Finally, the doctor introduced Justin, the headmaster of the Bulape girls school. A nice gesture I thought. Justin walks up and takes the mike from the doctor. He goes on for about five minutes. We had more dancing as the shaded continued to disappear. Finally, it was time for the official ribbon (cloth) cutting. Dr Joseph invites me up to do the ribbon cutting. What?! Some warning would have been nice. As I walk up to the ribbon across the door, I was given some surgical scissors. Then, a man brings a glass and a pitch of palm wine. OK, this is getting complicated. Next, Dr Patrick says to me don't drink it and just put it to your mouth. I put the glass to my lips. But Dr Patrick says now, no, put it out on the floor across the ribbon. What?! I just poured half the palm wine in the glass on the floor. Still that's not right, Dr Patrick says put it in your mouth and spit it out! OK, I finally did it hesitantly. The actual cutting of cloth was nothing compared to the plam wine ritual. Now, that's a custom and ceremony to be remembered for a long time. We did a quick tour of the building. It was a brick linear building with a tin roof. It consisted of a lab room with just few test tubes and without a microscope. There were a consultation and an examination room. Then a maternity room with just two mattresses on the floor and no birthing table. Finally, there was reception room. The price tag of the health center was just $1500 and funded by Project AXxes. We has some food and drink in one of the rooms. The dancing and singing continued. We went back to the seating area after eating. By this time, the sun had captured our front row seats. So we joined the chiefs in the very back against the wall. Shortly after 4pm, we departed for Bulape.