June 8

       As usual, these past few days have been extremely busy. Things at WE-ACTx have picked up significantly since I arrived. Last Thursday I visited our second clinic in the countryside of Nyacyonga with our two doctors. Throughout the whole duration of the car ride I couldn’t help but think that I was in a movie. (Jurassic Park and King Kong were the first that came to mind). The mountains were breathtaking and topped with eagles soaring above the trees. However, my serene image came to an abrupt halt when Justin Bieber started playing on the radio... After the 40-minute drive, we reached the bottom of an extremely steep hill, which, naturally, we proceeded to drive up. With every wind and creek of the car I was almost certain we would start rolling back down, but we miraculously made it to the top where the cement clinic stood.

            

       Since the doctors only travel to Nyacyonga once a week, we saw the more serious cases. The first patient was a middle-aged man who was complaining of genital pain. The doctor performed an exam and discovered that he was infected with another STI besides his HIV. After, another gentleman walked in who was complaining of headache and stomach pain. We looked at his stomach, and the doctor felt that the man had one of two ailments: Typhoid fever or parasites. This system went on for a few more patients until a lively man walked in with a slight limp. The conversation immediately transformed into a lively banter, which was a relief from the somber tone of the previous appointments. After he left with a smile, the doctor explained that this man had been diagnosed with tuberculosis a few months ago and was paralyzed on the left side of his body. At the time, the doctor wasn’t sure if the man would regain any function, but he decided to prescribe medication regardless. This was the patient’s 2-month check-up, and he had regained his sight, as well as mobility. Once all of the patients were tended to, we went to the lab, which was a concrete room equipped with a sink, a few pipettes, and a very old machine that appeared to be a printer. They also had a small microscope where they were looking at blood samples. After the tour, we headed back to the clinic where I would begin to plan the two-week summer camp run by WE-ACTx at the end of July. Many patients are children, so the organization runs a camp for them. One of my housemates and I will be in charge of planning, so we have our hands full.

           

       My second weekend started off a little shaky when I started feeling a little sick, but it quickly passed after some plain noodles and rest. My big event was a hike up Mount Kigali in Nyamirambo. The views and two-hour trek were stunning, and I plan on returning soon. I will let the pictures below illustrate my experience.

-E