Eye Exams and Wishing Wells

Without classes last week we were able to look into other projects in Gonder. We will be volunteering with Gondar University Hospital’s Ophthalmology Department. On Monday we met with Dr. Yared, the head of the department, and Dr. Wessen to discuss their needs and tour the wing. They would like us to do some administrative work to better organize the clinic and streamline operations. They are also hoping that we will be able to put together a program evaluation and submit proposals. Guess I will be putting my policy degree to use!

We came back to the hospital on Wednesday to observe the average patient's visit.

Patients check in by handing identifying cards
to the front desk

Patient files in the card room

Waiting room

Patients first have their eyesight checked

Doctor checking a woman's eye tension 

Patients crowd the halls rather than remain in the waiting room

An optometrist with his students checking this woman's
eyes for conjunctivitis

Later in the week Manlio, our country director, came in from Rome. We had a full day following Manlio around to check out current JDC projects in the area. We began the morning with a meeting at the Ophthalmology Department and then spoke with the dean of the Gondar University Medical School to approve our work in the hospital. From there we traveled to Gebru Warka. In January a group of college students from Canada and Israel will be visiting and helping to construct three new classrooms for the school. We observed the site and pondered how to build a well close to the school.

The Gebru Warka school consists of three classrooms and
 educates local children in grades 1 through 3

The classrooms are made from wooden sticks and corrugated
metal. The floors are dirt, and students sit on rocks organized
in rows.

Site of the new classrooms

Community well to the left of the tree
The JDC is looking to build a well closer to the school
for the children.

The next day we visited schools in Fendeka and Shumagerie to look at the structure of their wells.

Fendeka

The school has two classrooms

Teacher pumping water

Students washing their hands
Each morning, one class fetches water from
the well. The teachers pour the water into
glasses, and the children drink together.

Second grade students

Shumargie

Well for the school

Community well located across from school well