Jacqueline, one of the doctors at our hospital, invited me to come with her to a community health function in a neighboring village. We bumped along a nearly impassable road as I held on for dear life, praying that our 4x4 wouldn't tip over.
Upon arriving, a large group of women and children had already gathered under the shade of two trees. They had begun weighing their children using a scale similar to those seen in the produce department at the grocery store. The scale was first hung in the tree, then a poor, unsuspecting baby was placed in a sling and suspended from the scale while he or she howled miserably:-)
One of the babies went to the bathroom in the sling! The whole group erupted in laughter! That sling was then placed in another tree to dry:-) Infants in this area do not wear diapers. Their mothers just seem to sense when they have to relieve themselves and take the child out to the field to go potty.
The weights were recorded, and we all enthusiastically applauded when the child had gained. In an area where women often endure the death of at least one of their children, weight gain is a very big deal.
Afterward, Jacqueline presented some brief health tips to the mothers on topics such as water sanitation and appropriate food choices and we said our goodbyes.
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