McCord Research Buruli Ulcer Foundation: Saturday, March 21

Today are off to a quicker start! No shopping for pvc pipe etc.. We hoped to fully sample three villages ( well, river and ground water ). However, one village's well was dry, so we only fully sampled two villages.

At our first village Otuaplem, we met a very little 9 yo girl, who has a Baruli Ulcer on her right arm. She had been treated with a skin graft, however it broke down and she was back to dressing changes. Charles Yeboah and this child seem to have a special caring relationship.

At our second full sampling site Kojo Ashong, the children ( about 20 ) again followed us everywhere and sat and watched and watched and watched. They were especially helpful carrying our equipment and buckets (on their heads, even the tiny children).

Several played with Monica's hair and touched her sunburn. Several scampered to hold Claudia's hand. Generally the children are very well behaved, joyful and fun. They taught us a Ghanaian song and we all sang as we worked. We tasted palm wine right out of the tree (still warm) and ate a coconut collected by a young man who shimmied up a tall tall tree. The children seem to be constantly fetching water from a well, or the Densu River. They Always balance the water in buckets on their heads. Claudia showed village children pictures of her family. They laughed and laughed.