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I arrived back in the states nov 19th. It was very sad to leave sudan. I made some amazing friends.
The remainder of our time there was spent doing clinics. We did a total of 8 days of clinic in five different locations and evaluated 1800 patients. Needless to say we were exhausted. Our team was exceptional and worked very well together. And we had an amazing group of interpreters who made our work possible.
The facilities vaired from place to place. Sometimes it was a church and other times an actual clinic of sorts. One of these clinics had been built by some outside organization, but there is no one to staff it so it just sits vacant. The largest clinic is actually going to be turned in to a hospital next year. There will be a sudanese doctor coming in may. The hospital will have laboratory, xray and minor surgical capabilities. This is very exciting for the community.
In case you are unfamiliar with the history of sudan I will share a little with you. Sudan was originally a british colony, which is why they speak english. The Arabs came to sudan a long time ago and everyone was living peacefully. When the British pulled out they asked the sudanese if they wanted the arabs to leave as well, but the sudanese said no. They had lived together as brothers for many years. But as soon as the british left the arabs began treating the sudanese poorly. The north and south have been at war for the last 20 some years. It wasn't until 2005 that a peace agreement was signed.
Everyone we met had either fought in the war or had to leave because of it. Their land was destroyed and their families torn apart. But people are now returning to sudan and rebuilding their communities. This is a very important and exciting time for southern sudan. They are trying to break free from the north and elections will be held in 2011 for southern sudan to become its own country of new sudan.
Despite all the hardships these people have endured, I found them to be some of the most genuine and generous people I have ever met. Every person you would pass on the street would either shake your hand or wave and say hello. The county is just full of smiles, which you can help but recipricate yourself.
Project helping hands is going to make an annual trip to sudan. I am going to try to accompany them again next year. There is so much work to be done here and I would like to eventually start some sort of organization. I'll have to see where life takes me. If you are interested in contributing please let me know.
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