The Village of Tokuroanu

We arrived at the village after a 6 hour bus ride and were welcomed at Mrs Narh's home. Dr Narh greeted us and formally introduced each one of us to the village elders. We sat in chairs in front of the house and were introduced , then shown to our rooms. Dinner was served: goat soup, fried plantain and yams. When we asked where Mrs Narh was going to sleep she said, "outside in the yard" as this is the custom when one has guests.

We took a visit to the clinic, some walked, some rode in he bus, and I was asked to ride in Dr Narh's car. The clinic is very minimally resourced: a labor room , a small inpatient room and a trauma room. There is no doctor,only a nurse and a midwife who has been delivering babies in the village for 18 years and plans to retire in November. Dr Narh and myself did a walk through and discussed all the equipment and supplies that would be essential to make the clinic functional-especially for me to be able to work there.While at the clinic we also visited the water system that Help is on the Way donated to the village, which allows for clear, untainted water. We also met the elected assemblyman from the village area who is only 26 years old.

When we returned to the house we passed out toys and candy to some of the local kids who crowded around us as if we were giving out gold!! Mrs Narh's sister, Julianna, who is a school teacher, quickly established order, by making the kids line up .

Before dinner we went to the funeral ceremony where all were dancing and singing. They were passing out palm wine in gourds to all who wanted it. There were a few older men and women who had too much to imbibe and were imposing themselves in a loving way, so to speak, on some of us who were dancing, Fortunately sister Narh's brothers were on the lookout and ran interference for us. After we left the funeral we had aother fantastic dinner and attempted to go to bed, A few times through the night cannons sounded to alert surrounding areas to the funeral celebration.

The following morning we had a ceremony where we presented the laptops, clothes and school supplies to the leaders of the village, the school teacher aand other dignitaries. Then we boarded the bus and left for the next village that expected us, Likpe-Abrani. Details of this interesting visit to follow.