The faces and sound of children in stress, the visual flow of curving lines of hundreds of mothers seeking support, bumpy, dusty roads, the stunning beauty of Malawi's countryside, and the warm spirit of many people I met throughout my trip stand out.
Over and over, when I reflect on Project Peanut Butter, I think of the compassion, commitment, and empathy held by the Jay and El, two medical students engaged in the management of the Project's clinical sites, and the ongoing work of Dr. Sandige and Dr. Manary, the two senior doctors within the clinical program.
On a typical day during this intense stretch of Malawi's "Hunger Season," Jay and El each review health indications for three to five hundred children and enroll thirty to sixty kids who are in nutritional crisis immediately in a food supplementation program. They are up at about 4:30 AM and work non stop from about 5:15 AM through mid to late afternoon with a group of nurses and drivers and HSAs (Heath Surveillance Assessors) in remote settings without a break.
They often sustain their bodies on a touch of water and a quick snatch of bread.
Then, in the midst of the late afternoon heat, when most of us would roll over, close our eyes, and yell "Uncle," Jay and El pile a group of very sick children and caretakers with special needs into their vehicles and provide critical shuttle service to the nearest rural hospital. Many of these children are in dire shape with complications from Malaria, TB, HIV, other infections, and malnutrition.
In the image above, Jay is getting ready to take seventeen people in his car to the nearest hospital, which is about thirty kilometers from the clinic - a distance that proves very difficult for almost clients who rely on foot transportation.
When this work is complete, El and Jay drive back to their lodging in Blantyre, a trip that often take an hour and a half to two hours. When the cars break down or the weather turns ugly, this trip can be much longer. One day last week, a river swelled from rain and prevented travel home for several additional hours for two of the Project teams.
When Jay and El return to their lodging, they eat a quick dinner and begin the work of managing case files, supporting research, and re-packing cars for the next morning.
These are long, tiring days.
In my three weeks of experience, their attitude was universally positive, engaged, and hopeful.
I am not sure where this type of compassion, empathy, and energy comes from.
It is inspiring.
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