Hi Everyone!  I have a post all ready to go but have not had internet access until now.  Unfortunately I can't download it hear so I am going to keep you in suspense a bit longer!  I will tell you a bit about today though.  It was quite fun!

We are in Western Province, specifically in Senanga and today we took a trip out to a neighboring village called Sakumbi.  When we arrived, the women met us with singing and dancing.  It was amazing!  I also love to sing so I asked if I could join the and next thing I knew I was swept up, humming along and making them all laugh at my pronunciation.  These women are part of SMAG, which stands for Safe Maternal Action Group.  It truly is remarkable!  These women and men, volunteer to take antenatal care and education into the villages.  Some of them walk up to 40 km to reach these villages.  Their message is one encouraging mothers to go to health facilities to deliver their babies in order to reduce maternal and infant mortality.  So far their efforts have increased the number of women delivering in healthcare facilities from 15% to 50%.  This is all done without incentives!  One thing they identified as a need was T-shirts for SMAG members for community identification fostering a sense of belonging.  It is hard for our western minds to grasp that something that is so small to us....would be so meaningful to them.

As we left, I was given an African name.  Apparently, I am now Namakau, which means female farmer and implies that I am a hard worker!  Dr. Danielle Namakau Stewart-Smith...what do you think?

I must go, as I am sitting at an internet cafe in Senanga and am running out of time.  I will post some more adventures when I get back to Lusaka this weekend.  Tomorrow I am heading to a safari at Kafui park...I am hoping to see giraffes, elephants and perhaps a lion?  Wish me luck...until next time!

Danielle