24/01: Thursday 1/24
Another women's prison today - Camp Penal here in Dakar. This prison is where women awaiting trial or sentencing are held. Rufisque is one of the prisons where women are sent to serve out their sentences.
We saw a total of 80 persons - 61 prisoners and the remainder guards and their family members. We saw several babies and toddlers being cared for - including a set of twins. The inmates may keep children with them until they are 3 years old, when they must be taken by someone outside the prison.
The clinic went relatively smoothly - with Chris again doubling Carol at the doctor's table. We left the vitamins and other medicines there with the nurse, along with the encounter cards holding the specifics for each person. Nancy organized crafts for the inmates as they waited for the doctors. We had a hearty lunch with the warden while the prisoners enjoyed the same food, too. There was excitement in the air.
Mary and Russ spent the day with Nancy's sister Karen V. Then went to talk with a local HIV/AIDS program director we met at Karen's house on Sunday, and to several other stops in Dakar to photograph and find music for the DVD. They joined us for lunch at the prison and then continued on their mission - eventually visiting a bookstore near the University of Dakar.
Tomorrow is a partial day of rest (and certainly welcome after the past four days) where some of us will go to Goree Island and others will sleep in, hang out, and probably shop. A few of us are pretty stressed and need the break. In the evening, we will be doing a very small clinic for women in a local microcredit group. On Saturday, we travel to St. Louis - about five hours to the north
-- tom
We saw a total of 80 persons - 61 prisoners and the remainder guards and their family members. We saw several babies and toddlers being cared for - including a set of twins. The inmates may keep children with them until they are 3 years old, when they must be taken by someone outside the prison.
The clinic went relatively smoothly - with Chris again doubling Carol at the doctor's table. We left the vitamins and other medicines there with the nurse, along with the encounter cards holding the specifics for each person. Nancy organized crafts for the inmates as they waited for the doctors. We had a hearty lunch with the warden while the prisoners enjoyed the same food, too. There was excitement in the air.
Mary and Russ spent the day with Nancy's sister Karen V. Then went to talk with a local HIV/AIDS program director we met at Karen's house on Sunday, and to several other stops in Dakar to photograph and find music for the DVD. They joined us for lunch at the prison and then continued on their mission - eventually visiting a bookstore near the University of Dakar.
Tomorrow is a partial day of rest (and certainly welcome after the past four days) where some of us will go to Goree Island and others will sleep in, hang out, and probably shop. A few of us are pretty stressed and need the break. In the evening, we will be doing a very small clinic for women in a local microcredit group. On Saturday, we travel to St. Louis - about five hours to the north
-- tom
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