Gogos

Two years ago we built a little health post to replace a shack of a birthing centre in a remote rural location. Lilian, sitting in front is the local midwife or birth attendant and has a few births every week, in reasonable comfort now.
As well as delivering masks, gloves, aprons, paracetamol (for pain!!), baby blankets and baby clothes, Mary organised some little packs for the gogos (or grannies) minding orphans. She has this grannies club set up since the building opened and it gives the old people a place and chance to meet. Tablets for pains and aches (which we bring) are administered by Lilian on the advice of the clinicians who come.
It was a great occasion today again where they sang, danced and enjoyed their little pressies. Two grandads arrived as well.
These people are the poorest of the poor, and are too old and poor to be burdoned with squads of grandchildren, but this is the story of Malawi and many sub-Saharan countries, as a result of the Aids pandemic.
When we built this little building little did we think that it would become the centre for all kinds of community action, with monthly clinics from the hospitals and health clinic in Mzuzu.
Lilian is an amazing woman with an infectious smile and laugh, but without a word of English. We love her and she is a real gift to the community.